The Effects of War
Northern Preparations Republican Party unchallenged authority Homestead Act, 1862 Morrill Land Grant Act, 1862 Increased Tariffs, 1861 National Bank Acts and Greenbacks Bonds Income Tax Pacific Railway Act, 1862
Raising a Union Army Congress passes Draft Draft Riots – copperheads (Northern Democrats) and immigrants (mainly Irish)
Politics of War Growth of executive branch Linc. Sends troops into battle w/o asking Congress to declare war To quiet dissenters, Linc. suspends Habeas Corpus and has many arrested Election of 1864: Rep = Linc. Dem = McClellan String of Union victoires boosts Republican support Linc. Wins but it is a close pop. Vote!
Politics of Emancipation Linc. Wants to take it slow Confiscation Acts – all slaves used for Confed. effort are free! How effective do you think this was? Antietam becomes defining moment – pushes Linc. Toward emancipation EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION – Jan. 1, 1863 Useless but important
Reading the Emancipation Proclamation Who, exactly, was freed? What reason does Lincoln give for freeing these slaves? Are their any provisions listed to help the newly freed persons? How will this Proclamation be enforced? Who will actually free the salves?
Full Emancipation does not come until 13th amendment, 1865 More later…
African Americans and the Union cause Though first excluded, 186,000 emancipated blacks served Enlistment increases after Emancipation Proclamation Massachusetts 54th!
Social and Economic Changes Speeds up industrialization! War keeps wages high! Women filled void of men and take on new jobs – NURSING! U.S. Sanitary Commission – group of volunteer nurses led by Dorothea Dix
The South Confederate Constitution – acknowledged state sovereignty outright and sanctioned slavery Jefferson Davis – ineffective Pres. Money issues: Passes new taxes Few buy bonds Forced to use unstable paper currency = disastrous inflation Conscription Acts Excused if you own 20 or more slaves…. Why?
Southern Economics and Politics States Rights vs Centralization Struggle, but succeed in creating strong central power Production declines Most battles fought in South – ruins land Naval Blockade causes huge shortages Southern women gain responsibility Slaves find resistance and freedom easier
Gettysburg Address Why is it so famous?