These controversies led to the secession of South Carolina in 1860. In specific, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Lincoln-Douglass debates, and the election of Lincoln enhanced the mounting tension greatly. Each of these occurrences advanced the state toward its decision to leave the Union.

Initially, the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 had strong advantages for the South by nullifying the Missouri Compromise and allowing expansion of slavery farther north. Because of its location, it was assumed that Kansas would become a slave state by popular sovereignty. They did not expect that it would become heavily populated by free-soilers, and the balance of powers in the senate became threatened. Southerners, including those in South Carolina) were outraged by the thought of loosing power in Congress.

The Lincoln-Douglass debates of 1858 brought much recognition to the previously unknown Lincoln. He challenged Douglass to the series of debates and forced him to attempt to defend his conflicting...