Many Southerners were Unionists, such as Alexander H. Stephens. But once his home
state of Georgia seceded, Stephens cast his lot with the Confederacy, and became its
vice president. You are correct about Americans today. They have no understanding
of the USA in 1860 and the events and personalities that led up to 1860. John Brown's
Raid in 1859 undoubtedly changed the minds of many.