What were the final steps on the road to secession?

The final steps to secession included:

-Attack on Harpers Ferry

-Southern states' refusal to put Lincoln on the ballot

-Election of Abraham Lincoln-->southern states felt their interests were not represented and their rights weren't recognised

-Incumbent President Buchanan did nothing to stop secession movement from gaining momentum

-Rejection by Lincoln of Crittendon Compromise

-Deep South seceded, and Upper South followed.

small european communities with shared traditions consolidated into large new states (apex)