When NYC Almost Seceded from the Union in 1861

07/10/2025 11 min
When NYC Almost Seceded from the Union in 1861

Listen "When NYC Almost Seceded from the Union in 1861"

Episode Synopsis

In the spring of 1861, as the United States plunged toward civil war, New York City flirted with the unthinkable: municipal secession. Mayor Fernando Wood, a flamboyant and ambitious politician, proposed that the city break away from the Union to protect its commerce and citizens, sparking nationwide alarm and local debate. This episode explores the tension between local ambition, economic self-interest, and national loyalty in a city on the edge of rebellion.   DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise  LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now