I believe that John Hancock and some of the other boys from Massachucettes had something to do with it.
That being said I do believe that membership in the Union is voluntary and a state or states should be allowed to leave if they so choose. It ought to also be possible to expel a state if its behavior, policies or laws are viewed as unacceptable.
Secession was not the South's crime. Slavery was. No amount of latter-day reasoning and rationalization by Confederate apologists can erase the racist stain of slavery. The war was horrible but it was the price this country had to pay for slavery.
What did John Hancock do that is of historical importance ? (Note: fancy handwriting does not count)