Changes

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>  

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>  

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"/>

After that, there was some calm 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 contained 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 something more meaningful.  Lincoln had the respect and confidence of virtually no one in the South.

One month after his inauguration, in April, Lincoln told South Carolina that he needed to re-supply a federal garrison there called Fort Sumter.  South Carolina did not trust Lincoln and felt this was a trick to fool and possibly attack it.  So South Carolina demanded the surrender of federal troops at Fort Sumter.  Shots were fired (it's unknown who fired first), and South Carolina quickly captured Fort Sumter on April 12th.  Lincoln called for Union (North) troops on April 15th.  Within weeks more states seceded, bringing the total to 11 of the states overall that seceded by the end of June 1861:  Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

One month after his inauguration, in April, Lincoln told South Carolina that he needed to re-supply a federal garrison there called Fort Sumter.  South Carolina did not trust Lincoln and felt this was a trick to fool and possibly attack it.  So South Carolina demanded the surrender of federal troops at Fort Sumter.  Shots were fired (it's unknown who fired first), and South Carolina quickly captured Fort Sumter on April 12th.  Lincoln called for Union (North) troops on April 15th.  Within weeks more states seceded, bringing the total to 11 of the states overall that seceded by the end of June 1861:  Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.