The electoral system was deliberately set up to slightly favor the small states because the number of electors assigned to a state, although dependent on population, is not an exact ration of population, with a higher ratio of electors for states with smaller populations.
The main reason why the South was so upset by Lincoln’s election in 1860 is because he had made it clear that he was opposed to slavery, which was the primary driving force of the South's economy.
Simon Bolivar wanted to create a unified Gran Colombia.
Constantinople was surrounded on all sides by a defensive wall and was well supplied, making it resistant to sieges. The Ottomans were only able to capture the city due to one of the city gates being left slightly ajar, allowing them to quickly bypass the wall and overrun the defenders.
