Mobilization of the North The Civil War Mobilization of the North

Northern Economic Policy During the War With the Southern states out of Congress, the North had free reign to pass legislation to promote economic development. Homestead Act: permitted any settler in the West 160 acres for a very small fee Morrill Land Grant: gave substantial amounts of land to individual states, who then sold the land to fund public education. Protective tariffs were passed to support northern industry. Transcontinental Railroad was chartered. National Bank Acts: established a national banking system with a stable currency. Greenbacks were printed as a paper currency, but were not backed by any specie This caused a large amount of inflation.

Northern Military Build Up 1861: Northern Army numbered 16,000 troops More than 2 million would serve throughout the war. Volunteers satisfied military need until 1863. Lincoln instituted a draft A man could provide $300 (a substantial amount of money in the 1860’s) as a substitute if drafted. Americans were strongly opposed to such a government intrusion. New York City Draft Riots July, 1863, a four day riot erupted in New York City, with Irish Workers attacking black citizens, viewing them as the cause of the war and the draft.

Decisive Acts Taken By Lincoln Lincoln acted quickly to establish his authority as the nation’s leader and to preserve the union. Lincoln instituted a policy of what he called “war authority,” at times ignoring the Constitution. He committed troops without a declaration of war Blockaded the Confederacy without Congressional approval. Had certain civilians opposed to the war arrested Suspended the writ of habeas Corpus. Among those arrested were Ohio congressman Clement L. Vallandigham and Maryland citizen John Merryman. Lincoln was issued an order by the Supreme Court to release Merryman, but he ignored it.

Lincoln’s goal in the war and the Emancipation Proclamation To many, the goal of the war was to end slavery, but to Lincoln and the Union military, it was preserving the Union. Although, as the war progressed, ending slavery became a hot issue again. Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts and Benjamin Wade of Ohio were all Congressmen that pressed for abolition. Lincoln was cautious of this, but slowly embraced policies to free slaves, but only in ways that would be beneficial to the war effort. Confiscation Acts: stated that slaves fighting for the Confederacy and taken prisoner in the war would be free. Emancipation Proclamation: declared all slaves in areas in rebellion free. Did not apply to border slave states still in the Union. After the Emancipation Proclamation, blacks in the Union army increased quickly About 186,000 would serve in different roles throughout the war. Usually worked menial labor tasks behind the lines. The exception was the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, which suffered major casualties in 1863.