Secessions Since the US in 1776 Here are 116 secessions since the US seceded from the United Kingdom in 1776. The desire for states of the United States seceding is growing in popularity of late. The two times I raised the possibility of some or all states seceding I was met with incredulous derision, no interest in why it may be developing, or how things might go, or how it might be appropriate and beneficial. I assume part of the reason for this is that people typically do not think of the American Independence from the UK as being secession. It is. Here is the definition from Dictionary.com: “to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union, a religious organization, etc.” To view the Declaration of Independence as being the secession it was, takes a revision of understanding and the willingness to apply the term to one’s own country. Why we even have a major holiday celebrating the secession from the British known as Independence Day! As you can see from the list, secession is common and worldwide, and is not some strange unheard-of offensive event.