In what way would a secessionist defend the actions of south carolina as the state left the union? a. since a republican was elected president, south carolina had no choice but to secede to protect its way of life. b. as a part of the compromise of 1850, the constitution was amended to allow the states to secede from the union. c. new england states had seriously considered secession during the war of 1812, so it was a valid action. d. the political theory of popular sovereignty claimed that the people of a state had a right to vote for secession.