What was a major political reason for the Southern states breaking away from the Union in 1860?

The primary political reason for the Southern states breaking away from the Union in 1860 centers around the issue of slavery. The Southern economy was heavily dependent on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops like cotton, which relied on slave labor. As tensions rose over the extension of slavery into new territories and states, Southern leaders feared that the growing Republican Party, with its opposition to the expansion of slavery, would jeopardize their way of life and economic interests.

The presence of a strong abolitionist movement in the North further exacerbated these fears, leading the Southern states to believe that their rights and interests were under threat. The election of Abraham Lincoln, who was perceived as opposed to the expansion of slavery, acted as a catalyst for secession.

While issues like state rights, tariffs, and territorial expansion contributed to the broader discontent in the South, the core issue driving the secession was fundamentally tied to the preservation of slavery as an institution. Therefore, the Southern states’ decision to secede was primarily motivated by the desire to protect and maintain slavery.