With what Americans know today....would they vote for succession again from the Union?
928460
No, it was not viable then nor is it now.  The overarching point of the Civil War was whether a state could decide not to do something, and if it didn't like what the rest of the Union was doing, whether it could just stop being in the Union.  The answer was no.  That was not the point of our constitutional democracy (as opposed to the system under the Articles of Confederation, where the states were basically autonomous units.)  \n\nOn a personal note, would I myself be happier if, perhaps, Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisiana seceeded from the Union?  Perhaps.  Would the North have been economically better off if we had let the South go? Perhaps (save Texas and its oil, Florida and its tourism, and a few other resources). But we're all in this together.  The North would not have tackled the racial issues that sparked the civil war until much, much later.  The South probably would have imploded due to their lack of non-slave economy and innovation.  Certainly today a number of states could function as (much) less powerful independent states -- if Georgia (the former soviet republic) can do it, then Georgia (the state) can do it.  But once again, that's not the point.  America is great because of its bountiful natural resources and its diversity.  Once we fall into the trap of the Yugoslavias, the Iraqs, the "-stan" countries and fractionalize ourselves based on religion, poltiical belief, geography, etc., we become much much weaker.  The whole truly is greater than the sum of the parts in America, and we must keep it that way.
713895
That is a question for the people of Puerto Rico to decide for themselves.  That question has been put to them at least three times in the past and each time, the people have voted to remain a territory.  I don't see that anything has changed sufficiently to make any difference today if the question were presented again.
131952
I'm sure they do but they have to act according to the rules. I would suggest that your husband contact his Senator or Congressperson to make representations on your behalf. This can be effective especially if he is a registered voter.\n\nBest wishes to you and your family and I hope you are reunited as soon as possible.
823856
Dear God, Please shine down on America today, this very, very important day for all Americans. Please show them how to vote today this  Nov. 8, 2006.  You know we need your direction NOW, Today, more than ever!  Let your thoughts and beliefs influence all Americans to do your will. Amen.
984235
You better believe it.  The framers were very wise to include these contingencies in the Constitution.\n\nYou get your chance on Tuesday :-)
981555
I do not think there was a way to poll slave owners. I would guess perhaps less than 3%.The plantation owners owned the majority and they as well were in politics as always it's who has the money and power, so when the North pushed the slave issue guess who voted for secession?
252068
No, it wouldn't. It was based on: IN GOD WE TRUST. Too bad others have come along and took what our forefathers had in mind when writing our constitution and twisted it. Too bad there is barely any freedoms left in this country to enjoy without being lashed out at against by some group or another. I wonder what our Founding Fathers would think of our "progress" if they could see us now?
80782
This is a thoughtful question..........Yes, this is a real possibility. America has always stood for the premise of what our country was founded by our forefathers.  Today we have so many people that want to enjoy the "freedom" of our Nation but do not want to accept the responsibilities. Many people do not hold to the same beliefs of the Bill of Rights or the Constitution...........they think of self and the dollar.  Many of the same 7 reasons Rome fell exist in the United States today.  Others have touched on the reasons, this weakens our nation. We need to take back the strengths that we held true in the 20th century and prior years.
890067
Why not. Who would a dead voter be more comfortable with than 1 of his own?
752918
Unfortunately not.\n\nThe democrats will push their agenda....\n\nBut guess what? Next electionthe american people can push back and vote in the other party. And if they refuse to represent "the people" we can vote them out too.  \n\nIts time for the government to represent the people again.
387713
Sir:\n\nWe congratulate the American people upon your re-election by a large majority. If resistance to the Slave Power was the reserved watchword of your first election, the triumphant war cry of your re-election is Death to Slavery.\n\nFrom the commencement of the titanic American strife the workingmen of Europe felt instinctively that the star-spangled banner carried the destiny of their class. The contest for the territories which opened the dire epopee, was it not to decide whether the virgin soil of immense tracts should be wedded to the labor of the emigrant or prostituted by the tramp of the slave driver?\n\nWhen an oligarchy of 300,000 slaveholders dared to inscribe, for the first time in the annals of the world, "slavery" on the banner of Armed Revolt, when on the very spots where hardly a century ago the idea of one great Democratic Republic had first sprung up, whence the first Declaration of the Rights of Man was issued, and the first impulse given to the European revolution of the eighteenth century; when on those very spots counterrevolution, with systematic thoroughness, gloried in rescinding "the ideas entertained at the time of the formation of the old constitution", and maintained slavery to be "a beneficent institution", indeed, the old solution of the great problem of "the relation of capital to labor", and cynically proclaimed property in man "the cornerstone of the new edifice" — then the working classes of Europe understood at once, even before the fanatic partisanship of the upper classes for the Confederate gentry had given its dismal warning, that the slaveholders' rebellion was to sound the tocsin for a general holy crusade of property against labor, and that for the men of labor, with their hopes for the future, even their past conquests were at stake in that tremendous conflict on the other side of the Atlantic. Everywhere they bore therefore patiently the hardships imposed upon them by the cotton crisis, opposed enthusiastically the proslavery intervention of their betters — and, from most parts of Europe, contributed their quota of blood to the good cause.\n\nWhile the workingmen, the true political powers of the North, allowed slavery to defile their own republic, while before the Negro, mastered and sold without his concurrence, they boasted it the highest prerogative of the white-skinned laborer to sell himself and choose his own master, they were unable to attain the true freedom of labor, or to support their European brethren in their struggle for emancipation; but this barrier to progress has been swept off by the red sea of civil war.\n\nThe workingmen of Europe feel sure that, as the American War of Independence initiated a new era of ascendancy for the middle class, so the American Antislavery War will do for the working classes. They consider it an earnest of the epoch to come that it fell to the lot of Abraham Lincoln, the single-minded son of the working class, to lead his country through the matchless struggle for the rescue of an enchained race and the reconstruction of a social world. [B]\n\nSigned on behalf of the International Workingmen's Association, the Central Council:
667710
Of course!  THe only state in the union that would happen in!
408984
most definately, yes. god really help us if we were to get another president like bush again.
1155110
Americans don't really seem to care and believe that their one vote won't matter but if you think about it that is what about half the population thinks. A thing you might want to think of too is if we get accurate results when we vote???
792664
My Dear Yankee Friend,\n\n  You are correct it is an interesting question but I am afraid my answer would not be as nearly as interesting, especially after seeing the answers you have all ready received.\n   I was unaware that Secession was or is against the law.  Even though one of the main things solved by the War was the question from the founding fathers and Lincoln whether or not the Republic would survive.  It did!\n\n    I cannot believe the answers about equality and the other nonsense but the War did end slavery with the 13 th amendment.  I wonder how many people realize that the 14 th amendment was never legally ratified?\n\n    The War decided that agriculture was to be replaced by manufacturing.\n\n    The War decided how far the Union –Northerners-Yankees would go to enforce their will on others; that the rights of the citizen; the Constitution meant and mean nothing.  It proved that they are willing to sacrifice the lives and properties of civilians, has anything changed?\n\nGod Bless You and The Southern People.
415636
We have a chance.  Rome became a victim of Socialism.  They fell to barbarians, people they allowed into their territory to live, but who didn't share the language, values or goals of Rome.\n\nSounds eerily familiar.\n\nAt the same time, we aren't gone yet, the Socialists are being spotted and rooted out, and the barbarians may soon be routed (not the Mexican immigrants.  They learn the language, learn our culture, and are U.S. citizens!  Hooray!  I'm talking about illegal immigrants of any nation!)\n\nWe see them.  We're speaking up.  The U.S. of A. is on the rise again and we're tired of the people who keep trying to undermine our country and call our President names (any President, Clinton included!)\n\nYou aren't trying to do that, are you?
810359
I agree but I doubt that many of out countries leaders would today. Indeed, there seems to be many who actively seek to disenfranchise those who disagree by stating that people who disagree with a politician aid the enemy by their dissent. It seems abhorrent to believe I have to follow the illogical statements of such leaders today or be considered anti-American and serves to drive a wedge in society if you are not the right religion, the right color, have the right beliefs, or have to support a cause you disagree with. I think Thomas Jefferson was right, and is perhaps still right, but you will be disenfranchised and risk being accused of being anti-American today if you do not choose blindly to follow.