Hi! I just have 1 question that I need checking.

Why did South Carolinians believe they had the right to secede from the Union?
A. States had more power than the federal government
B. The new president allowed South Carolina to secede
C. They entered the Union willingly so they could leave when they chose. ********
D. the U.S Congress allowed other states to leave.

I just submitted it and it was right!

To understand why South Carolinians believed they had the right to secede from the Union, let's go through the answer choices step by step:

A. States had more power than the federal government: This answer choice addresses the concept of states' rights, where states have certain powers that the federal government does not have. However, this answer does not specifically explain why South Carolinians believed they had the right to secede.

B. The new president allowed South Carolina to secede: This answer suggests that the new president, whoever that may be, granted permission for South Carolina to secede from the Union. However, this answer is speculative and not based on historical facts.

C. They entered the Union willingly so they could leave when they chose: This answer is the most accurate. South Carolinians believed that when they willingly joined the Union, they also retained the right to voluntarily leave the Union if they chose to do so. This idea of voluntarily joining and leaving the Union was rooted in their understanding of the relationship between states and the federal government.

D. The U.S Congress allowed other states to leave: This answer suggests that the U.S Congress had allowed other states to secede before South Carolina. While it is true that some states had entertained the idea of secession before, such as during the Nullification Crisis, there were no official instances of Congress allowing states to secede at the time South Carolina made its decision.

Therefore, the most accurate answer is C. They entered the Union willingly so they could leave when they chose.

To determine the correct answer, we need to analyze the options provided:

A. States had more power than the federal government: This option suggests that South Carolinians believed they had the right to secede because states had more power than the federal government. While this argument reflects a debate that existed during the time of the American Civil War, it is not directly related to why South Carolina believed it had the right to secede.

B. The new president allowed South Carolina to secede: This option implies that South Carolina believed it had the right to secede because the new president, at that time, allowed it. However, secession is not a decision solely dependent on the approval of the president.

C. They entered the Union willingly so they could leave when they chose: This option asserts that South Carolina believed it had the right to secede because they voluntarily joined the Union, allowing them the freedom to leave when they desired. This aligns with the concept of state sovereignty and a states' rights argument, which was a significant factor in South Carolina's decision to secede.

D. The U.S Congress allowed other states to leave: This option suggests that South Carolina believed it had the right to secede because the U.S. Congress allowed other states to leave. However, the U.S. Congress did not explicitly permit other states to secede, nor did it establish a precedent for secession.

Based on the analysis of the options provided, the correct answer is C. They entered the Union willingly so they could leave when they chose, as it aligns with the historical context and the concept of state sovereignty.

I think there's a better answer, but be sure to check your assigned text.

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/south-carolina-declaration-of-causes-of-secession/