Lincoln's victory in the election was a turning point in American history, as he represented the Republican Party's opposition to the expansion of slavery into new territories. The Republican platform called for the restriction of slavery to the states where it already existed and for the admission of Kansas as a free state. Lincoln's election was met with strong resistance from the Southern states, which viewed his victory as a threat to their way of life and to the institution of slavery.
Following Lincoln's victory, seven Southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America, which was based on the principle of slavery. The secession of these states and the subsequent attack on Fort Sumter by Confederate forces marked the beginning of the American Civil War. The war was fought over several issues, including the preservation of the Union, states' rights, and most importantly, the abolition of slavery.
In conclusion, the slavery issue was the central and defining factor in the election of 1860, leading to the election of Abraham Lincoln, the secession of Southern states, and ultimately to the outbreak of the American Civil War.