The first state to secede from the Union was South Carolina.

On December 20, 1860, following the election of Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina declared its secession, citing concerns over federal authority and the perceived threat to slavery. This act set off a chain reaction, leading other Southern states to follow suit and ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. South Carolina's secession marked a significant moment in American history, highlighting the deep divisions over issues of states' rights and slavery that had been brewing for decades.