If a group of the states in the USA wanted to become their own country, could they?

Question

Say if...New England didn't want to be apart of the USA. Would they have the power to break apart of the USA? How would this work? Would people that were born in New England have to be deported back? I think it would be interesting if they turned into a new country....At least everyone wouldn't hate us? Lol

Answer 1

According to the Constitution,Yes. There is nothing within the Constitution which prohibits the States from Electing to Secede from the US.It's an agreement,not a Suicide Pact.

Of course President Lincoln seemed to feel otherwise,so he caused the deaths of 500,000 Americans the last time States decided it was in their best interest to set themselves free of the Federal Government. And he successfully decimated the entire concept of States Rights in the process.The Country has been slowly unraveling ever since.

YTP

Answer 2

If the large majority of population in one state wanted to break away from the US, I think it would be allowed.  Sure the rest of the US could keep them in with military power but it's not 1865 anymore and that would not be the PC thing to do.

Hypothetically if there was a state that wanted to be independent, not saying that there is, they would have to declare independence and the US would have to acknowlege it and set them free.  If this happened on a friendly basis, the state could have a one-job-market agreement with the US, similar to what the EU has so people from this state could continue to work in the US and US people could continue to work and live in this state/new country.  Not that much would necessarily change.

Answer 3

It says in the constitution that (basically in a paraphrase) That if you don't agree with what your government is doing, you have a right secede (break away and become serperate).

That happened during the Civil War when the South secedeed, and the United states was broken into 2 parts: North (Union) and South (Confederate).

There was a big war and the North came and forced the South to become one with the United States again. I'm sure if New England wanted to become seperate, the government would come in and we would all have another Civil War.

By the way, this is all from my memory of College History about 2 years ago, so feel free to correct me if I left anything out.

Answer 4

Are you familiar with a little thing called the Civil War? what the h**l is wrong with you?

Answer 5

No.  I think the possibility of that occurring was decided back in 1865.  It was called the Civil War.

Answer 6

Only Texas has the right to secede from the Union and that's another country anyway.

Answer 7

First assume that a group of states like those in New England wanted too - and they petition the US Government for departure and for some reason the government agrees (would take a constitutional amendment I believe).  Ultimately the civil war was fought to get the north to agree to such an amendment but the south lost and so no such amendment was ever produced.  My guess is that few would agree on either side (in New England or in the US Government).  Still it would make for interesting debate.

Answer 8

Hi Nayna,

I think what people may be trying to explain (albeit, not very nicely) is that the south did just that when they succeeded, they simply "declared" that they were another country.  So technically, yes, any state or states can get together and make the "declaration" just like the US did with England, that they are independent of the original founding country.  The south didn't just declare war on the north so that they could leave.  They started by making the assertion that they were now their own country.

However, such a declaration doesn't really mean anything unless  1) the country you want freedom from is simply willing to let you go (rather unlikely, in the case of the us you need a majority vote in congress, etc etc as vlee1415 described)  or 2)  You force them to do so by declaring war.   This is why the Civil War occurred in the first place.  The south declared their independence and the north basically said "no way!"  and war ensued as a struggle for liberation which the south did not win.

I know that your question was more philosophical than anything else but I thought it might be nice to have a more friendly, descriptive answer :D

Answer 9

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it and to institute new government.

I don't know where these people came up with "Need 2/3 congress, house and states to agree."  

Answer 10

Need 2/3 congress, house and states to agree. Pretty difficult. Probably needs civil war to resolve.

Answer 11

right or wrong, possible or not, i am all in favor of new england becoming it's own country.  they could call it "outoftouchwithrealityland"