1. Was there any opposition to the Civil War?
In what ways would these groups have shown their discontent with the Civil War?
Think about who would oppose the war and give reasons for their opposition.
Pacifists (wanting peace)
Women – scared of losing husbands, sons, brothers
Those who said – Let the South go, why fight for them to return?
Working class – those that had to go to fight when called upon, not having a way to escape the war
Farmers – land that might be destroyed by the fighting (although some farmers knew they would be paid for their crops –opportunity to make money. Unfortunately, govt. usually did not pay market prices for the farmers crops.)
Speeches
Newspaper articles
Protests
Sabotaging the North’s effort
Working slower on the farms, in the factories

2. The draft on both sides caused discontent.
North - Some believed the draft was designed to force white working-class men to fight for African Americans who would then come to the North and steal their jobs. South - Placed the burden of fighting on the poor farming and working people. - Violation of states’ rights and freedom (I will defend my state but not be forced by a central government to fight.)

3. What did Sam Watkins mean when he wrote in his memoirs that this conflict was a “rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight”?
Draft exemptions existed for large plantation owners. Why?
These same plantation owners were the ones that led the Confederacy into the war (believing that Lincoln would end slavery).
The burden of fighting therefore landed on the working class, fighting the war to help the wealthy southern plantation owners keep their status and lifestyle.
Tension grew strong between these two groups.
They had money to dodge the draft – pay someone to go in their place.
They claimed they had to remain at home with their slaves otherwise the slaves would not do their job (produce food, clothes, etc. for the troops).
They had to remain at home to make sure the slaves did not run away.

4. What did Sam Watkins mean when he wrote in his memoirs that this conflict was a “rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight”?
Additional ways to avoid the draft…
Pay a man $300 to take your place
Again the poor are doing the fighting
Dodge the draft (runaway)
Report to duty and then run away (deserter)
They had money to dodge the draft – pay someone to go in their place.
They claimed they had to remain at home with their slaves otherwise the slaves would not do their job (produce food, clothes, etc. for the troops).
They had to remain at home to make sure the slaves did not run away.

5. Northerners
Some northerners sympathized with the South (understood the southern concerns with Lincoln and States’ Rights)
Some northerners wondered, “Why would we fight to get these southern states back? Let them go…”
Some believed the war was costing too much in terms of money and human life.

6. Does Lincoln step over his bounds?
Lincoln needed all the support he could get from civilians, politicians, soldiers, generals, etc. The Union effort could not afford a large opposition among its own ranks. In an effort to quiet the Copperheads (poisonous snake - northerners that opposed the war), Lincoln suspended habeas corpus. Habeas corpus is our constitutional right that protects us from being unlawfully imprisoned. Lincoln had these copperheads arrested and held in prison without trial.