Class Summary 12.11.12

As we move on from our slavery unit, we are looking further into the actions and words of Abraham Lincoln and also the succession of the Lower South. Yesterday we started by looking at a section of the Declaration of Independence and Lincolns reference and reliance on this document to support his beliefs on the slavery issue. Next we studied Lincoln's "Fragment on the Constitution and Union," and got an overall view of his perspective and thoughts on the issue. Also displayed here is his reasoning behind his thoughts, such as the foundation of our country: "Liberty to all." Today, we focused on the succession of the Lower South and their reasoning behind their separation. First we read excerpts from South Carolina's Secession Declaration. They establish their idea on the base that all states are free and independent, and have the right to abolish a government when it becomes destructive. Also, the fundamental support for their argument is the idea that, by the law of compact, that when the United States government failed to fulfill their obligations (at least in their opinion), or started to ignore part of their agreement, the fugitive slave law, the contract is nullified or rendered void.