Southern Secession

Order of Secession State Date of Secession South Carolina December 20, 1860 Mississippi January 9, 1861 Florida January 10, 1861 Alabama January 11, 1861 Georgia January 19, 1861 Louisiana January 26, 1861 Texas February 1, 1861 Virginia April 17, 1861 Arkansas May 6, 1861 North Carolina May 20, 1861 Tennessee June 8, 1861

Overview The force of events moved very quickly upon the election of Lincoln.  South Carolina acted first, calling for a convention to secede from the Union. State by state, conventions were held, and the Confederacy was formed. Within three months of Lincoln's election, seven states had seceded from the Union. The Charleston Mercury said, "The tea has been thrown overboard, the revolution of 1860 has been initiated."

First Move Within a few days, the two United States Senators from South Carolina submitted their resignations. On December 20, 1860, by a vote of 169-0, the South Carolina legislature enacted an "ordinance" that "the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of 'The United States of America,' is hereby dissolved."  South Carolina's action resulted in conventions in other southern states. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all left the Union by February 1. On February 4, delegates from all these states except Texas met in Montgomery, Alabama, to create and staff a government called the Confederate States of America. They elected President Jefferson Davis.

6 Lenses of History ×Geography and Environment Objective: Students will be able to use the 6 lenses of history to examine the secession of southern states from different perspectives       ×Geography and Environment       ×Culture Lens       ×Government and Politics Lens ×Social Structure Lens ×Science and Technology Lens     ×Economic and Labor Lens

1. GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT This lens looks at the relationship people have with the environment at any given time in history. Event: Dred Scott Case Question: Does the fact that Dred Scott moved up north of the 36'30 line entitle him to be free? Answer: No, the court ruled that Dred Scott is not considered a person, but rather property and therefore cannot be guaranteed the same rights as freed blacks in the Northern states

2. CULTURAL LENS This lens looks at culture as a system of beliefs, knowledge, values, and traditions that belong to different groups of people. Culture also includes art, music, literature, sports and food. Event: Uncle Tom's Cabin Question: Why did this book create such an outrage among Southerners when it was published? Answer: Southerns felt that it misrepresented their treatment of slaves and purpose of slavery overall.

3. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS This lens is used to analyze who has the power and how that power is used. Event: Compromise of 1850 Question: How does this event show the need for a balance of power in the Senate? Answer: The uneven balance of power in the Senate is what led to the division between the North and the South and the desire to admit an equal number of free and slave states 

4. SOCIAL STRUCTURE This lens looks at the relationship between people in a particular society. For example, social class structures, and the relationship between men and women. Event: Nat Turner's Rebellion  Question: How does this rebellion show the discontent of the black slaves towards the southern white? Answer: This slave revolt in Virginia killed 55-65 people, 51 of which were white. It caused for stricter laws against slaves, continuing to oppress rather than free the slaves.

5. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Event: John Brown's Raid This lens looks at how science is used to create new inventions and how technology affects society Event: John Brown's Raid Question: Why would John Brown want to raid an arsenal of weapons  in Virginia? Answer: John Brown was looking to arm the slaves for the revolt using the most advanced weaponry available which were stored in a federal facility.

6. ECONOMIC & LABOR  This lens looks at things relating to money, business, products and work. Event: Fugutive Slave Act Question: Why would the South be so persistent about returning their fugitive slaves? Answer: Slaves were considered property and worth a certain value to the slaveholders. They were their source of labor and productivity was important. The upper class in the south had larger plantations and more slaves.

Activity Now that you have developed your questions for Southern Secession through each of the 6 lenses  you will break off into small groups to work with other classmates and be assigned one of those 6 lenses to focus on.  You will share your question and look to research the answers together After completing the research you will be responsible for sharing your findings with the whole class