RE: A state’s right and determination to do what?
The thirteen states formed a loose confederation with a very weak federal government. However, when problems arose, the weakness of this form of government caused the leaders of the time to come together at the Constitutional Convention and create, in secret, the US Constitution.
Strong proponents of states rights like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry were not present at this meeting. Many felt that the new constitution ignored the rights of states to continue to act independently.
They felt that the states should still have the right to decide if they were willing to accept certain federal acts. This resulted in the idea of nullification, whereby the states would have the right to rule federal acts unconstitutional. The federal government denied states this right. However, proponents such as John C. Calhoun fought vehemently for nullification. When nullification would not work and states felt that they were no longer respected, they moved towards secession.
It was the Constitution, specifically Article VI and the supremacy clause, that denied them this right and not the federal government.
When nullification would not work and states felt that they were no longer respected, they moved towards secession.
Twenty years later, when a perceived threat to their institution of slavery appeared.
Madison said secession was nonsense. As did Robert E. Lee.