What event followed the Election of 1860?

• A. The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation
• B. The beginning of the Civil War
• C. The abolition of slavery
• D. The establishment of Reconstruction

Answer: (B)

The election of 1860 was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, as it resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln as President. This event heightened existing tensions over issues such as slavery and states' rights. Following Lincoln's election, several Southern states perceived his victory as a threat to the institution of slavery, which led them to secede from the Union. This chain of events ultimately culminated in the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861. The conflict arose as the federal government sought to preserve the Union against the states that had seceded.

The other choices correspond to significant events in U.S. history but they did not occur immediately following the Election of 1860. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, changing the legal status of enslaved people in the Confederate states. The abolition of slavery occurred with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865, well after the Civil War began. Reconstruction refers to the period after the Civil War aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society, starting in 1865 as well. Thus, the onset of the Civil War is the immediate and direct consequence of the Election of 1860.