Preparing for War : The North and the South

Lincoln takes office In inaugural address, calls secession impossible—physically speaking Union can’t separate. Affirms that he will work to protect the union. Secession led to many questions--how would they divide national debt, territories.

Fighting begins at Fort Sumter (1861) Issue of federal forts in the South Lincoln sends force to provision the Fort, not reinforce it. South still saw as act of aggression, fired on fort. Electrified North, ready to fight. Lincoln begins to raise army, seven more states secede.

The Key Border States Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia ASSETS: Large populations, manufacturing capacity, Ohio River. Lincoln used force to keep Border States Lincoln: “I hope to have God on my side but I have to have Kentucky.”

Not a War to End Slavery! Lincoln’s key goal was to preserve the Union, needed to keep pro-slavery border states happy. Native American tribes with slaves (esp. Cherokee) supported the Confederacy, other sided with North. Brothers’ War—some Southern soldiers went North to join Union army and vice versa. Some families separated by fighting.

Southern Advantages Had to fight a defensive war Had more talented military officers Ordinary Southerners bred to fight.

Southern Disadvantages Shortages of food and supplies—often because of transportation problems Weak economy Northern blockade of sea devastated South

Billy Yank and Johnny Reb Similarities: Most had been farmers, native-born, young, common patriotic spirit. Dull routine of camp life Differences: Northern soldiers more literate, intellectual and practical while Southerners were more emotional, religious and playful. Northerners adapted easier to discipline of army.

The South Loses Foreign Help Everyone expected Europe to help South—way to harm America. In the end, Britain and other countries not as dependent on King Cotton as had thought—got it from other sources. Also, needed to respond to people’s sympathy for North. If anything, begin exporting more wheat from North.

Northern Crises With Britain Europe wants to take advantage of America’s problems Trent affair—US stops a British ship carrying Confederate diplomats. British were building Confederate commerce-raiders—Alabama Some Northerners talked of getting revenge on Canada.

Foreign Flare-ups Further conflicts with Britain over Confederate warships—Laird rams. Americans threaten war so Britain bought for themselves. Northerners raid Canada British unified Canada in 1867 as protection. Napoleon tried to install puppet dictator, Maximilian, in Mexico. US stopped with threats after Civil War.

Weaknesses of Confederate Government Constitution couldn’t deny secession to its own states—not unified Jefferson Davis not popular

Lincoln Violates Constitution Saw this as necessary to protect Union Proclaimed a blockade and increased size of army without Congress’ approval Suspended privilege of habeas corpus—protects individuals from unfair imprisonment. Called for “supervised” voting in Border States

First Conscription Law 1863—Conscription Law passed in North—first nation-wide draft in history. Unfair to the poor—rich could buy their way out of the draft Much opposition—riot in New York by Irish-Americans In South—conscription even earlier—1862.

Northern Economy Stayed Stable Excise taxes and income taxes Protective Tariff Issued greenback money, but also earned money through increased borrowing Established National Banking System—unified banking system, could issue sound money and bonds.

Southern Economy Suffered Blockade hurt States righters against tariffs and taxes Printed lots of paper money—runaway inflation

Growth of Northern Economy New factories Increased prices First millionaires New inventions and innovations: sewing machines and standardized sizes, mechanical reapers, petroleum gushers

Women and the Civil War New job opportunities with men gone—government and industrial workers Women involved in fighting—disguised as men, or worked as spies Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell—organized US Sanitary Commission to help Union armies on field

A Crushed Cotton Kingdom Devastated economy, hurt transportation, used up all supplies “Cotton capitalism had lost out to industrial capitalism”