Secession and Civil War
South Carolina would make no more efforts to seize the fort and Buchanan would send no further aid to Sumter
After Buchanan tried to send supplies to Fort Sumter and Confederates opened fire, what compromise was reached between them?
To quit or leave the union
Define Secession?
4:30 a.m 12th April, the two sides opened fire for 33 hours Anderson surrendered, no one was killed but war had started......
How did the Civil war start at Fort Sumter?
They thought that the North would just let them go in peace in leave them to be
How did the South think the North would react to secession?
Lawyers and well to do planters 50 delegates 60% democrats 40% ex-Whigs Mostly traditional southern leadership Fire-eaters unrepresented
On the 4th of February, who attended the meeting to form the confederacy
The legislatures of Virginia and Tennessee made it clear that they would oppose any attempt to force the seceding states back into the Union, as they believed in the Calhoun Doctrine They would put Southern affiliation before their American loyalties
Under what circumstances would the Upper South join the Confederacy and why?
March 4th
What date did Lincoln officially become president?
"Given the momentum of secession and the fundamental set of Republicanism, it is probably safe to say that compromise was impossible from the start"
What did David Potter the historian say about compromise at this late stage?
he would not interfere with slavery where it existed, take any immediate action to reclaim federal property or appoint federal officials in the south believed that the union was unbreakable and secession was illegal so he intended to "hold, occupy and possess" federal property in the seceded states
What did Lincoln say in his inaugural address?
Appointed commissioners to lobby elsewhere Proposed a meeting in Alabama to create a new government
What did South Carolina do to ensure that the other Southern states seceded with them?
The decisions were always democratic and straightforward Not all secessionists were great planters and owned slaves
What evidence suggests that secession wasn't a slave power conspiracy?
South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas Mississippi had left the union
What had happened by February 1861?
> Calhoun's doctrine > Union not fulfilled its obligations like the Fugitive Slave Act > Federal gov. trying to abolish slavery > The election of Lincoln > States have a right to govern themselves
What reasons did South Carolina give to seceding from the union in the 'Ordinance of Secession and Declaration and Causes of Secession'?
No states from the upper south had joined the Confederacy and the seven states that did only made up 10% of te population and 5% of its industrial capita
What was Jefferson Davis' main concern as president?
Willing to compromise on issues such as the fugitive slave act and slavery in Washington, however his general position on slavery stayed the same secession - slave conspiracy and didn't really take them seriously like many Republicans
What was Lincoln's stance on compromising with the South?
3 ships and 500 men set out to re-supply Sumter
What was sent out on the naval mission on the 9th April?
February 1861 in Washington at the request of Virginia Attended by 133 delegates, - no Confeds Supported reconciliation, no proposals passed in congress
What was the Virginia Peace Convention?
union = perpetual- when join surrender sovereignty if states could just leave would lead to anarchy coherent government couldn't happen
What was the majority of Northerner's view on the Southern secession?
Basically the US constitution but with more emphasis on protecting slavery and states' rights
What was the new constitution like?
Rejected in Senate 25-23 Rejected in House 113-80 Because Republicans had more power with less southern delegates
What was the result of the Crittenden Peace Resolutions in the senate and the house of representives?
Virginia North Carolina Missouri Tennessee Arkansas Delaware Mayland
What were the 7 Upper Southern states?
A) Reinstate the Missouri Compromise line to the pacific so slavery could expand B) Constitutional amendment -no interference with slavery where it already existed C) Congress would not be allowed to interfere with the interstate slave trade D) Uphold the fugitive slave act
What were the Crittenden Peace Resolutions?
1) South Carolina secede 2) 6 further states secede 3) Confederacy formed
What were the three phases of secession?
Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina Fort Pickens, Florida
What were the two Southern Fort's that weren't taken over by the Confederacy and remained loyal to the Union?
January 1861
When did the upper south states call elections on the issue of secession?
Virginia North Carolina Arkansas Tennessee
Which Upper South states joined the Confederacy?
Delaware Maryland Missouri Kentucky West Virgina
Which Upper South states stayed in the Union?
Tennessee and North Carolina
Which two states held referendums to oppose holding a convention?
Northern Democrats and Upper South representatives Congressmen from the Confederacy didn't go
Who attended the December Congress?
Seward - secretary of state Chase - Secretary of Tresurary Wells - Secretary of navy Smith - Secretary of interior Cameron - secretary of war Bates - attorney general Blair - postmaster general
Who did Lincoln's cabinet consist of? (7)
Jefferson Davis
Who was elected president of the Confederate States in February 9th?
Major Robert Anderson ex-slaveholder but loyal to the Union
Who was leading the 100 troops in Fort Sumter?
Alexander Stephens anti-secessionist
Who was vice-president of the confederacy?
Wide range of opinions Some were secessionists but thought this was not the right time to secede Some supported a compromise with the North
Who were the Cooperationists?
> They had a smaller stake in Slavery, less than 30% of the upper south were black > Many non-slavers questioned how well their interest would be served > They had close ties to the North, thus fearing the economic consequences > If war came the Upper South would be the battleground
Why did the Upper Southern States not vote immediately for secession?
The Governer, Sam Houston didn't want to secede
Why was Texas the only state to hold a referendum on the issue of secession?