Chapter 20 Girding for War: The North and the South, 1861–1865

I. The Menace of Secession Lincoln’s inaugural address – Was firm yet conciliatory, no attack unless attacked Secession would create new controversies – EG: federal debt, western lands, fugitive slaves

p419

II. South Carolina Assails Fort Sumter Seceding states seized Federal property Fort Sumter, in Charleston, SC harbor – SC bombards Ft. Sumter. Lincoln calls for militiamen, blockade of ports 4 more states ‘rebel’ (succeed)

III. Brothers’ Blood and Border Blood Border states: Union states with slaves Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware West Virginia -“mountain whites” split from Virginia(1861) Lincoln used martial law & politics Official goal = save the Union, not end slavery Most Indians were Confederate allies

POP ESSAY = 50 words in 5 minutes At what point did the Civil War become Inevitable?

p421

IV. The Balance of Forces Southern (Confederacy) advantages Could fight defensively behind interior lines South didn’t have to win, a draw was independence South fought for self-determination & preservation More talented officers, southern military culture Advantages for the North (Union) Many supplies compared to the South The economy (farm, factory, & population) Controlled 75% of wealth and railroads Controlled the seas (superior navy), more trade

IV. The Balance of Forces (What ifs…) The might-have-beens are fascinating: – If the Border States had seceded. “Butternut Region” of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois ? – If the uncertain states of the upper Mississippi Valley had turned against the Union. – If a wave of Northern defeatism had demanded an armistice. – And if Britain and/or France had broken the Union’s naval blockade of Southern ports.

p422

p423

p424

V. Dethroning King Cotton Successful revolutions have foreign intervention – Europe’s aristocracy, wealthy pro-South – Europe’s working class anti-slavery Why did ‘King Cotton’ fail the South? – Less demand for American cotton More cotton from Egypt and India Imported grains from the North important – King Wheat and King Corn more important

p426

p427

VI. The Decisiveness of Diplomacy Major crisis in Anglo-American (North) relations Trent affair— – 1861 Union warship stopped British ship (Trent) Removal of two Confederate diplomats bound for Europe CSS Alabama (and others) – “British pirate” captured over 60 vessels ( ) British built CSA ship, CSA officers, manned by Britons Britain could not remain neutral – Union looked north, talked about grabbing Canada

CSS Alabama Ship’s motto – “Help yourself and God will help you”

Captain Raphael Semmes and First Lieutenant John Kell aboard CSS Alabama 1863

VII. Foreign Flare-ups Third and final Anglo-American (North) crisis – Laird rams—GB build two CSA ramming warships North threaten war w/ GB. GB never let South get ships French-American (North) crisis – French Emperor Napoleon III invades Mexico (1862) United States gave aid to Mexico – French government collapses (1866)

The Execution of Maximilian I by Edouard Manet (1867) First painting, executioners wearing traditional Mexican clothes

The Execution of Maximilian I by Edouard Manet (1869) Third and final completed painting, soldiers wearing generic uniforms (possibly French uniforms), man in red cap painted to look like Napoleon III

VIII. President Davis Versus President Lincoln President Davis – Serious talk of impeachment President Lincoln – Tactful, quiet, patient, yet firm – Forbearance towards South & backbiting colleagues – Able to interpret and lead a fickle public opinion

IX. Limitations on Wartime Liberties During war, Congress usually supports POTUS Honest Abe usurped Constitutional powers – Lincoln orders blockade – Increased Fed army size – Directed $2 million to military – Suspended writ of habeas corpus Davis unable to expand his power – Opposition from states’ righters

X. Volunteers and Draftees: North and South Northern armies manned by volunteers ( ) – Congress passes first conscription law (1863) – Pay $300 for exemption rights ($5,774 in 2014) The South relied mainly on volunteers – Started draft as early as 1862 – Exemptions for $, large slaveowners, specific areas

NYC Anti-Draft Riots (1863) Poor Irish and Anti-Lincoln forces (Democrats) protested Civil War draft law and attacked blacks and others until federal troops arrived.

p430

XI. The Economic Stresses of War Northern economies: a lion’s share of the wealth – Excise taxes, income tax, Morrill Tariff Act (1861) – Greenbacks: paper money – Bonds – North netted $2.6 trillion – National Banking System ( ) Financial landmark of the war Southern financial woes – Custom duties were cut off by Union blockade – Confederate bonds sold $400 million – Increased taxes, ‘bluebacked’ paper money print – “Runaway inflation” % inflation rate

Bluebacked Confederate money worth 1.6% of face value by April 1865

XII. The North’s Economic Boom New factories, protective by tariffs mushroomed – Manufacturers raked in “the fortunes of war.” Other industries were humming – Discovery of petroleum (1859) – Homestead Act (1862), caused westward movement The Civil War was also a women’s war – Women often took men’s jobs as they went to war – U.S. Sanitary Commission trained nurses

p432

XIII. A Crushed Cotton Kingdom The South fought to the point of exhaustion – Blockade (Atl & Miss R) caused economic suffocation – Loss of wealth (30% in 1860 to 12% in 1870) – Transportation collapsed Destruction & cannibalism of rails Northern industry conquered Southern manors