South Carolina Secedes From the Union

Summary

History Daily Episode Summary: South Carolina Secedes From the Union

Podcast Information:

• Title: History Daily
• Host/Author: Airship | Noiser | Wondery
• Description: On History Daily, host Lindsay Graham takes listeners back in time every weekday to explore significant events that occurred “on this day” in history. From tragedies like December 7th, 1941, to monumental achievements such as the moon landing on July 20, 1969, the podcast delves into the true stories of people and events that shaped our world.

Episode Details:

• Title: South Carolina Secedes From the Union
• Release Date: December 20, 2024

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Introduction to Secession

The episode opens on December 20, 1860, a pivotal moment just months before the outbreak of the American Civil War. South Carolina emerges as the first state to secede from the Union, marking a critical turning point in American history.

Setting the Scene: Joe Viner narrates the dramatic backdrop of the time, illustrating the tension and unease that pervaded the nation. He describes the growing divide between the Northern and Southern states, primarily over issues surrounding slavery and states' rights.

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Historical Context: Antebellum Tensions

To understand South Carolina's secession, the episode delves into the decades-long buildup of conflict between the North and South. This section highlights key events and compromises that both attempted to bridge and inadvertently widen the divide.

Key Events Leading to Secession:

1. Missouri Compromise (1820):

   • As Western expansion introduced new territories like Missouri into the Union, debates erupted over the extension of slavery. The Missouri Compromise, orchestrated by Speaker Henry Clay, admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining a delicate balance. Additionally, it prohibited slavery in territories north of Missouri's southern border.
   • Quote: "But the compromise only further divides the north and South. A bitter schism is brewing." ([02:25])

2. Nullification Crisis (1830s-1840s):

   • Spearheaded by South Carolina Vice President John C. Calhoun, the Nullification Crisis arose when South Carolina declared federal tariffs unconstitutional, asserting the supremacy of state laws over federal mandates.
   • President Andrew Jackson's deployment of federal troops to enforce tariffs underscored the growing assertion of state sovereignty.
   • Quote: "The nullification crisis... highlights to Southerners the danger of the northern majority growing." ([10:39])

Impact of Compromises: These compromises, while temporarily easing tensions, failed to address the underlying conflicts. Instead, they entrenched positions on both sides, setting the stage for inevitable confrontation.

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The Election of Abraham Lincoln and the Secession Movement

The election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860 acted as the final catalyst for secessionist sentiments in the South. Although Lincoln was a moderate who opposed the spread of slavery, his victory signaled to many Southern states that the abolition of slavery might be imminent.

Lincoln's Stance:

• Lincoln did not advocate for the immediate abolition of slavery where it already existed but opposed its expansion into new territories.
• His election was perceived by Southern slaveowners as a direct threat to their way of life and economic interests.

Crittenden Compromise:

• In an attempt to preserve the Union, Senator John Crittenden proposed constitutional amendments to protect slavery in existing slave states and prohibit its expansion.
• Despite garnering support among many Southerners, the compromise was rejected by Republicans, including Lincoln, leading to an impasse.
• Quote: "Crittenden's proposed compromise... will ultimately fail and in a matter of days, South Carolina will secede from the Union..." ([02:06])

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South Carolina's Secession Convention

On December 18, 1860, the South Carolina General Assembly convened to deliberate on secession. The atmosphere was tense, with delegates passionately debating the state's future.

Key Proceedings:

• Governor William Henry Gist's Declaration:

  • Gist presented the official document of secession, outlining grievances against the federal government and emphasizing the protection of states' rights.
  • Quote: "The Northern states have assumed the right of deciding upon the propriety of our domestic institutions... the desire among white Southerners to protect their slave owning rights." ([12:55])

• Unanimous Vote:

  • The delegates voted unanimously in favor of secession, leading to the formal dissolution of South Carolina from the Union.
  • Declaration: "We the people of South Carolina... hereby dissolved." ([12:55])

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Formation of the Confederate States of America

Following South Carolina's declaration, a domino effect ensued with other Southern states seceding shortly after.

Timeline of Secession:

• January 9, 1861: Mississippi secedes.
• Subsequent States: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas follow suit by January 16, increasing the number of seceded states to seven.

Establishment of the Confederacy:

• On February 4, representatives from the seceded states convened in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America.
• Jefferson Davis: Appointed as the first President of the Confederacy.

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Efforts to Preserve the Union and the Brink of War

As secession took hold, efforts to maintain national unity intensified but ultimately failed to prevent conflict.

Peace Conference at the Willard Hotel:

• Organized by former President John Tyler, the conference aimed to negotiate a compromise to salvage the Union.
• Delegates: 131 representatives from 21 states participated, including moderates seeking to preserve both the Union and slavery.
• Abraham Lincoln's Stance:
  • Lincoln refused to recognize the Confederacy and remained firm against any compromise that would extend or protect slavery.
  • Quote: "They have always been, they always will be beaten." ([20:46])

Outcome:

• The inability to reach an agreement intensified tensions, making the outbreak of war inevitable.

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The Battle of Fort Sumter

The episode culminates in the first engagement of the American Civil War—the Battle of Fort Sumter—on April 12, 1861.

Events Leading to the Battle:

• Confederate Blockade: By February 28, the Confederacy had established a provisional army and began seizing federal military installations in the South, including Fort Sumter.
• Fort Sumter's Situation: Major Robert Anderson commanded a small Union garrison of 86 men, facing a blockade and dwindling supplies.

Siege and Surrender:

• April 11, 1861: Confederate General Gustav Beauregard demands the fort's surrender, threatening immediate attack.
• April 12, 1861: Despite the dire circumstances, Anderson refuses to surrender.
  • Quote: “If they’re going to have a chance... they must preserve ammunition.” ([00:12] – paraphrased)
• April 13, 1861: After enduring relentless bombardment, Fort Sumter capitulates with no casualties.
  • Quote: "Not a single man was killed on either side during the Battle of Fort Sumter." ([20:46])

Aftermath:

• The bombardment of Fort Sumter ignites the Civil War, leading to four years of intense and devastating conflict.
• Casualties: By its conclusion in 1865, the war would have claimed over 700,000 lives, making it the deadliest conflict in U.S. history.
  • Quote: "By the time the American Civil war ends in 1865, the conflict will have claimed the lives of over 700,000 soldiers, more than any other war in US history." ([21:52])

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Conclusion: The Dawn of Civil War

The secession of South Carolina and subsequent actions by other Southern states set the United States on an irreversible path toward civil war. The episode underscores the complex interplay of political maneuvering, economic interests, and moral convictions that fueled the nation's most devastating conflict.

Final Reflections:

• John Crittenden's Efforts: His failure to broker a lasting compromise illustrates the deep-seated divisions that could not be reconciled through negotiation alone.
• Lincoln's Leadership: His unwavering stance against secession and refusal to accept the Confederacy's legitimacy were pivotal in the Union's resolve to restore national unity.

Historical Significance: The episode highlights how a series of compromises and political decisions, aimed at maintaining balance, ultimately failed to prevent the inevitable clash over slavery and state sovereignty, leading to the American Civil War.

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Attribution:

• Hosts and Speakers: Lindsey Graham and Joe Viner
• Production Team: Written and researched by Joe Viner, executive producers Stephen Walter (Airship) and Pascal Hughes (Noiser), with audio editing by Molly Bach.

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This episode of History Daily provides a comprehensive and engaging exploration of South Carolina's secession, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the events and motivations that precipitated the American Civil War.

Transcript

[Lindsey Graham]

There are more ways than ever to.

[Joe Viner]

Listen to History Daily ad free.

[Lindsey Graham]

Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery.

[Joe Viner]

App as a member of Noiser plus.

[Lindsey Graham]

At noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History.

[Joe Viner]

Daily plus other fantastic history [e-mail] it's before sunrise on April 12, 1861, but the sky above Charleston harbor is ablaze with light. Mortar shells whistle through the air. The thunder of artillery rolls across the mouth of the harbor and echoes off the red brick walls of Fort Sumter, a military base off the South Carolina coast. And the target of this bombardment, striding down the seawall, ordering volley after volley of cannon fire, is General Gustav Beauregard. A dandyish Louisianan with a black goatee. Beauregard is a military officer for the Confederacy, the name adopted by the Southern states, which have recently declared their independence from the Union. Beauregard's eyes gleam as he watches Fort Sumter burn to the Confederacy. The presence of the Stars and Stripes flying above Charleston harbor is a reminder of the US Government's refusal to acknowledge their independence. And after repeated requests to surrender the fort peacefully, the government refused. So the Confederate army readied their cannons and at 4:30 this morning fired the first shots of the American Civil War. Inside Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson of the U.S. army struggles to be heard over the deafening noise. Amidst the fire and smoke, disoriented soldiers scramble to mount a defense, but Anderson orders them not to fire. There are only 86 men defending Fort Sumter against a force of thousands. If they're going to have a chance of withstanding the siege, they must preserve ammunition. But even as he says it, Anderson knows there's not much hope in resistance. They are stranded, surrounded and running dangerously low on food and supplies. Their only chance at fighting off these rebels is if reinforcements arrive by sea. If they don't arrive in time, Fort Sumter will fall and the future of the Union will be in peril. The United States has been on the.

[Lindsey Graham]

Course toward Civil War for a long time. During the previous few decades, many events have accelerated the division between the north and south, and these culminate four months.

[Joe Viner]

Before the attack on Fort Sumter, when South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860.

[Lindsey Graham]

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[Joe Viner]

Hey prime members, have you heard you can listen to your favorite podcasts ad free. That's good news. With Amazon Music, you have access to the largest catalog of ad Free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com ADFreePodcasts that's Amazon.com ADFreeP Podcasts to catch up on the latest episodes without the ads from Noiser and Airship I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History. Daily history is made every day on this podcast. Every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is December 20, 1860. South Carolina secedes from the Union. It's February 1819, decades before the attack on Fort Sumter and South Carolina's secession. As Western expansion continues across the United States, newly populous territories have become eligible for statehood. One such territory is Missouri, whose statehood is currently being debated inside the House of representatives in Washington, D.C. the mood in the House is fraught with rancor and discord. Tensions have been boiling over the question of whether slavery will be extended to this new territory or prohibited. Many southern members of the House, who represent slave owning interests are adamant it should be extended. But a Northern faction led by New York Representative James Tallmadge Jr. Believes that slavery is an abomination and should be restricted. There are currently 11 slave states and 11 free states in the Union. If Missouri joins as a slave state, it will upset that balance. And so, in 1820, after months of heated debate, the speaker of the House, Henry Clay, skillfully crafts a compromise. Missouri will join as a slave state, but another territory, Maine, will also join the Union as a free state, maintaining equilibrium. Furthermore, as part of what will come to be known as the Compromise of 1820, slavery will be prohibited in all states north of Missouri's southern border. But it is an unhappy compromise. Many Southerners oppose it because it sets a precedent for Congress restricting slavery. Many northerners dislike it because it expands slavery into new territories. The compromise only further divides the north and South. A bitter schism is brewing. Years later, in 1828, Congress introduces an import tariff to protect northern manufacturing interests. In South Carolina, politicians vehemently oppose the new tariff since the state's agrarian economy relies on foreign imports. So under the authorship of the South Carolinian Vice President John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina state legislature drafts a document declaring the tax unconstitutional, affirming that individual states have the power to veto unconstitutional federal actions. Then, when another tariff is introduced in 1832, South Carolina issues what it calls its ordinance of nullification, a decree that both tariffs are null and void. President Andrew Jackson finds this exercise of state autonomy a step too far. He deploys federal troops to forcefully collect South Carolina's taxes. Eventually, South Carolina agrees to a compromise tariff once again proposed by Senator Henry Clay. But the nullification crisis, as it comes to be known, highlights to Southerners the danger of the northern majority growing. In Washington, Vice President John C. Calhoun is so incensed over the crisis that he resigns as vice president. In anger, he returns to South Carolina where he becomes a devoted spokesman for Southern interests, establishing the intellectual foundation for secession. During the 1830s and 40s, the clamoring for secession grows louder, centered around the question of slavery in the new western territories. Congress manages to keep all factions temporarily happy by cobbling together a series of imperfect compromises. But then, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln is elected president. Though Lincoln will advocate for the abolition of slavery in the fall of 1860, he is a political moderate. He does not advocate for slavery's abolition where it already exists, but he does believe slavery should not be allowed to spread into the territories and to overrun the free states. But however moderate he might be, Lincoln's election as president to many slave owners in the south makes it inevitable that slavery will be ruled unconstitutional and abolished for good. So one month after Lincoln's election, the South Carolina General assembly call a convention with one draft ordinances of secession. It's December 18, 1860. Two days before South Carolina secedes from the Union. A somber mood prevails over a packed senate in Washington D.C. ever since the election of Abraham Lincoln in November, Southern senators have been leaving the Senate to join secession conventions in their respective states. Faced with a crisis of national unity, loyal members of the Senate have convened to try to avoid the complete disintegration of the United States. Many have pinned their hopes for a peaceful resolution on a 74 year old senator from Kentucky named John Crittenden. The former attorney general, is known as a great mediator in the Senate, a wise and moderate unionist who has often been able to find middle ground between competing factions. But this is Crittenden's toughest challenge yet. Previous tears in the threadbare fabric of the Union have been stitched together with compromise. Crittenden hopes that another compromise might again save the Union today. So before the grave faces of the Senate, Crittenden proposes a series of constitutional amendments barring Congress from abolishing slavery in existing slave states and permitting the extension of slavery into new Southwestern territories. In theory, the Crittenden Compromise appeases many Southerners by safeguarding slavery within the Constitution and for many Northerners, by assuring slavery would remain illegal in two thirds of the country. Crittenden ends his speech hopeful that he has saved the Union. His proposed compromise draws support from many Southern political leaders, but it's rejected by many Republicans, including the President elect, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln, like many of his Republican colleagues, refuses to support any law extending slavery, and as a result, the Crittenden Compromise will ultimately fail and in a matter of days, South Carolina will secede from the Union, setting the nation on a course for war.

[Lindsey Graham]

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[Joe Viner]

It's December 20, 1860, four months before the Battle of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. A crowd has assembled outside Institute hall on Broad Street. There is an atmosphere of feverish anticipation as bystanders throng the front steps and sidewalks awaiting news from inside the hall. For the last two days, delegates to South Carolina's General assembly have been debating whether or not to secede from the Union. Many Southerners have been advocating secession for years, but today, with national unity beyond repair, it's time to put the matter to a vote. Inside the oak panel chamber, the air hums with animated conversation as delegates bemoan the federal government, which they believe has grown increasingly hostile towards the way of life in the South. A hush descends as South Carolina's governor, William Henry Gist, steps onto the stage and strides over to the lectern. He picks up a sheaf of paper, the official document outlining the reasons behind this dramatic act, and reading from this declaration of secession, he pounds the lectern in righteousness, indignation, and decries the federal government's violations of the Constitution and its encroachments on the rights of the states. His words are met with roars of approval from the chamber, but the loudest cheers are reserved for something Gist says next. The Northern states have assumed the right of deciding upon the propriety of our domestic institutions, and they have denounced as sinful the institution of slavery. Gist has arrived at the Fundamental reason for secession, the desire among white Southerners to protect their slave owning rights. Thanks to the abolitionist movement gaining momentum across the country, 18 states have already abolished slavery by 1860. Kansas will follow suit next year. The 15 remaining slave owning states are exclusively in the South. A geographical division has emerged. Many Northerners see slavery as evil. Many Southerners see it as an essential part of their economy and as a foundation of civilized society. Today, these South Carolinian delegates codified their vision for the future. Inside Institute hall, after the President of South Carolina Secession Convention, D.F. jamison, reads the terms aloud, the delegates vote unanimously in favor of leaving the Union. Once they have all signed the ordinance, Jamison announces to the chamber, shouting to be heard over the cheers and stamping feet. We the people of South Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain that the Union between South Carolina and other states under the name United States of America is hereby dissolved. Townspeople in Charleston will ring church bells and light bonfires to celebrate the good news. And soon word of secession will spread throughout the south, inspiring other states to follow South Carolina's lead and split from the Union. In the aftermath, tempers flare across the country. Many Northerners accuse Southerners of treason for threatening the Union and berate them for clinging onto the barbaric practice of slavery. In turn, many Southerners argue that by overruling the individual sovereignty of the states, the Northerners are desecrating the constitution. Then, on January 9, 1861, Mississippi follows South Carolina and also secedes from the Union. Members of their secession convention declared, our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery, the greatest material interest of the world. Over the next two days, Florida and Alabama also secede. On January 16, the Senate votes against the Crittenden Compromise. And shortly after, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas all follow suit, bringing the total number of seceded states to seven. On February 4, representatives from these newly independent states meet in Montgomery, Alabama. They declare themselves a new nation, the Confederate States of America, and appoint Jefferson Davis, a senator from Mississippi, as president. In Washington, D.C. an atmosphere of impending doom darkens the halls of the Capitol. War cannot be far away. One former president, 70 year old John Tyler, organizes a peace conference at the Willard Hotel in Washington, held on the very same day that the Confederacy declares itself an independent nation. At the conference, 131 delegates from 21 states come together to try to preserve both the Union and slavery and prevent war. Many of the Southern delegates are moderate Unionists, supporters of slavery, but aghast at the actions of the secessionists. Peace talks go on for days, but no agreement can be reached. There is a widespread feeling of desperation and of time running out. A notable absentee from the peace conference is President elect Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is resolute in his refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the Confederacy. His absence and his intransigence infuriates many of the delegates who want to avoid war. When he eventually turns up at the Willard Hotel, Lincoln is bombarded by frantic appeals from Southern delegates. But the president elect remains unbending. He asserts that secession defies the will of God, saying that those who fight the purposes of the Almighty will not succeed. They have always been, they always will be beaten. The delegates can only hope Lincoln's words hold true just days later. On February 28, the Confederacy forms a provisional army and sets about taking control of federal military bases. By the time of Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, the U.S. army in the south has been reduced to just 86 men. Guarding Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor, the Confederate army forms a blockade around Fort Sumter, preventing deliveries of food and ammunition. The two opposing forces are locked in the standoff. On April 11, the Confederate General Gustav Beauregard sends messengers to the fort to present an surrender now or we will attack at dawn. But the Union commander of Fort Sumter, Major Robert Anderson, does not surrender. True to his word, General Beauregard will open fire at exactly 4:30am Plunging America into civil war.

[C]

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[Joe Viner]

Wondery It's April 13, 1861, 36 hours into the Battle of Fort Sumter. The battlements have been reduced to smoldering rubble. The flagpole lies on its side, the Stars and Stripes ragged and singed. General Beauregard decides that Fort Sumter has taken enough punishment. At 1pm the Confederate guns fall silent. A Confederate officer, Colonel Lewis Wigfall, sails across the bay to the island, waving a white handkerchief. He meets with Major Robert Anderson, telling him, you have defended your flag nobly, sir. On what terms will you evacuate this fort? Anderson, content that he and his men have done everything in their power to defend the Union, agrees to surrender. Later that afternoon, the Confederate flag is raised over Charleston harbor while Anderson and his troops sail north to New York, defeated. Not a single man was killed on either side during the Battle of Fort Sumter. But by the time the American Civil war ends in 1865, the conflict will.

[Lindsey Graham]

Have claimed the lives of over 700,000.

[Joe Viner]

Soldiers, more than any other war in US history. And though the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, the decisive act that set the war in motion took place.

[Lindsey Graham]

Months earlier when South Carolina seceded from.

[Joe Viner]

The Union on December 20, 1860. Next on History Daily, December 23, 1783. American General George Washington Washington resigns his military commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army. From Noser and Airship, this is History Daily. Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Molly Bach Music and sound design by Lindsey Graham. This episode is written and researched by Joe Viner. Executive producers are Stephen Walter for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.

[E]

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