Summary

Soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in November 1860, southern states began seceding from the Union. Many southerners argued that under President Lincoln the federal government would undermine slavery in the South and that they had a right to secede. Many northerners, however, argued that the federal government would not undermine slavery in the South and that southern states had no right to secede. In February 1861, southern states formed a new nation, the Confederate States of America, and two months later, the Civil War began. Did southern states have a right to secede?

This eBook examines the secession of the southern states and delves into the pro and con arguments that surrounded it. It includes a timeline, primary sources, a bibliography, and a "Learn More About" chapter with more information on the topic.

Specifications

eBook