VOA慢速英语:Lincoln Wins 1860 Election, Loses Southern States

短语讲解：

1. Americans had hope for the future because they would have a new leader.

hope for 希望， 希望得到
例句：Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. 
〔谚语〕作最好的打算，作最坏的准备。 

2. If Lincoln became president, some people who strongly supported slavery threatened to take the Southern states out of the union.

out of n.由于（原因，动机）; 用…（材料）; 自…离开; 得自（来源）出于;
例句：I'd give a year's salary to get out of this town. 
我真是宁可拿出一年的薪金，只要能离开这个城镇就好了。 

3. Even before Lincoln was inaugurated, the Southern states acted on their threats.

act on 对…起作用[有功效]; 奉行， 按照…而行动; 遵行;
例句：If it does, we don't act on it.
就算想过，也不会付诸行动。