Fact check: Have any modern US states attempted or threatened secession since the Civil War?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, multiple modern US states have attempted or threatened secession since the Civil War. Currently, there are active secession movements in at least six states: Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and New Hampshire ^[1]. The California Secretary of State has approved a campaign to gather signatures for a potential secession referendum in 2028 ^[2], while Texas has seen continuous secession efforts since the 1990s through the Texas Nationalist Movement ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• Public Opinion: Polls show significant support for secession:
• A 2017 poll indicated 68% of Americans were open to states seceding
• A 2021 poll showed 52% of Trump voters and 41% of Biden voters supported partitioning the United States ^[4]
• 61% of Californians believed their state would be better off independent, though 62% believed peaceful secession was impossible ^[5]
• Legal Context: Legal experts argue that secession is not legally feasible under the Fourteenth Amendment, despite 23% of Americans supporting state secession ^[1]
• Regional Movements: Beyond state-level secession, there have been attempts by local regions to create new states, such as in northern Colorado and California ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question might lead to oversimplified conclusions about secession movements. Important nuances include:

• While there have been multiple attempts and threats of secession, none have been legally successful ^[4]
• The movements vary significantly in scale and seriousness - from formal legislative efforts in Texas ^[3] to smaller grassroots movements
• Different groups benefit from these narratives:
• State-level political movements like the Texas Nationalist Movement gain influence and funding
• Political parties can use secession as a platform issue, as seen in Texas Republican Party platform planks ^[3]
• Local governance advocates can leverage secession threats to negotiate for more autonomy