If the South seceded today...?

Question

If the South (defined here as Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas) were to attempt to secede peacefully from the Union again, what would happen?

Note: "Peacefully", as in the new Confederacy makes no offensive moves against the US, allows those who want to stay in the US to leave unmolested, etc.

Answer 1

Difficult to tell, of course. I'm a native of Alabama and pretty much the entire region has been economically depressed since the CW.

If there was a amicable separation, then I would imagine it would be something like the South turning into more of an entertainment-based and agricultural economy whereas the rest of the US would continue its own way.

Again, terribly difficult to expound on in this little space. Speculative fiction attempts to answer questions like this- it would be no surprise to me if someone has not already written about it before.

Cheers!

Answer 2

This cannot be done legally, there is no provision in the Constitution that allows secession. Therefore, it would be stopped by some legal means. I see no reason why those states would ever attempt this.

Regarding the answer above, the South and the Republicans pretty much control the government right now, if the South dropped out the liberals would be in control.

Answer 3

The Loyalty Oath required after Reconstruction to reinstate your US Citizenship requested the states give up the right to succeed. But if we could suceed -- drugs, legalized gambling and offshore banking would be the major industries. In a matter of 20 years the New South would have an economy on par with the USA. Washington would be so-o-o happy they could solidify their grip on the federal government without southern politicians in the mix.

Answer 4

The organizers would be seized and arrested for treason and conspiracy. It would be treated as a peaceful coup.

Although, if the organizers had foreign backing, which would be the wisest move, the U.S. would hesitate. But, what you have to look at are what the reasons would be. The American Civil War was proof positive that the Federal Government takes full ownership of the US and its territories. We're like the verse in Hotel California: "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave."

Answer 5

If there were to be a secession today it would be for different reasons and it wouldn't be just the "South" In fact if you look at the "red state, blue state" maps you could draw the new national lines. And, honestly, it gets a bit old that bit about the "South" Y'all won that one, get over it.

Answer 6

They would lose alot of federal funding. And maybe the tourists would slow down, since they would be another country now and taxes and border fees would be different.
Moneywise and military strengthwise not a good move.

Answer 7

I'd let them go. We can have the United States of Canada and Jesusland. I'll even let you take the rest of the red states too. Everyone who cares about things like education, medical care and poor people in general can come over to our side.

Answer 8

I live in the south and it would never happen again. Not peacefully or otherwise.

Answer 9

I'd say let 'em go ! My wife and I just came back from TN and we had a great time and we wouldn't have a problem with them leaving or with us living there !

Answer 10

ARE GOV WOULD NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN. WE'D HAVE A WAR. THE SOUTH CANT DO WITH THE NORTH AND THE NORTH CANT DO WITH OUT THE SOUTH.