Secession Debated
History 2110, Secession Debated
Reading Worksheet
For any six of the following items (you may omit any one of the following, except Joe Brown), A) define each orators’ position B) list 2 or 3 of their major arguments C) choose 1 or 2 quotes that you think best typify their position, or quotes that you find particularly striking.
1. Thomas R.R. Cobb Delivered his speech in Milledgeville on November 12, 1860 and the night before in Athens. Thomas was a very well educated man and served as a longtime clerk on the Georgia Supreme Court. He wrote many books on Georgia Laws and Supreme Court Manuals. He also wrote a book called Law of Negro Slavery which highlighted his practice of restraint, control and puritanical Christianity views. Clearly he was a secessionist being a faithful Georgia man however his speech isn’t all fire and war. He promoted control rebellion with specific reasons as to why secession is a viable option. In his speech he focuses on the effort of the northern states and frequently condemns Personal Liberty Laws.
“The parties are all dead, let them be buried and with them let us bury all the political and personal animosities which they have engendered and as brothers, as friends, as Georgia’s sons, let us come and take council together, how we shall avenge her wrongs, promote her prosperity and preserve her honor.”
“The exclusion of half the states of the union has been decreed and we are called upon to record the fiat. Will you do it men of Georgia?”
2. Robert Toombs was a faithful Georgia man and an avid secessionist. His eloquence and passion allowed him to win over many antebellum Georgians with the speech he gave on November 13th, 1860 in Milledgeville. He served as a Georgia congress representative in 1846 the on the Senate in 1851; clearly a politically seasoned man. He starts his basic speech with a straight up call to action.
“We have not sought this conflict; we have sought too long avoid it; our forbearance has
Reading Worksheet
For any six of the following items (you may omit any one of the following, except Joe Brown), A) define each orators’ position B) list 2 or 3 of their major arguments C) choose 1 or 2 quotes that you think best typify their position, or quotes that you find particularly striking.
1. Thomas R.R. Cobb Delivered his speech in Milledgeville on November 12, 1860 and the night before in Athens. Thomas was a very well educated man and served as a longtime clerk on the Georgia Supreme Court. He wrote many books on Georgia Laws and Supreme Court Manuals. He also wrote a book called Law of Negro Slavery which highlighted his practice of restraint, control and puritanical Christianity views. Clearly he was a secessionist being a faithful Georgia man however his speech isn’t all fire and war. He promoted control rebellion with specific reasons as to why secession is a viable option. In his speech he focuses on the effort of the northern states and frequently condemns Personal Liberty Laws.
“The parties are all dead, let them be buried and with them let us bury all the political and personal animosities which they have engendered and as brothers, as friends, as Georgia’s sons, let us come and take council together, how we shall avenge her wrongs, promote her prosperity and preserve her honor.”
“The exclusion of half the states of the union has been decreed and we are called upon to record the fiat. Will you do it men of Georgia?”
2. Robert Toombs was a faithful Georgia man and an avid secessionist. His eloquence and passion allowed him to win over many antebellum Georgians with the speech he gave on November 13th, 1860 in Milledgeville. He served as a Georgia congress representative in 1846 the on the Senate in 1851; clearly a politically seasoned man. He starts his basic speech with a straight up call to action.
“We have not sought this conflict; we have sought too long avoid it; our forbearance has