Secession Chapter 15, Section 4 “The act of formally withdrawing from a union”

The Raid at Harpers Ferry In 1858 John Brown worked to start a slave uprising in Virginia. He wanted to attack the military storehouse in Virginia and seize the weapons.

The Raid on Harpers Ferry He then planned to arm the slaves, take hostages, and kill any white southerner who stood in his way. Brown only had 20 men on the night of the attack.

The Raid on Harpers Ferry Brown and his men took over the arsenal. He then sent his men to get slaves to join them.

The Raid on Harpers Ferry The slaves refused because they knew they would be severely punished if caught.

Raid on Harpers Ferry The federal troops surrounded the building, led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. John Brown was captured and sent to trial for murder, treason, and conspiracy to stir up a slave rebellion.

Raid at Harpers Ferry John Brown was captured and sent to trial for murder, treason, and conspiracy to stir up a slave rebellion.

Judging John Brown John Brown was found guilty and sentenced to hang for his crime.

John Brown Many southerners felt threatened by John Brown’s actions and worried that “John Brown the Second” might attack another southern target.

One South Carolina newspaper wrote: “We are convinced the safety of the South lies only outside the present union.”

The Election of 1860 Many southerners believed that if Lincoln were elected, he would abolish slavery and destroy the South’s economy and society.

Election of 1860 The northern and southern members of the democratic party could not agree on a candidate. When they could not agree, they split in two.

The Election of 1860 Lincoln gained less than 40% of the popular vote, but he won 180 of the 183 electoral college votes in the free states.

Election of 1860 Lincoln did not carry a single southern state, yet he would be the next president. This election was a strong reminder of how the South was losing its political power on a national level.

Breaking the Union Lincoln insisted that although he was opposed to slavery, he would not change slavery in the southern states.

Breaking the Union Lincoln did say that slavery had to end at some point in the future.

Breaking with the Union Just four days after Lincoln’s election, South Carolina’s legislature met and voted unanimously to secede (withdraw) from the Union.

Breaking with the Union The Constitution does not directly address the issue of secession. Therefore, the southerners believed there was no constitutional barrier to a state leaving the union.

Breaking the Union President-elect Lincoln disagreed “No state, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the Union.”

The Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America The southern delegation established a new nation; The Confederate States of America, also known as the Confederacy.

The Confederate States of America The Confederacy passed their own constitution . It closely resembled the US Constitution is many ways. However, it guaranteed that its citizens could hold slaves.

The Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected president of the Confederate States of America.