DIVISION AND REUNION: U.S. History 1829-1889

The principles upon which secession was attempted were plain enough to everyone in the South and their opinion stood with Calhoun regarding the Constitution as an instrument of confederation, not national consolidation. Even the North was slow to accept the latter and following secession they were not sure that the South had actually acted beyond their right. It took the terrible exercise of a bloody prolonged war to impart to the national idea diffused vitality and authentic power.