What was the impact of Abraham Lincolns election?

Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 significantly heightened tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the secession of several Southern states and the formation of the Confederacy. His anti-slavery platform galvanized Southern fears of losing political power and prompted a fierce backlash that contributed to the onset of the Civil War. Lincoln's presidency would later be defined by his efforts to preserve the Union and abolish slavery, fundamentally reshaping American society and governance.