What justification did secessionists in the South often cite?

Secessionists in the South often cited state rights per the Constitution as their primary justification for leaving the Union. The belief in state rights was rooted in the idea that individual states possessed the authority to govern themselves and make decisions independent of the federal government. This perspective was particularly strong among Southern leaders who argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws and even withdraw from the Union if they felt their rights were being infringed upon.

The doctrine of state rights was especially significant during the period leading up to the Civil War, as Southern states believed that the federal government was overstepping its constitutional authority, particularly regarding issues like slavery and economic regulation. This belief was framed around the idea that the Constitution was a compact among sovereign states, and therefore each state had the right to interpret its provisions according to its interests.

This rationale was deeply interwoven with the Southern identity and sense of autonomy, framing the Civil War not merely as a conflict over slavery but as a struggle for the preservation of their way of life and governance structure.