Chapter 20: Girding for War: The North and South

March 4, Abraham Lincoln inaugurated –stated that geographically, the United States could not be split –A split U.S. brought up questions about the sharing of the national debt and the allocation of federal territories –A split U.S. also pleased the European countries

Fort Sumter Most fed. forts in the south had given power to the Confederacy –Ft. Sumter (SC) refused—running low on supplies If Lincoln sent reinforcements, fighting would surely begin –If he didn’t resupply, the commander would surrender w/o a shot –Informed SC that he intended to resupply but not re-enforce the fort –Confederacy considered supplies to be reinforcements April 12, cannons were fired onto the fort; after 34 hours of non-lethal firing, the fort surrendered –(only casualty > a confederate horse) April 19 and 27 - Lincoln also called a blockade that was leaky at first but soon clamped down tight South, feeling that Lincoln was now waging an aggressive war, was joined by four more states Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina –capital of the Confederacy moved from Montgomery, AL to Richmond, VA

Border States Border States were crucial for both sides –would have almost doubled the manufacturing capacity of the South and increased its supply of horses and mules by half to retain them, Lincoln used moral persuasion…and methods of dubious legality: –Declared martial law in MD –Told them the war was to save the Union—not free the slaves 5 civilized tribes went with the south

Northern Advantages Economy (established) –¾ of nation’s wealth Transportation of goods and soldiers –¾ of nation’s railroads Controlled the navy & overseas trade –blockade southern ports Larger reserve of manpower (22 million pop.) –Large # of immigrants to add to reserves Disadvantages Many not as devoted to the cause, not fighting for their homes Most volunteers not very familiar with firearms

Confederate Advantages only had to fight to a “draw” to win most of the fighting on “home turf” had the most talented officers –Robert E. Lee; Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson; P.G.T. Beuregard Many volunteers were already very familiar with firearms –Hunters & commonly used their own rifles when they signed up for service Disadvantages South had 9 million (3.5 of which were slaves) Weak agrarian economy –handicapped by a shortage of factories and manufacturing plants shortage of shoes, uniforms, blankets, clothing, and food, which didn’t reach soldiers due to supply problems As the war dragged on, Northern strengths beat Southern advantages

King Cotton South was depending on foreign intervention to win the war, but didn’t get it (why?) –Foreign attitude toward slavery –pre-1861: cotton production had been immense, and thus, England & France had huge surpluses of cotton –As the North won Southern territory, it sent cotton and food over to Europe India and Egypt upped their cotton production to offset the hike in the price of cotton

Davis vs. Lincoln Problem with the South was that it gave states the ability to secede in the future (state’s rights) Davis was an able orator, but Lincoln had the benefit of leading an established government and grew patient as the war dragged on Honest Abe????? illegally proclaiming a blockade (needed consent of Congress) sending in troops to the Border States-- justified his actions by saying that such acts weren’t permanent--had to do those things in order to preserve the Union suspension of habeas corpus so that anti- Unionists could be arrested, and the intimidation of voters in the Border States

Volunteers and Draftees: North and South Volunteers were plentiful until the war dragged on Congress passed the 1 st conscription law Angered many because rich could hire a substitute for $300 Deserters were a problem on both sides Economic Stresses of War Union passed the Morril Tariff Act –increasing tariff rates by about 5-10% green-backed paper money totaled nearly $450 million –unstable and sank to as low as 39 cents per gold dollar National Banking System was a landmark of the war, created to establish a standard bank-note currency National Banking Act was the first step toward a unified national banking network since the Bank of the United States was killed by Andrew Jackson South, runaway inflation plagued the Confederates –overall, in the South inflation went up to 9000%, as opposed to just 80% in the North

North’s Economic Boom North became more prosperous during the war –new factories had been formed –a millionaire class was born for the first time in history Sizes for clothing were invented –For speedy production & standardization of military clothing the reaper helped feed millions a discovery of petroleum oil sent people to Pennsylvania Women gained new advances in the war, taking the jobs left behind by men A Crushed Cotton Kingdom Lack of transportation & supplies caused the South to suffer By the end of the war, the south claimed only 12% of the national wealth as opposed to 30% before the war it’s per capita income was 2/5 that of Northerners, as opposed to 2/3 of Northerners prior to the war