Lincoln believed that slavery should not be allowed, but Douglas believed that each state should be allowed to make its own decision on whether or not slavery was permissible. However, with 18 free states and 15 free states it was affirmative that the nation was no longer looking for any compromise, Lincoln wanted all free states. With Lincoln in power the South had to adopt a plan of action; South Carolina became the first state to become independent from the union. This was one of the main factors that triggered the American Civil War. South Carolina felt it was no longer part of the United States because it was controlled by the federal government. This revolt caused other Southern states to do the same