Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Christopher J. Olsen

Second Advisor

Ann Short Chirhart

Third Advisor

William W. Giffin

Abstract

The examination of Kentucky during the crisis of 1860-1 provides a unique understanding of the secession crisis because ofKentuckians political, economic, and social ties with both the North and the South. The most populated county in Kentucky was Jefferson County, which was home to the largest city, Louisville. By investigating Jefferson County it allows for an overall synthesis of what Kentuckians believed and considered at the onset of the American Civil War. The choice of secession, for many Southerners, was the most popular and only honorable solution to the crisis. However, the citizens of Kentucky, a slave-holding state, chose not to withdraw from the Union; instead, they claimed neutrality as their most realistic option. Neutrality allowed the citizens of Jefferson County to maintain their support for their Southern "brethren" while at the same time keeping their loyalty to the Union and, more importantly, the Constitution. The conclusions reached in this thesis are based primarily on documents written by Kentuckians who experienced secession first hand, while also considering the numerous scholarships on secession. Kentuckians found themselves in a historically pivotal situation during the crisis of 1860-1, which this analysis details and interprets.

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