How did President James Buchanan respond to the secession of the Southern states during his final months in office?
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Correct answer: He declared secession illegal but said the federal government had no power to stop it
Buchanan's 'lame duck' period was marked by paralysis. While he believed the Union was intended to be perpetual, he did not believe the Executive branch had the constitutional authority to coerce a state to remain.
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More Election of 1860 and Secession questions
- The Confederate States of America (CSA) was officially formed in February 1861 in which city?
- Who was chosen as the first (and only) President of the Confederate States of America?
- Which of the following was a key difference between the U.S. Constitution and the Confederate Constitution?
- Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address (March 1861) was primarily intended to:
- The actual fighting of the American Civil War began at Fort Sumter because:
- Which event directly caused the 'Upper South' states (Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas) to secede?