List of signers of the Georgia Ordinance of Secession facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ordinance of Secession |
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 Facsimile of the 1861 Ordinance of Secession signed by 293 delegates to the Georgia Secession Convention at the statehouse in Milledgeville, Georgia January 21, 1861
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| Created | c. January 20, 1861 |
| Ratified | Put to the vote on January 19, 1861 – 208 yeas 89 nays; signed on January 21, 1861, by 293 delegates; enacted January 22, 1861 |
| Location | Engrossed copy: University of Georgia Libraries, Hargrett Library |
| Authors | George W. Crawford et al. Engrosser: H. J. G. Williams |
| Signers | 293 delegates to The Georgia Secession Convention of 1861 |
| Purpose | To announce Georgia's formal intent to secede from the Union. |
The Georgia Ordinance of Secession was a very important document from 1861. It was Georgia's official statement that it was leaving the United States. This happened just before the American Civil War began.
Contents
What Was the Ordinance of Secession?
The Ordinance of Secession was a special paper. It declared that the state of Georgia was no longer part of the United States. This decision was made by a group of leaders called the Georgia Secession Convention. They met in Milledgeville, Georgia, which was the state capital at the time.
Why Did Georgia Secede from the Union?
In the 1800s, there were big disagreements between the northern and southern states. A main reason was slavery. Southern states, like Georgia, relied on enslaved people for their economy. They worried the U.S. government would end slavery. To protect their way of life, they decided to leave the Union. This act of leaving was called "secession."
How Was the Ordinance Adopted?
The Georgia Secession Convention held a vote on January 19, 1861. The vote was 208 in favor of leaving the Union right away. There were 89 votes against it. So, most of the delegates wanted Georgia to secede.
After the vote, a delegate named Eugenius A. Nisbet had an idea. He suggested that all delegates should sign the ordinance. This was true even if they had voted against it. He believed it would show that Georgia was united in its decision. This idea passed, and everyone was asked to sign.
Who Signed the Document?
George W. Crawford, who was the president of the Convention, signed first. Then, other delegates came forward to sign. Most delegates signed the document. However, a few delegates chose not to sign. Six of them even asked to add a protest to the ordinance. This showed that not everyone agreed with the decision.
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George Walker Crawford
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Portrait of George W. Crawford, elected Permanent President of the Georgia Secession Convention; leading the delegation as the first to sign Georgia's Ordinance of Secession.
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Robert Toombs
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Portrait of Robert Toombs, elected a delegate at-large to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Howell Cobb
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Portrait of Howell Cobb, elected a delegate at-large to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Francis S. Bartow
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Portrait of Francis S. Bartow, elected a delegate from district 1 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861—Bartow died July 21, 1861, at First Battle of Manassas.
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Martin J. Crawford
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Portrait of Martin J. Crawford, elected a delegate from district 2 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Eugenius A. Nisbet
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Portrait of Eugenius A. Nisbet, elected a delegate from district 3 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Benjamin Harvey Hill
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Portrait of Benjamin H. Hill, elected a delegate from district 4 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Augustus Romaldus Wright
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Portrait of Augustus R. Wright, elected a delegate from district 5 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb
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Portrait of Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb, elected a delegate from district 6 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861-T.R.R. Cobb died at the Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862.
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Augustus H. Kenan
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Portrait of Augustus H. Kenan, elected a delegate from district 7 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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Alexander H. Stephens
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Portrait of Alexander H. Stephens, elected a delegate from district 8 to the Southern Convention in Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861.
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