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Published byJodie Alexander Modified over 9 years ago
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Abraham Lincoln
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Basic Facts Elected in 1860 w/out majority Southern States Secede after election Term in Office 1860-1865 Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
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Lincoln & the Constitution Increased the size of the army w/out Congressional authorization Arrest of anti-unionists Censorship Military Courts
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Controversial Decisions Whether surrender or fight for Fort Sumter Whether to suspend habeas corpus and other civil liberties Whether to issue the Emancipation Proclamation (and when?) Whether to institute conscription (drafting of soldiers)
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Fort Sumter
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Fort Sumter – Surrender or Fight Confeds demand surrender If Lincoln surrenders he legitimizes the Confederacy If he reinforces the fort, remaining slave states might secede Decides to send supplies only Puts the decision on Jefferson Davis
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Lincoln the Tyrant?
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Was he right to suspend Civil Liberties? 13,000 war protesters jailed during the war Suspended Habeas Corpus (right to be told why you are jailed) in Maryland and then other states Ohio Congressman was even jailed for urging soldiers to dessert Expanded Presidential Powers
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Was he right to suspend Civil Liberties? If he does not… May not have enough soldiers Army may face attacks by citizens Political strength might be decreased
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Emancipation? Did he have the Constitutional power? Would it weaken support for war in Midwest & NYC? Would it cause secession in border states?
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Emancipation Proclamation 1863 Makes emancipation a goal of the war Lincoln felt he had power to deprive the Confederacy of “resources of war” Proclamation only applied to slaves in Union controlled areas of the Confederacy Makes British or French intervention less likely
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The Draft (Conscription) Many opposed fighting to free blacks –Poor immigrants feared competition for jobs Some called it a “rich man’s war” and “poor man’s fight” –Rich men could hire substitutes
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In reality… Only 8% of Union Army were conscripts Were those 46,000 men needed? But… Perhaps some volunteered rather than waiting to be drafted
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In the end… The war is won The nation is reunited Slavery is ended
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