The 1860 presidential election in the United States resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president. Running as the candidate from the newly formed Republican Party, Lincoln won a contentious election with a platform opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories. His victory, achieved without any support from Southern states, was seen as a threat to slavery and heightened tensions between Northern and Southern states. This outcome ultimately contributed to the secession of several Southern states and the onset of the Civil War, marking a significant turning point in American history.