A Preliminary Approach to the Social Base of the Southern Secession Movement of the United States in 1860～1861

The Southern slave states' secession is a significant event in American history.In the process of Southern secession the white slaveholder class played a key role.Yet the attitude and political behaviors of white nonslaveholder mass diversified in different local communities.In undeveloped slavery region the majority of white nonslaveholders opposed disunion.In developed slavery regions the majority of white nonslaveholders accepted the political establishment's secession decision.Behind this difference lay the reality of white nonslaveholders.They were not a self-conscious social class,hence could not act as a class in politics.As a matter of fact,among the white nonslaveholders those lived in undeveloped slavery regions acted freely,those in developed slavery regions deferred to slaveholding politicians leadership.