The Civil War

Social, Economic, and Political Themes

Two Societies

North• Has huge advantages in

population and industrial development– North has one factory for

every southern industrial worker.

– Produces 17x more textiles; 32x more firearms; 20x more pig iron.

– has 75% of the nations railroads

• Yet many of these advantages took time to mobilize.

South• Largely an agrarian

society• Had resources of

food, draft animals, and “king” cotton.

• Southerners lived in a more martial society – military institutes; militia; well-trained officers

The Border States

• Upper South adopts a “wait and see” attitude before Ft. Sumter.

• Importance for the Confederacy– Natural borders (Ohio River)– Access to river traffic– Vital resources, wealth,

population• Major railroads run through Va

and Md• KY is the major horse/mule

producer• Tennessee is #1 grain producer

• Following Ft. Sumter, VA/NC/TN/ARK secede.

• Significance in the North– Every state that remains loyal is a pyschological

triumph for the idea of union.– Lincoln well aware of the political, economic, and

strategic advantages of the border states.

“I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game. Kentucky gone, we cannot hold Missouri, nor I think Maryland. These all against us and the job on our hands is too large for us. We would as well consent to separation and once, including the surrender of this capital [Washington, D.C.” - Abraham Lincoln, Sept. 1861

• Lincoln uses war powers to hang onto Border States.– Dramatized in Maryland, where Lincoln had to

travel to his inauguration in disguise and the 6th regiment, en route to Washington, was attacked by 10,000 confederate sympathizers in Baltimore.

– Moved legislature to Fredericksburg, Maryland (pro-Union);

– Lincoln orders the arrest of 19 state legislators and the mayor of Baltimore and held without trial.

– Ex Parte Merryman – Supreme Court rules that such arrests were illegal; only the Congress can suspend habeus corpus and only if the public’s safety was endangered.

• Slavery and the Border States– The border states forced Lincoln to adopt a

careful balancing act with regard to slavery– 1861 – Gen. John C. Fremont orders

emancipation of slaves in Missouri; Lincoln overturns the order.

– 1862 – Lincoln proposes to compensate states that voluntarily emancipated slaves…backs off plan when border states protest.

– 1862 – Confiscation Act passed…rebel property may be confiscate (includes slaves) = practical emancipation in the slaveholding states.

• By summer 1862, Lincoln informs cabinet that he intends to emancipate slaves, but was waiting for a military victory to do so.– Prepares north by endorsing proposals for creating

free black colonies in Haiti and Panama.– Casts emancipation as a means of saving the

Union:

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about Slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save this Union.

Emancipation Proclamation

- Released Sept. 1862; effective January 1863

- Limited to areas in rebellion

- Authorizes enlistment of “freed persons”

Reactions to the Proclamation

Abraham has gone and done it at last. Yesterday will be a day hallowed in the hearts of millions of people of these United States, & also by friends of liberty and humanity the world over. - Cpl. Josian Chaney, MN

Thank God the contest is now between Slavery and Freedom, and every man knows what he is fighting for. - Pvt. Constant Hanks, NY

I am no abolitionist, in fact I despise the word, but as long as slavery exists…there will be no permanent peace for America, therefore I am for killing slavery. - Pvt. Henry Henney, OH

I did not come out to fight for the nigger or the abolition of slavery. - Lt. Col. Henry Hubell, NY

• A study of Union soldiers diaries & letters by James McPherson revealed that 36% supported the E.P, 16% opposed it, and the rest did not register an opinion.

• Ultimately, the EP provides:– A moral impetus to the Union effort;– An obstacle for European recognition of

the CSA;– An opportunity to enlist soldiers.

African-Americans and the War

African-American Soldiers• Following the Emancipation Proclamation,

many begin pushing for enlistment of African-Americans in combat.

• Black leaders want to join the fight as a step toward earning political rights:

First comes the cartridge box, then the jury box, and finally the ballot box. – Frederick Douglass

• African-Americans had served in the war since 1861– Cooks, laborers, teamsters, grave-diggers,

carpenters, sailors (1/4 of the US Navy)• As casulaties rise, interest in arming black

soldiers rises.

Some tell us ‘tis a burning shameto make the naygers fight.And that the thrade of bein’ kiltBelongs but to the white.But as for me, upon my soul!So liberal are we here.I’ll let Sambo be murthered instead of myselfOn every day of the year.

The Politics of the War

• Foreign Affairs– Both sides realize attitudes in Europe are

critical.

• South:– CSA wants recognition to gain credibility and

aid. – Without foreign aid, the CSA’s long-term

survival was doubtful.– European powers are neutral at the start…but

South believes that the need for cotton will lure them to support the CSA.

• North– William H. Seward (Secretary of State)

threatens to declare war against Britain if it intervenes.

– WHS is criticized for recklessness, but the policy works.

– Issues: • Alabama Claims• Trent Incident• Laird Rams

– But aside from these, no support.

New Problems, New Solutions

• Funding the War– Taxes:

• Pay 21% of the North’s cost / 1% of the South’s• Tariffs• North institutes an income tax

– Bonds• $2 billion worth bought by the North• South is less successful in selling bonds

– Paper Money• CSA prints $100 million in 1861, followed by millions

more. Faces runaway inflation.• Union issues $150 million in “greenbacks” in 1861.

Moderate inflation (80%)…leads to unhappiness.

• Manpower– Desertion a problem

• 1 of 7 in North desert; 1 of 9 in South

– Attracted with bounties.• Bounty jumping

– Draft• 1862 - CSA passed first Conscription Act in US History

– 18-35 with exemptions: buy substitutes; over 20 slaves

– Expanded to 17-50 in 1864; black companies by 1865• 1863 – Union begins drafting

– $300 exemptions (“Three hundred dollar men”)– Draft Riots in NY in July

• Jeff Davis– Struggles to control his legislature– States rights doctrine

• Lincoln– Peace Democrats

• Copperheads• Lincoln betrayed the Constitution and the Working

Class• Irish immigrants and Butternut region

– Republicans • Some thought Lincoln was too lenient

• Election of 1864– National Union Party

Nationalism in the War

• Republican Congress– Life goes on during the war…– With southern states rights representatives

and senators gone, the Republicans pass a series of nationalistic measures:

1. National Banking System2. Homestead Act of 18633. Pacific Railway Act 4. Morill Land Grant Act – create colleges in

western states.5. Morill Tariff