cc licensed flickr photo shared by John-Morgan
When you think about the concept of state secession, you probably have a flashback of 4th grade history class and learning about the Civil War. States first began a petition to formally secede from the United States during the Civil War. States in the south and north were divided on the issue of slavery, and each side vehemently held to its own beliefs. While no states ultimately seceded from the United States, there were some states like Louisiana that did attempt to create their own form of money. Ever since the Civil War, there have been a few states that have had the idea of seceding from the United States as a way to express dissent over a political issue or for the purpose of operating as an independent entity. Here is a list of a few cities and states that are currently petitioning the U.S. government to secede from the country.
California
As a leader in gay-rights activism, California tends to disagree with the nation on a whole host of issues. You would think that this is the reason that California wants to become separate from the United States. Rather, the reverse is opposite. There are a few counties, such as Sacramento, that actually tend to be quite conservative in California. These groups are upset with the way that judges in California tend to interpret the U.S. Constitution. After federal judge Vaughn Walker voted to overturn the ban on gay marriage, secession groups began forming in the state of California. These secession groups have a sincere belief that the only way for California to uphold any sense of liberty is by seceding from the United States. Gay-rights activists argue that they are interpreting the Constitution according to the intentions of the founding fathers, and that these groups are overly dramatic and radical.
Hawaii
The reason that Hawaii wants to secede from the United States is perhaps more profound than those states that have political agendas and want to secede. The reason that Hawaii wants to secede from the United States is due to the way in which the United States overthrew the leader of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Hawaii is a nation that has a rich history that began with the Polynesian people. Around the year 1300, Tahitians began arriving in Hawaii and became part of the culture. When the missionaries from America began arriving in Hawaii in the 1700s and 1800s, that is when the nation began to become disrupted in its culture. The kingdom was shaken to its core when Queen Liliuokalani was falsely imprisoned by the United States, and the United States began to take control over the nation. Hawaii became an official state in the U.S. in 1959, and ever since then, the Hawaiian people have vehemently opposed the status. Majesty Akahi Nui is the king of Hawaii, and he is currently leading the efforts for an organization that wants Hawaii to secede from the United States.
Staten Island
Staten Island has been attempting to secede from the United States for over 20 years. 65 percent of all residents in Staten Island favored a secession movement in 1993. The issue that current political leaders in Staten Island see with a secession movement is its lack of viability. The fact that Staten Island could not financially support itself and have a police force, education system and other important branches of government means that the island is far from being approved for secession.
States have a desire to secede from the U.S. for numerous reasons. Whether they are attempting to overturn past historical injustices or are at odds with the current political climate in the U.S., secession continues to be at the forefront of major organizations in states throughout the U.S.
Patrick Rollins is a military historian and guest author at MilitaryEducation.org. Go here to view rankings of the top 10 military friendly colleges.