- Economic Ties: The border states had strong economic ties to the North, and they were concerned that secession would disrupt these ties and damage their economies.
- Political and Social Ties: Many people in the border states had family and friends in the North, and they were reluctant to break these ties by seceding. Additionally, the border states had a strong tradition of Unionism, and many people were opposed to secession on principle.
- Military Weakness: The border states were militarily weak compared to the North, and they knew that they would be unlikely to win a war against the Union.
As a result of these factors, the border states remained in the Union during the Civil War. However, they did sympathize with the South, and many border state residents fought for the Confederacy.