Why Did the Southern States Secede from the Union?

Why Did The Southern States Secede From the Union?

In the years of 1860 and 1861, the southern states of the United States decided to secede from the Union. The southern states seceded because they thought that their individual state’s rights were being infringed. Individual states’ rights are an encompassing issue supported by three factors. These three Factors are slavery, the abolition movement, and Lincoln’s election.

The main reason for secession in the nation was slavery. A majority of the northern states wanted abolition and emancipation. This means all slaves should be free. However, the South had a completely opposite opinion about it. They wanted to keep slavery, and to keep it forever. Slavery was the backbone of the South’s economy “neither side was willing to compromise about the issue” (Souther States Secede and War Begins), this means that the South or North were unwilling to work with each other to get to a happy medium about the concept of slaves working for them. Under the guise of the Missouri Compromise, Dred Scott vs. Stanford, and even the Mason-Dixon Line our country attempted to handle the issue of slavery. Yet, these attempts were forlorn and caused more disruption and anger as both sides issues were not addressed. The South expressing that their individual states rights were being rejected and the North expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of unity in the country.

Another reason for the succession of the South is the disagreements between the two parties. For example, a Pittsburgh news paper in October of 1860, describes the complication. It says that “Lincoln and the Republican party are major threats to the disunion of the country” (HistoryNet) showing that Lincoln is anti-states’ rights. Lincoln is more focused on uniting the country with federal government than he is by understanding the views and rights or others. By describing that if Lincoln became President in the upcoming election, the South would be at risk of losing their slaves and Lincoln would possibly abolished slavery. This would not allow the south to have a say in keeping their property. Think from that perspective if someone tried to take your house or you clothes, that is how the South viewed slaves. Therefore, this disunity goes further than just a single topic, is spans the concept of individual states’ rights versus big government. When the North feels that things are not going their way, they form abolition groups. For example Harriet Tubman “American abolitionist, humanitarian, and an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War.” (Harriet Tubman), and James Ramsay “a ship's surgeon, Anglican priest, and leading abolitionist” (James Ramsay); are both abolitionist leaders who had the belief that slaves and african americans were not property but humans. The south saw this as a violation of the individual states’ rights because people were illegally taking property.

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