The Election of 1860 was important to Georgia history because it played a significant role in leading the state to secede from the Union and eventually join the Confederate States of America. Georgia heavily relied on slave labor, and the election marked a turning point in the nation's stance on slavery. The Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, opposed the extension of slavery into new territories, while the Southern Democrats supported the institution of slavery. When Lincoln won the election without carrying any Southern states including Georgia, it heightened fears among Georgia's political leaders that their way of life and economic system would be threatened. This fear, along with other political and social tensions, ultimately led Georgia to secede from the Union in January 1861. Thus, the election was a pivotal moment in Georgia history, as it precipitated the state's involvement in the American Civil War.
