HIST 4071 Chapter : SecessionII
Document Summary
Mixed feelings- secessionists and anti-secessionists; anti-secessionists- slavery safer in union than out because constitution would no longer apply to them; return of fugitive slaves; wait until something drastic occurs before seceding; dominated politically. Virginia/arkansas- secession convention agreed upon and come into secession; all other states denied it; virginia convention hoped it could moderate situation; April (week before decision made); convention voted against secession; Coersion- greatest fear, if something happens (use of force by federal government) would stir them. Hoped lower south would see error of their ways and return to union and it would be reconstructed. Realized their hopes rested on things that they could not control; william. Seward is secretary of state and friend of lincoln. Finally april of 1861, conflict broke out; four more states dropped out, opinion turned upside down overnight. Kentucky, missouri, delaware, maryland state constitution protects slavery.
