The Ordinance of Secession is the general name given to documents drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by each of the thirteen southern states and the Territory of Arizona formally seceding from the United States of America. Each state and the Territory ratified its own ordinance of secession, typically by means of a special convention delegation or by a general referendum. The seceded states formed the Confederate States of America which also claimed the Territory of Arizona, roughly the southern halves of modern Arizona and New Mexico.
During the Civil War, the states of Missouri and Kentucky had competing confederate and unionist governments claiming authority over their states. Missouri's ordinance was approved by a legislative session called by Claiborne Fox Jackson, the pro-confederate governor (see Missouri secession). Kentucky's was approved by a convention of 200 people representing 65 counties of the state, but without support from the unionist state government. The Confederacy officially ceded both of these states in 1862, though they were contested throughout the war.
Virginia's ordinance was approved by a referendum but rejected by 26 counties in the north and west of the state (see Wheeling Convention), leading to the creation of West Virginia.
Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas also issued separate declarations of causes, in which they explained their reasons for secession.
See also
- American Civil War
- Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union
- List of signers of the Georgia Ordinance of Secession
Notes
External links
- Texts of the Ordinances
- Texts of declarations of causes
- South Carolina's Ordinance of Secession Text and original document from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
- Virginia's Ordinance of Secession (enrolled bill) Text and original document from the Library of Virginia.
- Virginia's Ordinance of Secession (signed copies) Text and original documents from the Library of Virginia and National Archives.
- Texas Declaration of Causes, Feb. 2, 1861 Text of Declaration of Causes from Texas archives.
