How did Jefferson Davis use the Declaration of Independence to justify secession?

Answer 1

Jefferson Davis invoked the Declaration of Independence to justify secession by emphasizing the principles of self-governance and the right of a people to dissolve political ties when their rights are threatened. He argued that the Southern states faced infringement on their rights and liberties by the federal government, thus asserting their right to pursue independence. Davis framed secession as a legitimate exercise of the same principles that had guided the American Revolution, portraying it as a necessary action to preserve the sovereignty and welfare of the Southern states.