Secession Crisis facts for kids

The Secession Crisis was a big problem in American history. It started in November 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Many Southern states were unhappy with this election.

In December 1860, South Carolina decided to leave the United States. This is called "seceding." Soon after, six more states followed: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

These seven states formed their own country called the Confederate States of America. They chose Montgomery, Alabama as their first capital. They announced they were independent from the United States. They also removed their representatives from the U.S. Congress.

What Happened Before Lincoln?

Before Lincoln became president, James Buchanan was in charge. He didn't do much to stop the states from leaving. He also didn't try to get the Southern states to talk about their problems.

Lincoln Takes Office

When Abraham Lincoln became president in March 1861, the situation got worse. South Carolina wanted to show it was a sovereign state. This meant they believed they had full control over their land. They demanded that U.S. soldiers leave Fort Sumter, a fort in their state. They saw the U.S. soldiers as a foreign army.

President Lincoln refused to remove the soldiers. On April 12, 1861, South Carolina attacked Fort Sumter. This attack was a major event.

The Civil War Begins

Four days after the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteers to join the army. He wanted to defend the United States and bring the seceded states back into the Union.

Because Lincoln called for soldiers, four more states left the U.S. and joined the Confederacy. These states were Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Confederacy then moved its capital to Richmond, Virginia.

This series of events led directly to the start of the American Civil War.