Civilian Life and Effects of the War

The Home Front in the North To help pay for military supplies, the Union introduced an income tax and raised tariffs. This was the precursor to the 16th amendment. The Civil War was also the first time United States has a single, common currency when it passes the Legal Tender Act of 1862. With no common currency, the Confederacy experienced high inflation. Congress passed the Homestead Act, which encouraged northern companies to buy land cheaply to build railroads on.

The Home Front in the North

The Home Front in the North Conscription was instituted in 1863 to meet the demand for more troops. Subject to white males, aged 20 to 45. Could pay $300 to hire a replacement—this meant that the responsibility often times fell to poor people. Coupled with the anger over the rich’s ability to avoid the draft, riots occurred in northern cities, where working men targeted Blacks who were also not subject to conscription.

Opposition to War Lincoln was fearful of any dissention in the Union, so he suspended habeas corpus, the right to be charged with a crime. He encouraged the military to make arrests of those who dissented. “Peace Democrats” (Northerners) were against the war. Another group, the Copperheads were anti-war, anti-emancipation.

The Home Front in the South In the beginning, the South avoided the Union’s blockades by utilizing “blockade runners” to deliver necessary supplies to the South. Southerners had to depend on own crops—location of military battles made this difficult. The South had relied on three main crops—cotton, sugar and tobacco— and the war crippled their production and sales. They used old Union goods taken from the battlefield. A neutral Great Britain helped the Confederacy build their blockade runners.

The Home Front in the South The South also issued paper money, but with nothing to back it up, it led to inflation. This lack of backing caused prices of goods to rise. Growing dis-unity in the South led many to questions Jefferson Davis. Although he originally scoffed at Lincoln’s policies as Union president, he implemented many of the same ones, such as: Conscription Seizure of private property Suspension of habeas corpus.

The Life of a Soldier Many soldiers encountered new experiences during the Civil War, such as travel to previously unknown locations. Some families encountered divided loyalties, especially in the border states. This was why Lee ended up fighting for the Confederacy instead of the Union. New technology caused more injuries and deaths than ever before. Poor sanitation and spread of disease accounted for 2x the number of deaths as those killed in battle.

Role of Women While men were away, women took on their roles in professions previously unknown to them. Some impersonated men in order to fight in battle. Largest military role for women was nursing. Clara Barton aided soldiers on the battlefield by traveling with troops and dispersing medical supplies (known as the ‘Angel of the Battlefield’). She would go on to found the American Red Cross. Lasting effect of the war: program for federal oversight of public health.

End of the war Before the war ended, Lincoln was trying to push through Congress the 13th amendment, which would ban slavery completely. Five days after the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln’s death did unite Northerners (Copperheads, Peace Democrats and Republicans), but a strong leader was also lost.

Why the North Won In the end, the Union was successful over the Confederacy for the following reasons: Greater technological prowess Larger population Abundant resources Strong and fearless military leaders (Grant and Sherman) Strong leadership w/Lincoln as president The Emancipation Proclamation kept foreign powers out of the war

Effects of the war Economic: Societal: Gov/Politics: Continued industrial boom passage of the Land Grant College Act which provided money to states to establish agricultural and technical universities. South’s economy crippled. Societal: Western and northern migration of African Americans Gov/Politics: Greater unity among the regions of the US Assertion of federal power