In the episode, Craig talks with his mentor and dear friend, Mike Gaddy, about secession. For many people, when they hear the word “secession,” slavery is the first thing that comes to mind. But is that a correct representation of secession throughout American history?

Mike has spent over 30 years searching for answers and information to map out a true and accurate representation of US history. His discovery? Oftentimes what we were taught in history class was a filtered down version of a multitude of complex events. This historical filter contributes to a false narrative regarding our understanding of the Constitution and our rights therein. According to Mike secession is peppered throughout true US history, and this fact has just been suppressed and removed from its historical context. Tune in to hear about the historical precedents for secession pre-Civil War, why the South wanted out of the Union, and if secession may be feasible in a modern context. 

Timestamps for further exploration:

1:20 Mike’s background

• Born and raised in Appalachian Mountains

• American Foundation for Accountability for POW and MIA    

2:40 Frustration over false historical information

• United States’s laziness for information

• People are comfortable in their ignorance 

• Blatant lies keep the masses comfortable

11:33 Secession: Is it constitutional? 

• Founders were seceding from Articles of Confederation

• Ratification agreements 

• Article 4, Section 2 US Constitution

• The Declaration of Independence was a document of secession from Great Britain 

14:55 Election of 1800

• Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr 

• Several states wanted to leave the union because of the results

• “Go if you must”, Jefferson’s Inaugural Speech 

17:00 Election of 1860

• Luther Martin

21:20 Is the Supreme Court, the biggest racist in American History? 

• Made slavery constitutional 

• 1830s, Oratory battle with Daniel Webster

• Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution

• Article 7 of the US Constitution 

27:09 Southern States Seceding 

• Southern states paying 80% of revenue 

• Moral Tariff 

• Lincoln not even on the ballot in 10 southern states 

• The Corwin Amendment 

• Fort Sumter 

• Hartford 

40:05 Current active secession in the US

• Weld County, Colorado 

44:00 Is there a peaceful path to secession in the US? 

• Nullification

• If you can’t say “no”, you aren’t free

Catch Mike at rebelmadman.com and Addicted to Your Own Destruction