The war that resulted in the secession of several southern states from the Union was the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. The conflict arose primarily over issues related to slavery, states' rights, and economic disparities between the industrial North and the agrarian South. Following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, southern states began seceding from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. The Civil War ultimately involved brutal battles and significant loss of life, culminating in the defeat of the Confederacy and the preservation of the Union. It also led to the abolition of slavery and significant social changes.