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I keep hearing TN was the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy, but then I also hear some say NC. Which one was it? Also, a second point I'm a little curious about, what prompted VA to secede? When you look at a map, VA was the most northern geographically Confederate state. I know geography doesn't necessarily matter, but should I be surprised that VA seceded before North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas? Or, seceded from the union at all?
I keep hearing TN was the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy, but then I also hear some say NC. Which one was it? Also, a second point I'm a little curious about, what prompted VA to secede? When you look at a map, VA was the most northern geographically Confederate state. I know geography doesn't necessarily matter, but should I be surprised that VA seceded before North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas? Or, seceded from the union at all?
Both Virginia (May 23rd) and Tennessee (June 8th) had their secession confirmed by referendum after North Carolina (May 20th), but NC was the last state legislature to secede from the Union. I think in the case of Virginia and Tennessee, the outcome of the referendums was a foregone conclusion after their legislatures passed the secession bills (April 17th for Virginia; May 7th for Tennessee).
It depends on how you count. Maryland wanted to secede, but Lincoln sent troops up to prevent the legislature from voting as D.C. would have been in the Confederacy. Thus the argument is more which was the last state allowed to secede.
It depends on how you count. Maryland wanted to secede, but Lincoln sent troops up to prevent the legislature from voting as D.C. would have been in the Confederacy. Thus the argument is more which was the last state allowed to secede.
The Maryland Legislature was meeting in Frederick. There were at that time no Union troops in Frederick or anywhere near it.
It depends on how you count. Maryland wanted to secede, but Lincoln sent troops up to prevent the legislature from voting as D.C. would have been in the Confederacy. Thus the argument is more which was the last state allowed to secede.
This is a thoroughly exaggerated myth. The legislature voted in Frederick 53-13 to stay part of the United States before the federal government intervened. I wouldn't call 53-13 a close vote, would you?
Maryland did not secede because the Federal government arrested and imprisoned the governor and the state legislators, who were for secession. If they had been left at large they surely would have convened the legislature and passed an ordinance of secession, taking Maryland out of the Union. Lincoln also suspended the Constitutionally guaranteed right of Habeus Corpus, so these imprisoned state officials could not petition a Federal Court for their release. These men were not charged with any crime, nor were they ever tried in court for anything; they were just kept in prison, not charged and not convicted.
It was crucial for the Federal government (the north) to keep Maryland in the Union because of the location of Washington DC, between Maryland and Virginia. The city of Washington is actually entirely located on land that was part of Maryland, before being ceded to the Federal government to be the District of Columbia, the home of the national government. If Maryland went out of the Union the nation's capital would be cut off, surrounded by "foreign" territory, isolated amidst a hostile population.
Lincoln's border state policy blended several objectives. The first was to preserve or establish loyal governments in each of these states. In summarizing the administration's policy in Maryland in the early weeks of the war, General Nathaniel P. Banks, who was stationed in Annapolis in 1861, declared, "The secession leaders—the enemies of the people—were replaced and loyal men assigned to ... their duties. This made Maryland a loyal State." [9] In devising his border state policy, as would be true later with his Reconstruction program, Lincoln always gave first priority to placing loyal men in control of the state government.
Lincoln's second objective was that each of these Union state governments take the lead in fostering loyalty among its citizens, control the civilian population, and marshal the resources of the state behind the war effort. Lincoln did not shirk from his responsibility—as he saw it—to suppress disloyal activities among the civilian population, but he preferred to avoid such acts because they were controversial and politically embarrassing.[10]
The Lincoln border state policy is not well remembered or taught to most children, Maryland was a slave state. There are numerous clean ups of history and the civil war. Often California is credited with joining the union as a free state, which it did. However, California made a promise to send one pro slave and one anti slave Senator to the Senate. This to keep representation equal in the senate.
It always amazing to me how history is rewritten long after events are complete in a way which satisfies the victors.
What relevance has this link to my statement that the Legislature met in Frederick, or that there were no Union troops in or near Frederick? Both statements are correct.
It's also talking nonsense in stating that the Governor was arrested. Not only was Thomas Hicks never arrested but he strongly supported the arrest of subversive elements.
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