The 'Kansas Tipping point' was the violance of the 1850's which convienced the Southern states that federal authorities were not going to enforce the laws. This along with John Brown's Raid lead to the rapid organization of the Militias of the various southern states for their own protection. Add to that shortly after Lincoln's election in November and December 1860, the stationing of U.S. Army troops in arsenals in southern state, where there had previously not been a garrison, was taken by many as a direct threat to the southern people. Why were garrison troops needed where no threat existed, unless the people were precieved to themselves to be the threat.