Secession Speeches: Articles, Speeches, and Letters on Secession

Secession Speeches: Articles, Speeches, and Letters on Secession, January 1860-April 1861

Between January 1860 and April 1861, the Southern states stood at a cross…

Secession Speeches: Articles, Speeches, and Letters on Secession, January 1860-April 1861

Between January 1860 and April 1861, the Southern states stood at a crossroads — the nation on the brink of fracture. This compelling volume brings together a curated selection of speeches, editorials, and personal letters that reveal, in real time, how Southerners grappled with the question of secession.

Spanning the critical months leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War, this book presents one primary source through various months — a chronological journey from Virginia to Texas, from impassioned fire-eaters calling for immediate disunion to cautious unionists reluctantly persuaded by what many called "the madness of the hour." These documents — many of which have remained buried in archives or out of print for over 160 years — provide raw, unfiltered insight into the hopes, fears, and political reasoning that fueled the South’s break from the Union.

Whether in the thundering rhetoric of a public speech or the quiet resolve of a private letter, each selection opens a window into the minds of those living through one of the most consequential periods in American history. Readers will encounter not only famous voices but forgotten ones — together painting a rich, complex portrait of a people torn between loyalty, liberty, and looming war.