Effects of the Civil War Leading to Reconstruction
Slide 2
Surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865
Slide 3
Civil War and Economics Overall, the Northern economy expanded
while the Southern economy was shattered o Inflation 1861, average
family spent $6.65/month on food Mid-1863, spending $68/month on
foodIF they could find food to buy!
Slide 4
Inflation To raise revenue, both the Union and the Confederacy
issued paper money o Northern currency succeeded because the public
maintained confidence in the Northern economy Currency issued by
the Confederacy was backed by gold individual states also used its
own currency. o Because the war weakened the Southern economy, the
public lost faith in the Confederate currency Value went down,
prices went up Inflation rates in the South: 7,000% (prices 70
times higher) Inflation rates in the North: 80%
Slide 5
Impact of the Civil War in Economics Union blockade also
created shortages of salt, coffee, nails, needles, and medicines
Decline of the plantation system o Slaves leaving plantations o
Slave resistance o Plantations being destroyed during battles New
federal tax o Congress decided to help pay for the war by tapping
American citizens wealth. o In 1863, Congress enacted the tax law
that authorized the nations first income tax, which takes a
percentage of an individuals income
Slide 6
Casualties on both sides Problems other than Casualties: o Poor
living conditions Most soldiers failed to wash their hands/face
once a day or take a bath once a week Body lice, dysentery,
diarrhea o Diet Beans, bacon, square biscuits OR cush (stew of
beef, cornbread mixed in bacon grease) o Medical Care
Slide 7
Gettysburg
Slide 8
Slide 9
Civil War Casualties in Comparison to other wars
Slide 10
Economic Costs Union war costs totaled $2.3 billion Confederate
War costs ran to $1 billion Union war costs increased the national
debt from $65 million in 1860 to $2.7 billion in 1865 Confederate
debt ran over $1.8 billion in 1864 Union inflation peaked at 182%
in 1864 Confederate inflation rose to 7,000%
Slide 11
Lincolns Assassination Fords Theater April 15, 1865
Slide 12
The assassination John Wilkes Booth Thus be it ever to tyrants
or The South is avenged!
Slide 13
Death & Execution
Slide 14
Road to Reconstruction The Civil War had ended slavery and
secession were gone now the country faced 2 problems: 1)How to
restore the Southern states to the Union 2) How to integrate
approximately 4 million newly freed African Americans into national
life
