The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the pivotal event that led to the formation of the Confederate States of America.

Lincoln, a member of the anti-slavery Republican Party, was perceived by Southern states as a threat to their way of life and the institution of slavery. Following his election, seven Southern states seceded from the Union, declaring their independence and forming the Confederacy in early 1861. This act of secession escalated tensions between the North and South, ultimately resulting in the outbreak of the Civil War, as the nation faced a profound constitutional and moral crisis.