* Slavery: The most important issue was slavery. Southerners feared that the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, would eventually lead to the abolition of slavery in the South. They also resented the growing abolitionist movement in the North, which they saw as a threat to their way of life.
* States' rights: Southerners believed that the federal government was overstepping its authority by interfering with state affairs, particularly on the issue of slavery. They argued that the states had the right to make their own laws and to decide whether or not to allow slavery.
* Economic interests: The southern economy was heavily dependent on slavery, and southerners feared that secession would lead to economic hardship. They also believed that the North was taking advantage of the South economically, and that secession would allow the South to control its own economic destiny.
* Cultural differences: Southerners felt that their culture was different from that of the North, and that they were not represented in the federal government. They believed that secession would allow them to preserve their way of life and to create a new nation that would be more in line with their values.
In the end, these factors combined to lead southern states to secede from the United States and to form the Confederate States of America. The decision to secede was not made lightly, but it was ultimately seen as the best way to protect the South's interests and to preserve its way of life.