Who were some prominent Southerners who resisted the Confederacy? Several prominent Southerners opposed the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Here are a few notable figures:
Andrew Johnson:
The only Southern senator to remain loyal to the Union after his state, Tennessee, seceded. He later became Military Governor of Tennessee and was Vice President under Abraham Lincoln before becoming President after Lincoln’s assassination.
Sam Houston:
The former president of the Republic of Texas and governor of Texas, Houston refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy and was removed from office as a result.
William G. Brownlow:
An outspoken Unionist and the anti-secessionist editor of the “Knoxville Whig” in Tennessee. He later became the governor of Tennessee during Reconstruction.
Francis Pierpont:
Known as the “Father of West Virginia,” Pierpont led the movement to create the separate state of West Virginia, which was admitted to the Union in 1863.
George Thomas:
A Virginian who chose to stay with the Union Army, Thomas became a key Union general, earning the nickname “The Rock of Chickamauga” for his steadfastness in battle.
John Minor Botts:
A Virginia politician and staunch Unionist, Botts was vocal in his opposition to secession and criticized Confederate policies throughout the war.
James L. Orr:
Although initially a supporter of states’ rights and secession, Orr opposed many of the Confederacy’s policies and worked for reconciliation after the war.
These individuals and others who resisted the Confederacy often faced significant personal and political risks, as they went against the prevailing sentiments of their home states. Their actions contributed to the complex tapestry of loyalties and ideologies in the Civil War-era South.
