In Chapter 8 , we make use of our resident familiarity with the states in which we live or work and review some of the history of secession movements in New York and Pennsylvania. In looking at states with which we are more familiar, we can more easily apply the concepts and criteria developed in our earlier discussions of both successful and unsuccessful efforts. While both states have distinct cultural differences from region to region, geography, politics, and economics would make secession difficult even if the current law allowed for it.