The belligerent and foolhardy among them did. The others did not. It's been some time since I looked up this information, but one high ranking Confederate official pleaded with them not to fall into this trap. He recognized it for exactly what it was.
But this is not to dismiss how much that Lincoln wanted a war. Lincoln NEEDED a war. To let the South leave peacefully would leave him as the jilted bridegroom of history. Lincoln was a canny fighter, and It is a reasonable assertion that his dander was up over Southern states seceding.
Once again I will assert the number one cause of the war was Egos.
Lincoln had to take some kind of stand -- if only on paper -- to avoid the reproach that he'd stood idly by while the country tore itself apart.
Taking a stand to avoid reproach is a manifestation of Ego.
War didn't have to be the result. It turned out that way because Davis was even more willing to risk war than Lincoln did.
Pompous posturing. As I mentioned, not unlike the belligerent princes of Europe. The Confederates were foolish to have attacked Sumter. If they had merely sat on their hands, in a decade it would probably have been abandoned voluntarily.
It sounds like you're letting one college experience carry more weight in your thinking than it deserves to.
I have been made aware of subsequent information that reinforces the narrative. Wasn't really looking for it, but you stumble over things from time to time.
I see a modern parallel to previous history. I see economic and social foolishness emanating from Washington DC as evolving into a dire threat to my property, my savings, my life, my future, and that of my children.
Right now, the idea of chopping off all the Liberal States is VERY APPEALING to me. We simply cannot match the Liberal brainwash machine that is the Liberal Democrat Control of the Media. Unfortunately the notion of peacefully going separate ways has been poisoned by previous history, but despite that, I see commentary from a lot of people arguing that secession would be a better alternative than what we will eventually be facing.
The Dollar is the one ring to rule us all.
They inflate it and we can't stop it. A dollar earned ten years ago is not worth a dollar earned today. My savings and earnings are being eroded by foolish governmental Fiscal and Social policy but I am helpless to combat it.
The idea that there is some way out of this downward spiral ought to make a secessionist out of any sane person. It's certainly looking more and more attractive to me.
You think you are against slavery? Keep watching what is happening.