The election of 1860 - Lincoln is elected as the next U.S. President, but his victory short lived as the nation he would lead was about to disintegrate. Although Lincoln and the Republicans vowed not to disturb slavery where it already existed, the South didn’t trust Lincoln or the Republicans to protect Southern rights. Nevertheless, South Carolina was the first to secede in Dec., 1860, In Feb. 1861, TX Louisiana, MS, AL, FL & GA seceded. The group referred to itself as the Confederate States of America with its own president Jefferson Davis. Shortly after Lincoln’s inauguration, Southern forces attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The CIvil War had begun. Things moved very quickly following this event: VA, NC, TN, & AR all join the Confederacy. There was also a small group of slave-holding border states who tried to remain neutral as they were on the border between the North & the South. They were: MD, WV, KY, & MO. Sides were determined and an assessment of the capabilities of each side was made. We ended with a review of material that will be on the test on Thursday, 1/13.