OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Pro-Confederate Kentuckians boycott an election that results in Unionist candidates winning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tag: Sectionalism
A Set of Aristocrats and Overbearing Tyrants
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Tennessee voters confirm the state legislature’s resolution to secede from the Union. However, eastern Tennessee remains largely pro-Union, and political leaders in that region look to form a separate state with Federal military support.
The Tennessee Secession
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The Tennessee legislature votes to secede from the Union and joins the Confederacy before the popular vote on the matter takes place.
Tentative Neutrality in Kentucky and Delaware
The governor of Kentucky rejects President Lincoln’s request for troops, emphasizing the state’s desire for neutrality. This sentiment is echoed by both Unionists and secessionists, fearing threats from either side. Tiny Delaware also seeks neutrality, with the governor unsure of his authority to raise militia for the Federal government.
The Upper South Holds, the Southwest Does Not
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Missouri and Arkansas still remain cautious about secession, as voters elected mostly Unionist delegates for their respective secession conventions. The Arizona Territory, however, opts to join the Confederacy.
Wayward Sisters Depart in Peace
President-elect Abraham Lincoln finalizes his cabinet choices and prepares for his inauguration. Meanwhile, Winfield Scott offers four options on how to deal with the southern secession amid concerns about possible violence in Washington.