when Lincoln was elected president
Lincoln's Presidency
The first three steps to form the Confederate States of America included the secession of Southern states from the Union, beginning with South Carolina in December 1860. Following secession, these states convened a series of conventions to establish a new government, which led to the formation of a provisional government in February 1861. Finally, the Confederate Constitution was drafted and adopted, officially creating the Confederate States of America.
The secession of southern states from the Union began in late 1860, following the election of Abraham Lincoln. South Carolina was the first state to secede on December 20, 1860, and by February 1861, six additional states had joined, forming the Confederate States of America. This act of secession ultimately led to the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861.
Lincoln's call for volunteers, following the firing on Fort Sumter by Confederate artillery.
Secession
The first Confederate state to secede from the Union was South Carolina. This decision was made on December 20, 1860, following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President. South Carolina's secession was a key event that led to the formation of the Confederate States of America and the outbreak of the Civil War.
The build-up of the new Confederate States Army, and their challenge to Fort Sumter, a tiny island garrison in Charleston Harbour, which they declared to be Confederate territory.
Several events contributed to the secession of slave states, primarily stemming from tensions over the expansion of slavery into new territories and states. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 intensified sectional conflicts by allowing states to determine the status of slavery through popular sovereignty. Additionally, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, perceived as an anti-slavery advocate, further alarmed Southern states, leading them to believe their rights and way of life were under threat. These events, combined with deep-rooted economic and social differences, ultimately led to the secession of several slave states from the Union.
The American Civil War Lasted: 1861-1865 sometimes called the "War Between the States", was a civil war fought over the secession of the Confederate States. Eleven southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ("the Confederacy"); the other 25 states supported the federal government ("the Union"). After four years of warfare, mostly within the Southern states, the Confederacy surrendered and slavery was abolished everywhere in the nation. Issues that led to war were partially resolved in the Reconstruction Era that followed, though others remained unresolved.
The final compromise effort to stop the secession movement was rejected by Southern leaders, particularly those in the Confederate states who were determined to maintain their stance on slavery and states' rights. Key figures like Jefferson Davis and other Confederate officials were unwilling to consider compromises that would undermine their goals. Additionally, the growing divide between Northern and Southern sentiments made it increasingly difficult to reach a consensus. Ultimately, these factors led to the failure of the compromise attempts and the continuation of the secession movement.
In 1861, eleven southern states seceded from the United States to form the Confederate States of America. This secession was primarily driven by issues related to slavery, states' rights, and economic differences. The conflict between the Union and the Confederacy ultimately led to the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865.