"The secession of the Southern States, individually or in the aggregate, was the certain consequence of Mr. Lincoln's election"

Belle Boyd's quote is describing the secession of the Southern States from the United States of America in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election as President in 1860. The quote implies that the secession of the Southern States was an unavoidable result of Lincoln's election, which it was a direct effect of his triumph. This remains in line with the beliefs of many Southerners at the time, who saw Lincoln's election as a danger to their lifestyle and the organization of slavery. The quote likewise suggests that the secession of the Southern States was a unified action, with all of the states leaving the Union together. This was a major consider the start of the American Civil War, as the secession of the Southern States was viewed as a direct difficulty to the authority of the federal government.