union. It was one of the four slave states in the Union
Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware
Lincoln did not want Maryland to join the Confederacy because its secession would have severed crucial transportation and communication lines between the North and the capital, Washington, D.C. Maryland's geographic location made it strategically important, as its loss could have isolated the Union. Additionally, Lincoln aimed to preserve the Union and believed that maintaining control over Maryland was essential to preventing further Southern expansion and bolstering the Union's military position.
The Capital of the US- Washington DC, is SOUTH of Maryland. If Maryland became part of the Confederacy, the US Capital would be surrounded by the Confederate States. And THAT would be rather awkward.
It was part of the Confederacy - and therefore not the Union.
Maryland ('Buffer' state, loyal to Union). Virginia (Late recruit to the Confederacy, but containing the Confederate capital, Rchmond.)
Union
Maryland did not join the Confederacy. However. as a border slave state (like Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas) Maryland had individuals who fought for the Confederacy during the US Civil War.
Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware
The states that DID NOT secede from the Union was Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri. These four states did not secede from the Union because They were Border states, meaning they were between the Union and the Confederacy.
Maryland's loyalty to the Union was critical in preventing Washington D.C. from being surrounded by the Confederacy. Its geographical location, bordering the nation's capital, meant that if Maryland had seceded, the Confederacy could have effectively encircled Washington. The Union's control over Maryland allowed for vital supply lines and troop movements, ensuring the safety and security of the capital during the Civil War.
They raised troops for the Union, but they also raised troops for the Confederacy.
Lincoln did not want Maryland to join the Confederacy because its secession would have severed crucial transportation and communication lines between the North and the capital, Washington, D.C. Maryland's geographic location made it strategically important, as its loss could have isolated the Union. Additionally, Lincoln aimed to preserve the Union and believed that maintaining control over Maryland was essential to preventing further Southern expansion and bolstering the Union's military position.
It separated Pennsylvania (free soil) from Maryland (slave). Maryland did not join the Confederacy, so it remained a Union state.
When the Union and Confederacy waged war, and the Union won, Washington decided to move the capital to Washington DC, which is in Maryland.
If Maryland had joined the Confederacy, it would have significantly shifted the balance of power in the Civil War, potentially allowing the Confederacy to gain greater control over key strategic locations, including Washington, D.C. The loss of Maryland would have disrupted Union supply lines and troop movements, making it harder for the North to sustain its efforts. Additionally, Maryland's secession could have inspired other border states to follow suit, further weakening the Union's position and prolonging the conflict. This scenario could have drastically altered the course of American history.
The Capital of the US- Washington DC, is SOUTH of Maryland. If Maryland became part of the Confederacy, the US Capital would be surrounded by the Confederate States. And THAT would be rather awkward.
Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia were all slave states that remained in the Union.