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== Secession ==

== Secession ==

The South threatened to secede from (leave) the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede now.

The South threatened to secede (break away) from the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede now.

But the Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the western territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered that opposition to slavery to be an irreconcilable opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, also, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

But the Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the (western) territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered opposition to slavery to be opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South also had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

Lincoln was elected in November 1860, but presidents were not inaugurated until four months later, in March of the following year.  (That has since been moved to the earlier date of January 20 for inaugurations after a presidential election.)  That gave the South a long period to act, before Lincoln could do anything about it.

Lincoln was elected in November 1860, but presidents were not inaugurated until four months later, in March of the following year.  (That has since been moved to the earlier date of January 20 for inaugurations after a presidential election.)  That gave the South a long period to act, before Lincoln had any power to do anything about it.

Merely four days after the election of the new President Lincoln, on November 10, 1860, the South Carolina legislature called for a convention to consider secession from the United States.  South Carolina, the state of John Calhoun (who died in 1850), always had one of the largest slave populations (by percentage) and for decades had been the leader in calling for secession. South Carolina residents were well-informed about the issues of states rights and how their heroes of John Calhoun and even Thomas Jefferson had championed the rights of states in the past by nullifying federal law. 

 

Merely four days after the election of the new President Lincoln, on November 10, 1860, the South Carolina legislature called for a convention to consider secession from the United States.  South Carolina, the state of John Calhoun (who died in 1850), always had one of the slave populations (by percentage) and for decades had been the leader in calling for secession.

South Carolina moved quickly.  The first convention met in Charleston, South Carolina on December 20, and ''unanimously'' passed the first ordinance of secession:

South Carolina moved quickly.  The first convention met in Charleston, South Carolina on December 20, and ''unanimously'' passed the first ordinance of secession:

With that, South Carolina declared herself a new and independent country, and her residents celebrated with parties, fireworks, and revelry in the streets.

With that, South Carolina declared herself a new and independent country, and her residents celebrated with parties, fireworks, and revelry in the streets.

By the end of January six other southern states imitated South Carolina and declared their independence from the United States, all prior to the inauguration of Lincoln as the new President.  They were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.  A diarist in the South, Mary Boykin Chesnut, summed up the feeling of many southerners: "We are divorced, North and South, because we have hated each other so."<ref>http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/601220.html</ref>  

By the end of January 1861 six other southern states imitated South Carolina and declared their independence from the United States, all prior to the inauguration of Lincoln as the new President.  They were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.  A diarist in the South, Mary Boykin Chesnut, summed up the feeling of many southerners: "We are divorced, North and South, because we have hated each other so."<ref>http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/601220.html</ref>  

But things quieted down as the nation awaited Lincoln's Inaugural Address, which is the speech a president gives to the nation after he is sworn it.  Fearful for his own life, Lincoln rode the train from Illinois to D.C. wearing a disguise.  In his Inaugural Address, Lincoln tried to preserve the Union by appeasing the southern states:  "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."  Lincoln was not yet a prayerful man (he would soon become one), and his speech contains only a passing reference to God.  He concluded by both begging and warning the South: "The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.'  I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies."

Next things quieted down as the nation awaited Lincoln's Inaugural Address, which is the speech a president gives to the nation on the day he is sworn it.  Fearful for his own life, Lincoln rode the train from Illinois to D.C. wearing a disguise.  In his Inaugural Address, Lincoln tried to preserve the Union by appeasing the southern states:  "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."<ref name="Inaugural Address">http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html</ref> Lincoln was not yet a prayerful man (he would soon become one), and his speech contains only a passing reference to God.  He concluded by both begging and warning the South: "The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.'  I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. ..."<ref name="Inaugural Address"/>

Lincoln's weak speech persuaded no one.  Some of my prior students have suggested that the real problem in 1861 was a lack of leadership just when the nation needed it most.  Where was George Washington, or someone like him, at our nation's crucial moment?  Instead, Lincoln was at our helm and he used a lawyer-like approach to a problem that cried out for more.  He had the respect and confidence of virtually no one in the South.

Lincoln's weak speech persuaded no one.  Some of my prior students have suggested that the real problem in 1861 was a lack of leadership just when the nation needed it most.  Where was George Washington, or someone like him, at our nation's crucial moment?  Instead, Lincoln was at our helm and he used a lawyer-like approach to a problem that cried out for more.  He had the respect and confidence of virtually no one in the South.