Which state was the first to secede from the Union?

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. This decision was largely influenced by the election of Abraham Lincoln as president, which many Southerners viewed as a threat to the institution of slavery and their way of life. The secession of South Carolina marked a significant turning point in American history, as it triggered a wave of secessionist movements in other Southern states, ultimately leading to the formation of the Confederacy and the Civil War. South Carolina’s secession is historically significant because it exemplifies the deep divisions between the North and South over issues such as states' rights and slavery, setting the stage for the conflict that would engulf the nation in the following years.