In 1861, when the Civil War began, Minnesota had only been a state for three years. But political divisions were clear even then; the territory and new state leaned Democrat, which at the time was the more conservative party. By the 1860 presidential election, more than half of Minnesota votes cast went to Lincoln, the Republican candidate. Newspapers in Minnesota were often loyal to one political party or the other, so the editors' opinions about Southern secession varied. This article, written in 1943, discusses those newspapers' reactions to secession in 1860 and 1861.

Most Minnesota History articles are written at a higher reading level, and generally more suitable for adults.