The American Civil War (1861-65) Impact on Canadian Confederation

Causes of American Civil War By 1850: Southern states concerned over slavery's future As U. S. expanded westward, "free" (non-slave) states would outnumber "slave" states Once outnumbered, would the federal government to abolish slavery?

Causes of American Civil War Post 1850: "States' rights" became the central issue Southern "slave" states claimed that the federal government had no legal right to abolish slavery It was a matter for individual states to decide

Causes of American Civil War 1850s: Tensions between North and South intensify as "free" states outnumber "slave" states in US Senate November 1860: Republican Abraham Lincoln elected President Lincoln opposed both slavery and states' rights Southern states fear that Lincoln's government will abolish slavery

Causes of American Civil War 1860 Election - North vs. South

Outbreak of Civil War December 1860: South Carolina becomes first Southern state to secede (withdraw from the US) Other Southern states follow Southern state legislatures order American federal troops to leave their territory Lincoln refuses to withdraw federal troops April 1861: South Carolina militia attack federal garrison at Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor - American Civil War begins

Two Contrasting Foes Northern Strengths: Northern Obstacles: Larger Population Strong Industrial Base Control of Navy General Ulysses S. Grant (later US President) Northern Obstacles: General Winfield Scott, Commander of the Union Army To win war, had to invade and defeat the South

Two Contrasting Foes Southern Strengths: Southern Weaknesses: Majority of Army officers Could fight a defensive war Jefferson Davis, President of Confederate States of America Southern Weaknesses: Smaller population No industrial base No navy General Robert E. Lee, Commander of Confederate Army

British - American Relations Britain sympathized with the South but remained officially neutral South was major supplier of cotton for British textile industry Southern society, like Britain, contained distinct social classes As war progressed, several incidents persuaded the North that Britain was actively supporting the South

The Trent Affair (1861) November 1861: Union warship stops British steamer Trent at gunpoint in neutral waters Two Confederate delegates heading to London arrested Britain outraged at "violation of their sovereignty" North convinced that Britain is secretly supporting the South Britain sends 14 000 troops to British North America to defend colonies against possible American attack

The Alabama Affair British shipyard builds warship Alabama for the Southern Confederacy Alabama captured Northern commercial ships for two years before it was destroyed by Northern Navy in 1864 US claims that Britain owes them $4 billion as compensation for damage and losses ("Alabama claims")

St. Alban's Raid 1864: South losing war Desperate Confederate soldiers gather in Montreal October 1864: Confederates cross border, rob banks in St. Alban's, Vermont and flee back to Canada Soldiers arrested but later released and given back money from the robberies North even more convinced of Britain's support for the South American government now angry at Canada as well

The Struggle Over Slavery 1850: Congress passes Fugitive Slave Act Owners of runaway slaves permitted to recapture their "property" anywhere within the US, even states where slavery is not legal Runaway slaves no longer "safe" anywhere in the US Slave owners hire "bounty hunters" to bring back runaway slaves, dead or alive

The Underground Railroad Canada becomes only "safe haven" for slaves in North America Abolitionists and religious groups (Quakers) organize network of "safe houses" to smuggle runaway slaves from Northern states into Canada Canada West receives large number of runaway slaves (esp. Niagara Peninsula) Harriet Tubman and other African Americans risk their lives to protect runaway slaves from capture

The End of Slavery January 1, 1863: Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slavery abolished in states that had seceded from the Union Many runaway slaves join Northern army, believing a Northern victory will result in end of slavery

The American Civil War Ends April 9, 1865: General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Two days later, Lincoln makes speech suggesting voting rights for blacks April 14, 1865: John Wilkes Booth assassinates Lincoln as he sits in the balcony of the Ford Theatre with his wife, watching a play

The Fenian Brotherhood Fenian Brotherhood: Irish organization founded in New York in 1858 to win Irish independence from Britain At close of American Civil War, hundreds of unemployed Civil War veterans join the Fenians

The Fenian Brotherhood We are the Fenian Brotherhood Trained in the arts of war We're going to fight for Ireland The land that we adore Many a battle we have won Along with the boys in blue Now we're going to capture Canada For we've nothing else to do!

The Fenian Raids (1866) Fenians gather in Maine and northern New York state Plan: capture British North America and hold it for ransom in exchange for Irish independence One invasion at Ridgeway, CW is defeated (June 1866) "Fenian threat" in particular pressures reluctant New Brunswick into Confederation in 1867

Pressure for Union British North American colonies increasingly concerned about American attack Retaliation for British "support" of South during Civil War Fenian threat along Canada West and New Brunswick borders British North American union seen as means of strengthening ability to defend themselves against American aggression

End of Reciprocity (1866) 1864: American government announces end to Reciprocity in 1866 Reasons: A) Retaliation for British support of South during Civil War B) Some Americans believe that BNA would have no choice but to join the US

Intercolonial Railroad BNA union becomes alternative to Reciprocity Increase intercolonial trade Finance construction of Intercolonial Railroad to connect Canada to ice-free Atlantic ports Increase competitiveness on world markets

British Pressure for Union BNA union would make building of Intercolonial Railroad easier (one central government responsible for financing/construction) United BNA could assume more responsibility for its own defense, reducing costs to Britain and problems in relations with the USA British PM Disraeli: Colonies were "millstones" around the neck of the British Empire Britain did all it could to advance the cause of BNA union in the mid-1860s