How the Georgia Platform Led to the Civil War
The Southern states’ secession from the United States and the subsequently devastating American Civil War that lasted from 1861 to 1865 could be directly attributed to a single platform: the ordinance of secession passed in Georgia on January 17, 1861 (Fig. 1). This platform contained several significant provisions that resonated deeply with the attitudes and interests of the 11 southern states that voted to secede from the Union.
The Disputes Leading Up to the Platform
Prior to the drafting of the Georgian platform, tensions had already been rising between the abolitionist-minded North and slave-holding South. From the Mexican-American War forward, these tensions had accelerated due to the question of the expansion of slave territory, the rise of industrialization in the North, and the need for social and economic harmony in the United States.
By the mid 19th century, four major disputes between the North and South were brewing:
* The **issue of slavery** in the Federal government (e.g. the question of whether slavery belonged in new states and states)
* The matter of the **tariffs** that favored Northern farmers and industry
The **geography and boundaries** of the United states
* The controversy over **states' right** vs. **strong federal power**Signing of the Ordinance, January 17,1861
On January 17, 1861 (Fig. 3), the Georgia’s Secession Convention, formed on November 14 1860, adopted the Provisional Government of the provisional State of Georgia. Delegates then signed the constitution of the provisional government into law (Fig 2). This convention, formed in response the election of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln had won the democratic presidential elections on November 6th, 1800, with a slight majority and was seen favorably towards the abolition
Major Provisions on the Ordinance
Although the Georgian platform was essentially a rejection of the principle of government by consent; the ordinances of secession of Georgia went beyond what was necessary legally. By doing so in a sense, it opened the floodgates (the following are the majority of provisions):
Proclamation for the people! We take these steps from the assumption that the "United States" is abolished and can no longer call us his citizens. A government no longer exists based on **the principles proclaimed by its founders** (**the founding fathers** for example); and we propose a separate government, recognizing the "United States for the past 75 - 90 years" will be referred to as United States no longer.
Georgia's secessions Ordinance, to the People of the several States composing the United STATES OF America, and every individual. We, this convention in the State have assembled **to take stock of their rights** given by our ancestors, because of this, we know that, the United "States of America" under the laws of the united States.
Article I- The people as well as the government with all our rights and that the Federal government has exceeded its **powers** provided in the Constitution.[Table 1:] The Provisional Constitution of the "State of Georgia" from January 17, 1861
|| Provision || Description ||
——————————————————————————————————————————————-/————————-/’
| Article I Preliminary | Establishes the constitution as an ordinance of severance between Georgia and USA |
| Article II Constitution |- The Constitution of government, authority, and representation for Georgia |
| |- Declaration of the nullification and abolition of "united States. States for the past… |
| Article_IIICooperation– | The cooperation between Georgia federal government after the secession declared. |
The Outcome
After the signing in January, the Georgia had declared secession or withdrawal from the United Stated government. Additionally, six other Southern Slave States (South Carolina to Texas) followed suit that same year. The crisis culminated in the selection of President Abraham Lincoln, which became the proclamation on April 29,1861 where the States of the East and South were divided:
In the North:** **23 states** signed the resolution of the president of the United States calling for peace and unity ("United States")
the South: **11 the states**, which had officially declared the secession after the inauguration of President - **1861** signed the Provisional Government by the Federal governmentAlthough the states of the South that secession, the Constitution did not provide for in this matter. The Constitutional founding fathers’, 8th Amendment explicitly stated "no state union may, without the consents of the other states, in any. That is, Congress cannot amend the Constitution’s provision (Article IV ) for this purpose.
Georgia’s platform 1861, which formally secession, was led by 11 Southern nations. So, the States’ actions were not illegal under international law, it was a state’s right to defend itself or to withdraw – if the government oversteps their powers with a right to self-determination.
