In the early 1860s, the United States was on the brink of a civil war, with tensions between the Northern and Southern states reaching a boiling point. Arkansas, a Southern state, found itself at the center of this conflict. The journey to Arkansas' secession from the Union was marked by political maneuvering, public sentiment, and key events that ultimately led to its decision to join the Confederacy on May 6, 1861.
The Political Climate Leading to Secession
The political atmosphere in Arkansas
during the 1860 presidential election was charged with tension. The election saw Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, ascend to the presidency, a development that was met with disdain by many in the Southern states, including Arkansas. The election was a three-way race in Arkansas, with Southern Democratic candidate John C. Breckinridge, Constitutional Union candidate John Bell, and Northern Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas vying for support. Despite the Southern Democrats winning Arkansas' electoral votes, Lincoln's victory in the national election set off a chain of events that would lead to secession.
In January 1861, the Arkansas General Assembly called for an election to decide whether to hold a convention to consider secession. The voters, while electing mostly Unionist delegates, approved the convention. This decision set the stage for Arkansas to formally address the question of secession.
The Arsenal Crisis and Rising Tensions
As the secession movement gained momentum, tensions in Arkansas escalated. In February 1861, rumors circulated that the Federal Government intended to reinforce the troops at the Little Rock Arsenal. This led to calls for the seizure of the arsenal by secessionist forces. Governor Henry M. Rector, while not officially endorsing the seizure, indicated his support for the militia's actions. By February 8, 1861, the militia had taken control of the arsenal, a move that further polarized the state.
The capture of the arsenal was a significant event that highlighted the growing divide between Unionists and secessionists in Arkansas. It also demonstrated the willingness of secessionist forces to take decisive action in support of their cause.
The Final Push to Secession
The Arkansas Secession Convention convened in March 1861, just after Lincoln's inauguration. Despite fiery speeches and strong pro-secession sentiment, the convention initially voted against secession. However, the situation changed dramatically after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. President Lincoln's subsequent call for troops to suppress the rebellion shifted public opinion in Arkansas.
Governor Rector's refusal to provide troops for the Union cause and his subsequent actions to seize the Federal Arsenal at Fort Smith further solidified the state's path toward secession. On May 6, 1861, the Arkansas Secession Convention reconvened and voted overwhelmingly in favor of secession, with only one delegate, Isaac Murphy, voting against it. This decision marked Arkansas' official departure from the Union and its entry into the Confederacy.
