Sectional voting patterns were obvious in the 1860 presidential election because the Republicans and the Northern Democrats were in disagreement with the Southern Democrats over slavery; this disagreement reflected in the presidential votes cast in different states. As a result of the disagreement, sectional voting patterns developed and favored Lincoln, and incited southern secession: the southern states declared secession because, after Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election, they knew that he would put an end to slavery, and the benefits they (the southern states) gained from it.
When markets or governments make economic decisions about how to most efficiently convert their resources into goods and services, they are trying to determine "supply and demand"
