What provoked the secession of theSouthern states from the US?

The secession of the Southern states from the United States was primarily provoked by the issue of slavery and its expansion into new territories. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who was opposed to the spread of slavery, heightened fears among Southern states that their way of life and economic interests were under threat. Additionally, longstanding tensions over states' rights and economic differences between the industrial North and agrarian South contributed to the decision to secede. These factors culminated in the formation of the Confederate States of America and ultimately led to the Civil War.