Why did additional states secede after the battle of Fort Sumter?

Additional states seceded after the Battle of Fort Sumter because the attack on the fort galvanized Southern sentiments toward secession, viewing it as a direct threat to their way of life and rights. Following the battle, President Lincoln's call for troops to suppress the rebellion prompted many states to join the Confederacy in solidarity with their Southern peers, fearing that remaining in the Union would lead to conflict with their neighbors. This marked a significant escalation in the divide between North and South, solidifying the commitment of states to the Confederate cause.