Many southerners considered the nomination of by the republican party as a sign that their ability to remain in the union was hopeless.

The correct answer is:

Abraham Lincoln.

Explanation:

Abraham Lincoln's election is seen as one of the reasons why Southern states seceded and the Civil War broke out. Southern states wanted slavery because it was a big source for their economic activities, and Lincoln wanted to stop slavery from spreading, even though he didn't said he was going to eradicate slavery, between his election day and the inauguration day seven Southern states had already seceded because they felt they were no longer represented by the Union.

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States and the first Republican President (1861-1865).

currancy

explanation: