Why Did South Carolina Secede?

On December 20, 1860 our fine state of South Carolina was the first slaveholding state to secede from the union. South Carolina paved the way for other states to follow in her brave footsteps. Together these steadfast states formed what was proudly called the Confederate States of America. The Confederate States of America was formed in February of the year 1861. The state's reasons for seceding include, but are not limited to political liberty, preservation of slavery, and states rights.

South Carolina was very concerned about the active tasks of the abolishment of slavery. Also, by 1832 the state of South Carolina had turned to focus on the issue of tariffs. The national tariffs increased the price of goods purchased from the south. These

tariffs also protected northern manufacturers. The South Carolina legislature declared that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 were unauthorised by the constitution. The brave state of South Carolina voted them null and void. The declaration by the South Carolina legislature also voted that these tariffs were nonbinding on the state. The declaration by the state of South Carolina was met with a proclamation of force by President Andrew Jackson. Congress authorized President Andrew Jackson to be able to use force if need be to enforce this proclamation.

Southern senators protested by walking out prior to the vote being taken. A compromise was created and the state of South Carolina retracted its nullification ordinance. The nullification crisis demonstrated the belief in state's rights over federal government. This led to the uneasy belief that the chief executive had the right to hold back on a individual states attempt to override federal law. In December 1859 to February 1860 William Pennington was elected by the exact 119 votes needed to place him as speaker of the House of Representatives. It was during this time that southern congressmen openly talked of secession in the event a republican was elected to the presidency in the upcoming November election. In December of 1859 John Brown was hung for attempting to form a slave revolt. The democratic party of Alabama adopted a resolution in 1860. This resolution was to insist on a clause in the national platform. The clause called for a law to protect slavery in the territories. If this clause were not to be accepted, the delegates were instructed to withdraw from the convention. From the 1830’s to 1860 the North and the South continued to be

divided over the issue of slavery. The South held to the firm belief that its interests were being threatened as the abolition movement grew. The Missouri Compromise and popular sovereignty were but a few of the events that led to the southerners favor of sustaining slavery. With the election of President Zachery Taylor in the year 1848 a threat surfaced, President Zachery Taylor declared that any state that went forward with the action of intent to secede would be forced back into the union. President Taylor, a slave owner himself , opposed the creation of new slave states.
The southern states were outraged with the election of Republican President Abraham Lincoln in November of 1860. On December 20, 1860 the ordinance of secession was approved by the Palmetto State. South Carolina was the first state to leave the Union. In February 1861 six more states followed South Carolina. Those states were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Soon to follow were Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Confederate States of America was created and elected Jefferson Davis as their president. They believed that President Lincoln had exceeded his powers by not receiving congress's approval before declaring battle, thus beginning the Civil War. The Civil War lasted four very long years, and ended the most impressive attempt to secede from the Union. The idea of a new southern confederacy was abandoned.
During the Civil War, on February 17, 1864 the H.L. Hunley became the first ever submarine to an enemy war vessel. The Hunley struck and sank the Housatonic. The lives of the courageous H.L. Hunley crew were lost at sea. Heros forever to be honored for their dedication and extreme bravery.
I am proud to be a true southerner from the great state of South Carolina. Our state is rich in history and diversity. I honor our ancestors. Our forefathers fought for rights and our freedoms and deserve our respect. They stood strong to defend our state against those who tried to impose actions that would put our great state into jeopardy. I defend our heritage, it is after all, what has created the fine place that we today are proud to call home. Those who fought and those who gave their lives are forever heros, and should, in my opinion, be honored throughout all of time.