The state of Georgia and Mississippi explain their reasons for Secession:

Georgia Declaration of Secession, January 1861
"The party of Lincoln, called the Republican Party . . . [admits] to be an anti-slavery party. The prohibition of slavery in the territories, hostility to [slavery] everywhere, [and] the equality of the black and white races is the cardinal principle of this organization

Mississippi Declaration of Secession, January 1861

"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest [economic] interest of the world . . . [A] blow at slavery is a blow are commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution [of slavery] . There was no choice left [to] us but . . . abolition, or a dissolution of the Union.

The vice president of the Confederacy explains why the South seceded:

By the time Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as U.S. president, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union. These states attempted to form a new country called the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy.

In march of 1861m ,the vice president of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, gave a speech about why the South had seceded

"Our new government is founded upon . . . the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery . .
. is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first . . . based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth."

Imagine you are a historian researching why the Southern states seceded. Based on these passages, what conclusions could you reach? Complete the text below, based on the information in the passage by Georgia, Mississippi, and Stephens

According to the statements made by the states of Georgia and Mississippi, these states chose to secede because they (wanted to invade Canada, believed the slavery was threatened, wanted to abolish slavery). Secessionists wanted to make and follow their own laws about this issue. According to the vice president of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, the most important idea of his new country was (the belief the fugitive slave act should be repealed, the belief that African American people were not as good as white people, the belief that slavery was unprofitable and the south should end it as soon as possible). The states that joined the Confederacy wanted their laws to reflect this belief, without interference from the United States government.

1 answer

According to the statements made by the states of Georgia and Mississippi, these states chose to secede because they believed slavery was threatened. Secessionists wanted to make and follow their own laws about this issue. According to the vice president of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens, the most important idea of his new country was the belief that African American people were not as good as white people. The states that joined the Confederacy wanted their laws to reflect this belief, without interference from the United States government.