President James Buchanan sent a naval convoy to resupply the Federals at Sumter. State militia began mobilizing in Charleston as more southern states seceded. Congress scrambled to devise yet another compromise to preserve the Union. New York City threatened to secede, while “Bleeding” Kansas finally gained statehood. Most northerners still believed that the southern states would eventually return to the Union without bloodshed.
Star of the West | Image Credit: Library of Congress
2 Jan – President James Buchanan decided to resupply Major Robert Anderson’s Federal troops at Charleston, South Carolina.
The Failed Crittenden Compromise
3 Jan – Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky took the unprecedented step of urging his colleagues to submit his comprehensive plan to preserve the Union to a popular vote.
8 Jan – While the Florida State Convention considered secession at Tallahassee, Federal troops garrisoning Fort Barrancas at Pensacola fired on and repelled potential secessionists approaching them.
9 Jan – Delegates to the Mississippi State Convention at Jackson voted 84 to 15 to secede from the United States.
Compromise Failures Make Disunion Imminent
10 Jan – Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi warned his colleagues to take action before the country drifted toward war.
11 Jan – Delegates to the Alabama State Convention at Montgomery voted 61 to 39 to secede from the United States.
18 Jan – South Carolina authorities issued a third demand for Major Robert Anderson to surrender his Federal garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.
19 Jan – Delegates to the Georgia State Convention at Milledgeville voted 208 to 89 to secede from the United States.
21 Jan – Five U.S. senators from three southern states resigned their seats after delivering emotional farewell speeches on the Senate floor.
26 Jan – Delegates to the Louisiana State Convention at Baton Rouge voted 113 to 17 to secede from the United States.
Lincoln and Conciliation Efforts
27 Jan – Secretary of State-designate William H. Seward wrote to President-elect Abraham Lincoln about conciliation efforts toward the southern states.
29 Jan – President James Buchanan signed the Kansas Statehood Act into law, admitting Kansas into the Union as the 34th state.
Other Secession Considerations
31 Jan – By the end of January, all 15 slaveholding states had either seceded or contemplated secession. Some continued debating whether to secede into February.
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Last Updated: 9/30/2018
