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. . . Holding the
Union Together
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Abraham
Lincoln Commander and Chief: Holding the Union Together
Commander & Chief of the
United States
Presidential
Leadership |
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Soon after
Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency in November 1860,
seven southern states seceded from the Union. In March 1861, after
he was inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States, four
more followed.
The
secessionists claimed that according to the Constitution every state
had the right to leave the Union. Lincoln claimed that they did not
have that right. He opposed secession for these reasons:
[Outline from: The
Lincoln Home
National Memorial]
Definition: To secede–verb
(used without object),
-ced·ed, -ced·ing.
to withdraw formally from an
alliance, federation, or association, as from a political
union, a religious organization, etc.
| 1. Physically, the states cannot
separate from the union. |
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| 2. Secession is unlawful. |
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| 3. A government that allows secession
will disintegrate into anarchy. |
| |
| 4. That Americans are not enemies, but
friends. |
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| 5. Secession would destroy the
world's only existing democracy, and prove for all time, to
future Americans and to the world, that a government of the
people cannot survive. |
| |
Check
Here
for a description of
Lincoln's viewpoint about
secession |
. . . With these Lincoln
thoughts and values, the United States would enter a four-year Civil
War, 1861-1865. Lincoln did not allow the seceded states' stars to
be taken off the flag. He considered his job, one of ending the
division, and making the country one again. This would take great
leadership skills, as well as political skills. The United States
was seemingly falling apart, but Abraham Lincoln wasn't going to
allow it. m
the mind of Abraham Lincoln, and
respond to them in
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Lincoln's "Cannot
or Should not Secede" reasons: |
The Union Viewpoint |
The Confederate
Viewpoint |
Your
Opinion: Should they have & Why? |
1. Physically, the states cannot
separate from the union
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
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. |
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2. Secession is unlawful.
.
.
.
.
..
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3. A government that allows secession
will disintegrate into anarchy.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. |
. |
. |
.. |
4. That Americans are not enemies, but
friends.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. |
. |
. |
. |
5. Secession would destroy the
world's only existing democracy, and prove for all time, to
future Americans and to the world, that a government of the
people cannot survive.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. |
. |
. |
. |
Review Questions
& Directions for Other Activities
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Secession was not a new idea. During the history of the U.S.,
politicians
in cities and states would get irritated with the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
and
mention the idea of secession. New York City considered secession.
1. About the same time that Abraham
Lincoln
was elected President, a small group of southern states had already
seceded.
What states were first to secede?
2. List all the states that seceded from the U.S.
3. What did the President think about secession?
4. Did President Lincoln remove the seceded states' stars from
the U.S.
flag?
5. What was
the
main cause of the Civil War?
6. What act of
war
occurred (when, where and what) to start the Civil War?
PRIMARY
SOURCES ACTIVITY:
Go to the Library of Congress Real Sources Page on Secession of the
States. Click Here.
PART ONE concerns the President Elect Lincoln's responses and handling
of seceding states. Read the real documents and answer the
questions.
PART TWO concerns Lincoln's first inaugural address, and how he
responded to seceding states. Read the real documents and answer
the questions.
PART THREE concerns more about the first inaugural address and its
final form. Read the real documents and answer the questions.
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