American unionism
American unionism, is an ideology on the preservation of the legitimacy of American federal government encompassing all states and opposition to individual secession. American unionism has historically been existent during the American Civil War period and Reconstruction period of American history, but has also been affirmed by Supreme Court of the United States decisions, such as Texas v. White. Unionism in the United States arose primarily from the attitudes following Lincoln–Douglas debates, particularly Abraham Lincoln's House Divided speech.
Ideology
, the 9th United States Secretary of State and Senator from Kentucky, stated in a speech on the preservation of the UnionSimilar sentiments would later be applied in speeches and transcripts by Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States, such as the Gettysburg Address and Letter to Horace Greeley.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. This would lead to said bill of rights being included as the first ten amendments in the Constitution. 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. This idea of the preservation of the Union's legitimacy and power would be similarly represented in Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech. 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.In a letter to Horace Greeley, Abraham Lincoln would say
Similarly, following the Battle of Gettysburg and remarks of Edward Everett, Abraham Lincoln would deliver the Gettysburg Address to Union soldiers. 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.