Maryland, as a slave-holding border state, had remained relatively neutral in the antebellum squabbling over states rights and the sovereignty of the Federal government. However, in the lead up to the American Civil War, it became clear that the state was more sympathetic to the South than to the North.[citation needed]; in the presidential election of 1860 only 2 percent of the votes went to Abraham Lincoln. [1]
However, despite considerable popular support for the cause of the Confederate States of America, Maryland did not secede during the United States Civil War. This was due to when Abraham Lincoln intervened forcibly, arresting some 3,000 community leaders who were Southern sympathizers and allowing many more to be disfranchised.[2] Subsequently, many prominent men lobbied Hicks to call the General Assembly into special session, purportedly for the mixed reason of opposing secession and opposing the Northern attitude towards the South. Initially called into session in Annapolis, Hicks changed it to Frederick. Annapolis was a Southern Democratic town, and secessionist, and Frederick was Unionist. Additionally, many legislators and Southern sympathizers were arrested by Lincoln. The legislature convened in Frederick unanimously adopted a measure stating that they would not commit the state to secession, "even though we have the constitutional authority to take such action."
gee, read some history |
