When Lincoln was elected president in 1860, the southern states began to leave the Union. Fighting began in April 1861 and several professors of mathematics in the United States Navy felt they could no longer serve in these military posts and resigned.
Kapag Lincoln was elected presidente sa 1860, ang mga estado sa dakong timog ay nagsimulang iwanan ang Union. Labanan nagsimula sa April 1861 at ilang professors ng matematika sa Pilipinas Navy nadama sila ay hindi na maglingkod sa militar ang mga posts at kalooban.