In what Ways and to what Extent Did Constitutional and Social Developments between 1860 and 1877 Amount to a Revolution?

In 1861 the bloodiest and one of the most important revolutions in American History began, The Civil War. Socially this war had been brewing since the beginning of slavery.
This controversial subject had been the object of debate mainly because it required a balance between free and slave states. Slavery was also a big issue between the Democrats in the 1860 election because they could not agree on the issue of popular sovereignty. This eventually led to their splitting which opened up the doors for Lincoln to take office. After Lincoln was inaugurated in 1860 seven states ceded and later four more. The south believed they were within their constitutional right to cede. In South Carolina's Declaration of Causes for Session the state says, "Powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution...are reserved to the states (Doc A)."
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