United States
On January 9, 1861, Mississippi passed its ordinance of secession, becoming the second state to leave the Union after South Carolina. Leaders cited the defense of slavery as a primary reason for separation. The move intensified the crisis that led to the formation of the Confederacy. Secession split communities and families while raising urgent questions about federal authority. The decision helped set the stage for the outbreak of war in April 1861. Mississippi’s action illustrates how rapidly the Union unraveled during the winter of 1860–1861.
