Why were people in the south who wanted to withdraw from union?

1. Slavery: The issue of slavery was the primary driving factor behind the secession of southern states. The southern economy was heavily dependent on agriculture, and plantation owners relied on slave labor to maintain their wealth and power. The election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery in the South.

2. States' Rights: Southerners believed that the federal government was overstepping its constitutional authority by interfering with states' rights to regulate their own affairs. They argued that the federal government had no right to tell them what to do with their property (slaves) or how to run their own states.

3. Economic Interests: The southern economy was heavily dependent on the production and export of cotton. Southerners feared that if they remained in the Union, the federal government would impose tariffs on their exports, which would have hurt their economy.

4. Cultural Differences: Southerners felt that their culture and way of life were different from those of the North. They believed that the North was becoming increasingly industrialized and urbanized, while the South was still a largely rural and agrarian society.

5. Fear of Northern Dominance: Southerners feared that if they remained in the Union, they would be outnumbered and outvoted by the North, and their interests would be ignored. They believed that secession was the only way to protect their way of life.