Introduction
Before the election of 1860, the United States had different opinions concerning slavery freedom. During this period, there was already war between the Americans. The proslavery group and the anti-slavery individuals disagreed on the decision about the fate of the African Americans. The Dred Scott’s Supreme Court ruling indicated that the federal government intended to extend the slavery situation in the country.
The White anti-slaveries were against the verdict since most of them were fighting for equality and freedom. The laxity of the national government to solve the issues of African Americans led to the continuous rise of the Abolitionist movement. In 1860, the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, which made the Democrats to be against the victory. The southern states claimed that their withdrawal from the confederate union was prompted by infringement of the State’s right, outcome of 1860 presidential elections and lack of security.
Protection of State’s Right
During the reign of Buchanan after the election of 1856, the court ruling was in favor of the southern states that wanted to preserve slavery. The federal government denied African Americans rights, and therefore, they could be forced to work in farms, industries, and homes of the white people (Glock, 2019). Since Southern states’ economy depended much on the workforce of the slaves, they were comfortable with the decision since their economic growth was guaranteed.
After the election of the Republican candidate as the president, the southern states felt insecure since the northern states were more anti-slavery. Generally, the Constitution of the US grants the states some powers to make their laws regarding their rights (Glock, 2019). The southern states had this privilege when the federal government was under the control of the Democrats. These states took the institution of slavery as part of their right guaranteed by the policies within the jurisdictions.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected, the southerners felt their rights would be challenged since the national administration through the Republican government would influence and change the state law for slavery leading to its abolishment. This argument of losing the state right made them withdraw from the unions. Some of the southern states that seceded from the confederate government include Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Result of Presidential Election of 1860
During this election, the southerners claimed that there were no ballots for the Republicans in their states; thus, they were against the results. Having in mind that Abraham wanted to abolish slavery, they believed in possible rigging to make him the winner. They accused President Lincoln of being part of the abolitionist who was for the idea of black people’s freedom. The southern states believed that by having Northern in the government, they would aim for materialistic prosperity since they were a manufacturing state, and the concern of the south would be ignored intentionally (Pitcaithley, 2018). In terms of economic development, the seceded states felt that the federal government would ban slavery completely and affect their growth and development because they depended on the labor force of black people.
Moreover, the southern states felt that with ant-slavery in the national government, their interest would not be met, and therefore they chose to secede. Different ideologies prompted the disagreement, and they did not want the Northern states to dominate in making most of the changes in the national constitution (Pitcaithley, 2018). The call of Lincoln to unite the country together did not fit their need because they were already benefiting from the slaves. They knew having Northerners in the federal government would give the blacks enough freedom, thus lowering their workload both in the farms and in the industries, which would lead to the economic downturn.
Insecurity
States like Texas claimed that the federal government was led by the Republicans would not grant than protection from the attacks from their neighbors like Indiana and bordering Mexico. The claims prompted the states to fear a lack of reimbursement by the federal government to enhance military protection. The states believed they were better secured before than having the national government in charge of safety (Dew, 2017). Southern states claimed that following the difference in slavery institutions, the northerners have been tempering with their security system to weaken their domestic peace. Furthermore, they stated that the federal government had conspired through changes in the law to deny them the rights to access some common territories in the country. The failure to guarantee the southern states enough safety made them withdraw from the union, citing the reluctance of the confederate government.
Conclusion
In summary, the institution of slavery is the root course of the secession of the southerners from the federal government. The fear of having northerners in the ruling party made them feel insecure about the abolition of slavery. Furthermore , the missing ballot containing the Republican presidential candidate made them suspicious of fraud during the election. They believe the northern states would ignore their economic interest, which would affect their growth in the country. Lastly, they never wanted a government that supported slave rights in the country.
References
Dew, C. B. (2017). Apostles of disunion: Southern secession commissioners and the causes of the civil war. University of Virginia Press.
Glock, J. (2019). Unpacking the Supreme Court: Judicial retirement, judicial independence, and the road to the 1937 court battle. Journal of American History, 106(1), 47-71. Web.
Pitcaithley, D. T. (2018). The US constitution and secession: A documentary anthology of slavery and white supremacy. University Press of Kansas.