The document discusses the events leading up to Arkansas' secession from the Union. It notes that some Southerners felt Lincoln's election meant they had to leave the Union, while others said they should wait and see what actions he took. South Carolina was the first to secede in December 1860, followed by other Southern states in January 1861. Arkansas held elections to decide whether to hold a secession convention and ultimately voted to leave the Union in May 1861, though some delegates voted against it. The document outlines the formation of the Confederate States of America and key events in Arkansas around the time of the Civil War.