Secession - 1860
Secession States
* South Carolina was the first state to secede
* They stated that they would plan to secede if Lincoln was elected and held true to their words
* Convention held 4 days after Lincoln elected
* Met in Charleston, December 1860
* During next 6 weeks, 6 other states follow
* Less united
* Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas
* 4 more soon join (Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia)
* Some of Virginia split apart and renamed West Virginia (stays with Union)
* They stated that they would plan to secede if Lincoln was elected and held true to their words
* Convention held 4 days after Lincoln elected
* Met in Charleston, December 1860
* During next 6 weeks, 6 other states follow
* Less united
* Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas
* 4 more soon join (Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia)
* Some of Virginia split apart and renamed West Virginia (stays with Union)
Formation of "Southern Union"
* First 7 states who seceded formed Southern government
* Met in Montgomery, Alabama
* February 1861
* Called Confederate States of America
* President Jefferson Davis elected president for this Union
* Met in Montgomery, Alabama
* February 1861
* Called Confederate States of America
* President Jefferson Davis elected president for this Union
Why the United States Could not Keep Them Together
* Lincoln was not president at time
* President Buchanan was old and had Southern advisers who told him not to interfere
* Buchanan did not support secession
* Believed he had no power under Constitution to stop them with force
* Buchanan also had to deal with Indians in the West (where military was)
* Real weakness in Constitution and Union
* Still believed some hope for reconciliation rather than separation and fighting
* President Buchanan was old and had Southern advisers who told him not to interfere
* Buchanan did not support secession
* Believed he had no power under Constitution to stop them with force
* Buchanan also had to deal with Indians in the West (where military was)
* Real weakness in Constitution and Union
* Still believed some hope for reconciliation rather than separation and fighting
Crittenden Compromise
* Final attempt for compromise and no bloodshed
* Proposed by James Henry Crittenden of Kentucky
* In compromise
* No slavery North of 36 30' line BUT
* Slavery will be protected by federal government South of line in all territories and acquired territories (Cuba)
* Popular sovereignty chose if slavery in terriroties BUT
* Full rights of Southern people protected as long as territories, regardless of majority wishes
* Lincoln rejected bill
* Proposed by James Henry Crittenden of Kentucky
* In compromise
* No slavery North of 36 30' line BUT
* Slavery will be protected by federal government South of line in all territories and acquired territories (Cuba)
* Popular sovereignty chose if slavery in terriroties BUT
* Full rights of Southern people protected as long as territories, regardless of majority wishes
* Lincoln rejected bill
Wait - Good?
* YES
* Civil War started 3 months earlier
* Less favorable conditions for North
* Look like bad guy
* Border states go to South
* Civil War started 3 months earlier
* Less favorable conditions for North
* Look like bad guy
* Border states go to South
Reasons for Secession
* Topic of slavery main issue
* South minority
* Also hate Republican Party gaining election
* Would try get rid of slavery
* South believe North would not hurt them
* Believed North not hurt cotton trade for economic reasons
* South believe salvation
* Low Tariff of 1857
* Self - Determination
* As in Declaration of Independence
* Voluntarily joined and can voluntarily secede if want
* South minority
* Also hate Republican Party gaining election
* Would try get rid of slavery
* South believe North would not hurt them
* Believed North not hurt cotton trade for economic reasons
* South believe salvation
* Low Tariff of 1857
* Self - Determination
* As in Declaration of Independence
* Voluntarily joined and can voluntarily secede if want
Impact To Civil War
* Led to the start of Civil War
* Tensions over the border states rose
* Split in Virginia into part becoming West Virgina
* Tensions over the border states rose
* Split in Virginia into part becoming West Virgina
Place in History
* If the Southern states had secede sooner, then war would have been sooner
* North not ready and North more likely to lose
* North not ready and North more likely to lose
Why Term Here
* Talk about Southern secession and last chances for stopping it
* Show reasons South believed they could secede
* Show reasons South believed they could secede
Links for Futher Information
http://www.history.com/topics/secession
http://www.history.com/topics/crittenden-compromise
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/critten.html
http://www.history.com/topics/crittenden-compromise
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/critten.html
Dhruv