American unionism

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Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was a key figure in the legitimacy and preservation of the Union Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was a key figure in the legitimacy and preservation of the Union

American unionism, not to be confused with labor unions in the United States, is an ideology on the preservation of the legitimacy of American federal government encompassing all states and opposition to individual secession. [1] American unionism has historically been existent during the American Civil War period and Reconstruction period of American history, [2] but has also been affirmed by Supreme Court of the United States decisions, such as Texas v. White. [3] Unionism in the United States arose primarily from the attitudes following Lincoln–Douglas debates, particularly Abraham Lincoln's House Divided speech. [4] [5]

Contents

Ideology

Henry Clay, the 9th United States Secretary of State and Senator from Kentucky, stated in a speech on the preservation of the Union

The Honorable Senator speaks of Virginia being my country. This Union is my country. The thirty states is my country. Kentucky is my country. And Virginia no more than any of the other states of this Union. She has created on my part obligations and feelings and duties toward her in my private character which nothing upon earth could induce me to forfeit or violate. But even if it were my own state—if my own state, contrary to her duty, should raise the standard of disunion against the residue of the Union, I would go against her, I would go against Kentucky in that contingency as much as I love her. [6]

Similar sentiments would later be applied in speeches and transcripts by Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States, such as the Gettysburg Address [7] and Letter to Horace Greeley. [8]

The core idea of American unionism is the preservation and legitimacy of the Union, better referred to as the U.S. federal government. It values federalism and the justification of statehood in the federal system.

History

Early history of the United States

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, authored by the Committee of Five, which includes figures Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman, would be unanimously adopted by all 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress. [9] This would include all thirteen British colonies forming the United States. An alliance between all former colonies, now under republican government, would agree upon the Articles of Confederation, being the first constitution of the United States. [10] Despite the eventual end of the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation would maintain its legitimate status up until Shays's Rebellion, which displayed the weakness of the U.S. government under the boundaries of the Articles of Confederation. [11] Through the work of the Annapolis Convention in 1786 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787, delegates would introduce the first few drafts of the Constitution. [12] [13] Despite this, anti-Federalists, individuals who opposed the adoption of the Constitution, stated there was a lack of bill of rights, thus giving the government far too much power. [14] This would lead to said bill of rights being included as the first ten amendments in the Constitution. [15] The Constitution would be adopted on March 4, 1789.

Preservation of the Union and the Civil War

In a speech from Henry Clay, 9th United States Secretary of State, during the introduction of the laws included in the Compromise of 1850, Clay would state his love for the Union, the utmost desire for the legitimacy and maintenance of power of said Union. [16] This idea of the preservation of the Union's legitimacy and power would be similarly represented in Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech. [17] Despite this, the legitimacy and strength of the United States federal government would be challenged with the secession of numerous southern slave states, forming the Confederate States of America. [18]

In a letter to Horace Greeley, Abraham Lincoln would say

I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free. [19]

Similarly, following the Battle of Gettysburg and remarks of Edward Everett, Abraham Lincoln would deliver the Gettysburg Address to Union soldiers. [20] In said address, Abraham Lincoln would look towards the creation of a new nation, with a new birth of freedom, with it being a government by the people, of the people.

The Union would go on to win the Civil War after the Battle of Appomattox Court House, ending in the surrender of the entire Confederate army in Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee. [21]

Ideas

Federalism

One of the core ideas of American unionism, and generally American government, is federalism. [22] [23] Federalism would first be advocated for after Shays's Rebellion, [24] but particularly concurrent of and after the publishing of the Federalist Papers. [25] [26] It would be a core idea in the construction of the U.S. Constitution and the modern understanding of separation of powers. [27]

Patriotism

Patriotism is a core aspect of American government and general American living. [28] [29] American unionism is an expression of said patriotism via the desire for the preservation of American governmental legitimacy and strength. [30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stampp, Kenneth M. (1978). "The Concept of a Perpetual Union" . The Journal of American History. 65 (1): 5–33. doi:10.2307/1888140. ISSN   0021-8723. JSTOR   1888140.
  2. ↑ "Overview | Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877 | U.S. History Primary Source Timeline | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  3. ↑ Association, Texas State Historical. "Texas v. White". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  4. ↑ "Lincoln warns that America is becoming a "house divided" | June 16, 1858". HISTORY. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Free Soil Party, anti-slavery, 1848, westward expansion, Wilmot Proviso, U.S. politics, sectionalism, Free Soilers". Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  6. ↑ "Speech on Preserving the Union".
  7. ↑ "Lincoln, "Gettysburg Address," Speech Text". Voices of Democracy. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  8. ↑ "Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley". www.abrahamlincolnonline.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  9. ↑ "Declaration of Independence, US history, founding document, American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson, freedom, political philosophy, natural rights". Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  10. ↑ "Articles of Confederation (1777)". National Archives. 2021-04-09. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  11. ↑ "Shays' Rebellion | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  12. ↑ "The Maryland State House - The Mt. Vernon Compact & The Annapolis Convention". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  13. ↑ "Constitutional Convention | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  14. ↑ "The Debate Over a Bill of Rights". Center for the Study of the American Constitution. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  15. ↑ "Bill of Rights". The Free Speech Center. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  16. ↑ "Speech on Preserving the Union". Teaching American History. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  17. ↑ "Lincoln's "House Divided" speech". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  18. ↑ "Confederate States of America ‑ President, Capital, Definition". HISTORY. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  19. ↑ "Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley".
  20. ↑ "Gettysburg address delivered at Gettysburg Pa. Nov. 19th, 1863. [n. p. n. d.]". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  21. ↑ "Ending the Bloodshed". National Archives. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  22. ↑ "Federalism And American Success". Hoover Institution. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  23. ↑ "Federalism in the United States". obo. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  24. ↑ "Shays' Rebellion ‑ Definition, Date & Significance". HISTORY. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  25. ↑ "Federalist Papers | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  26. ↑ "Federalist Papers: Summary, Authors & Impact". HISTORY. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  27. ↑ "Foundations of Law - Federalism and Separation of Powers". www.lawshelf.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  28. ↑ "Topic: Patriotism in the U.S." Statista. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  29. ↑ "Fanning the Flames of Patriotism | To Form a More Perfect Union | Articles and Essays | Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789 | Digital Collections | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  30. ↑ "New book explores how Lincoln's nationalism helped to save the Union | Penn State University". www.psu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
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