“It was forced through the confederate states by a small group of Democrat Party activists.”
A “small group” can’t get that many state legislatures to vote in the majority for their proposals.
You might be surprised by what's possible with enough propaganda and panic. Some state conventions rejected secession, then voted for it. At least one state was supposed to have a referendum on secession and didn't.
I suppose support for secession in most of the Confederate states was stronger than support for remaining with the union, but tactics and timing had a lot to do with shaping the public mood and making events happen.
“A “small group” can’t get that many state legislatures to vote in the majority for their proposals.”
The states that made up the confederacy had one party Democrat controlled legislatures that were actually run by a very small group of people.
The votes were all very quick. The secessionists were organized. There were no public debate or popular vote.
Virginia originally refused to join the secessionists.
Many southerners were not in favor of secession but went along due to the threat of war.
By early 1865, the secessionist politicians were extremely unpopular in the confederate states.