- Enslaved labor was deeply ingrained in the state's economy, with a high concentration of enslaved people, making it crucial to protect the institution of slavery.
- Southern influence: Tennessee had strong economic and cultural ties to the Southern states, creating a sense of identity and alignment with their views on slavery and states' rights.
- Representation: Fear that Northern dominance in the federal government would harm Tennessee's interests and lead to policies unfavourable to Southern states.
State Sovereignty and the Union
- States' rights: Tennessee citizens believed in strong states' rights and resented the perceived dominance and intrusion of the federal government into local matters, including slavery.
- Nullification Crisis: The state had supported Andrew Jackson's opposition to federal authority during the Nullification Crisis of 1832, further reinforcing the idea of state sovereignty.
- Union: Some Tennesseans still held sentimental attachments to the Union, but these sentiments were outweighed by concerns over slavery and states' rights.
Lincoln's Election and Secession
- Abraham Lincoln's election as president in 1860 solidified fears that the federal government would pursue emancipation or policies inimical to Southern interests, leading to secession.
- Nashville Convention: In June 1861, a secessionist convention voted to secede from the Union, and Tennessee officially became the 11th state to join the Confederate States of America.