Question

In a paragraph and your own words, explain the idea of secession from the point of view of the Union and the Confederacy. How did these different perspectives shape the question of secession and slaveholding?

Answer 1

From the perspective of the Union, secession was viewed as an illegal and unconstitutional act that threatened the very foundation of the nation—its unity and government established under the Constitution. The Union believed that states did not have the right to break away, as the nation was formed as a single entity, and preserving it was essential for democracy and stability. In contrast, the Confederacy saw secession as a legitimate expression of states' rights and a necessary response to what they perceived as the federal government's overreach, especially regarding the institution of slavery, which was vital to their economic and social order. This divergence in views shaped the conflict: while the Union fought to maintain national integrity and ultimately to end slavery, the Confederacy aimed to protect their way of life and uphold their belief in the right to self-determination. These conflicting ideologies turned the issue of secession into a critical battleground, intertwining the debates over state sovereignty and the moral and economic dimensions of slavery.