What was the belief of secessionists regarding their relationship with the Union?

Secessionists held the belief that states possessed the right to unilaterally withdraw from the Union, embodying the principle of states' rights. This belief stemmed from the idea that the Union was a voluntary association of sovereign states, and therefore, if a state believed its rights were being infringed upon or if it faced irreconcilable differences with the federal government, it could choose to secede. This perspective was particularly prevalent among Southern states prior to the Civil War, where many felt that their way of life and economic interests—especially in relation to slavery—were threatened by Northern policies and attitudes. Therefore, they justified secession as a legitimate exercise of their sovereignty, aligning with their deep-rooted commitment to the idea of self-determination for individual states.