Kentucky's Conflict as a Border State During the Secession Crisis

Abstract

This paper will argue that Kentucky was not guided by nationalism but by economic self-interest, its use of slavery, and moderate "Clayite" politics. Kentucky Unionists viewed the Union as the appropriate choice for protecting their property, including their slaves. Slavery in Kentucky revolved around small farms with few slaves rather than the predominant plantation culture of the cotton South. Kentucky had a large population consisting of small farmers, specifically in the East, who had no economic interest in slavery. Despite an affinity for slavery, Kentucky politics typically followed the ideals of Henry Clay concerning compromise and neutrality. This meant Kentucky did not adhere to southern nationalism and the call to protect slavery, nor did Kentucky favor the industrial North. Kentucky held greater concern for its regional interests than national ones. To fully understand Kentucky's reasoning for remaining neutral, one must understand first the history of the state's economy, including the role of slavery, and the legacy of Henry Clay in the state's politics.