Southern States Secede and Form the Confederacy
Explain why Southern states seceded after Lincoln's election, how the Confederacy formed, and what Fort Sumter's fall meant for the start of the Civil War in Grade 8 history.
Key Concepts
Following Abraham Lincoln's election, many Southern leaders feared he would end slavery. In December 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede, or formally leave, the Union. Six other states in the Deep South soon followed, declaring that they were no longer part of the United States.
In February 1861, delegates from these states met to form a new nation. They established the Confederate States of America and wrote a constitution that protected slavery. They elected Jefferson Davis , a former senator from Mississippi, as their president. This new government claimed to be an independent country.
Common Questions
Why did Southern states secede after Lincoln's election?
Southern leaders feared Lincoln would end slavery, so South Carolina seceded first in December 1860 and was followed by ten more states forming the Confederate States of America.
What was the Confederate States of America?
It was a new government formed by seceding Southern states with Jefferson Davis as president, created to preserve slavery and states' rights outside the Union.
How did Fort Sumter start the Civil War?
Confederate forces fired on and captured the federal Fort Sumter in South Carolina in April 1861, making the first shots of the Civil War and forcing Lincoln to respond militarily.