On December 24, 1860, South Carolina adopted the “Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union”. This declaration, in effect, made known the fact that South Carolina is no longer a part of the greater United States. The main issue of disagreement was over the ownership of slaves. The declaration outlined that by refusing to return slaves to their southern owners, the northern states were violating the southerners’ property rights. On this basic premise, the southern state based its hurried exit from the northern union.
Seven states eventually succeeded from the union to form the Confederate States of America on February 9th, 1861. The Southerners started cutting ties with the northern states. Their representatives resigned their respective political seats, which allowed the northern representatives to finally pass bills that had previously been held up by southern statesmen. The succeeded seven are South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas.
The states caught in the middle were referred to as the “Border States”. The border states often affirmed their loyalty to the United State while trying to keep slavery in a sort of grey area of law. While slavery wasn’t illegal until the Emancipation Proclamation, the border states rode a fine line of quasi-legality during the civil war. The border states were absolutely vital to the war effort for both sides. Their support could make or break battles and likely, the war.