Girding for War: The North & the South

1861-1865

Guiding Questions & Lecture Notes

Chapter 20

The American Pageant, 13th edition

Key Topics War Begins at Fort Sumter Border States Southern & Northern Advantages & Disadvantages

agriculture, industry, trade, transportation, population, military strength, geography, politics

Europe’s reaction to America’s conflict Lincoln’s leadership

limiting liberties & stepping around the Constitution personal strengths

Other significant topics Native Americans on both sides The problem with states’ rights in the South Conscription in the North and South The Union’s National Banking System Northern prosperity during the war

War Begins Why did Lincoln declare that secession was

“wholly impractical”? “Physically speaking we cannot separate.”

Why was Lincoln so determined to keep the Union united? Above all, to prove the efficacy of popular

government (“of the people…”) To prove that a minority group cannot break up

a govt “whenever they choose”

Fort Sumter How did the war begin at Fort Sumter?

One of two remaining federal forts in South Lincoln decided to provision not reinforce fort South saw this as a reinforcement; attacked first Located in Charleston, SC, the heart of rebellion

How did this particular beginning affect the outcome of the war? Seen as a southern attack by most; kept critical

border states on Union side

Border States Stay with the Union Why were the border states so important?

White population there numbered more than half of the entire Confederacy

Reduced manufacturing capacity of South Navigable Ohio River and two of its tributaries Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky,

Missouri

South’s Major Advantages Could fight defensively Did not have to win, just stop northern

invaders Fighting for their own soil, boosted morale Most talented military officers Southerners bred to fight

North’s major advantages Economic strength & diversity

Agriculture & manufacturing

Controlled the seas, had superior navy Established effective blockade

Larger population, greater manpower

Respective weaknesses? South

Relatively little manufacturing Less diverse agriculture Minimal transportation system Smaller population

North Men ill-prepared for military life Weaker military commanders

Europe’s Reaction Why did Britain ultimately favor the North

during the Civil War? Common people’s support for abolition Cotton surpluses at beginning of war supplemented

by Union cotton seizures, some Southern cotton getting thru, Indian and Egyptian sources

War industries an economic boon to England England more dependent on northern corn and wheat, than cotton (good US weather + new reaper vs. poor British crops)

A Different View How did the European aristocracy differ

from the common people in their views toward the Civil War? Hated the dangerous example of US democracy Related to South’s semi-feudal, aristocratic

society

British Commerce-Traders What was the affect of British commerce-

traders (and what were they anyway)? Commerce-traders were British-built ships, armed

for war after leaving Britain for Confederate use Caused much damage to Yankee ships & trade

(most damaging, the Alabama) Britain finally opened its eyes & closed its

loopholes

Mexico Affected How & why did the US intervene in Mexico?

Emperor Napoleon III had set up a puppet ruler, Austrian Archduke Maximilian, as emperor of Mexico

Napoleon III hoped that Union would be too distracted and if it lost the war, too weak to enforce Monroe Doctrine

After the war and Union victory, the threat of US action led to French departure

President Jefferson Davis What were Davis’s greatest challenges as

president of the Confederacy? States’ rights supporters undermined his plans

for a tightly-knit central govt Davis never very popular; an imperious

micromanager

President Abraham Lincoln What were Lincoln’s strengths as a leader?

Had advantage of well-established government Proved to be a better leader Personal qualities: tactful, patient, firm, quiet Great orator, inspirational politician

Constitutional Questions How and why did Lincoln step around the

Constitution during the war? Proclaimed blockade Increased size of army (only Congress could) Advanced $2 million to 2 private citizens Suspended Habeus Corpus “Supervised” voting in border states Suspended certain newspapers Congress not in session when war started

Fighting It Out How did each side supply itself with

soldiers? North: first by volunteers, then first nationwide,

federal conscription; rich could hire substitutes for $300; some riots in reaction; “bounty boys” from Europe

South also first by volunteers, but much sooner had to require conscription; wider age range (17 to 50); substitute system as in the North; also large slaveowners were exempt

What role did Native Americans play? Most of 5 Civilized Tribes side with Confederacy Confederacy took over federal payments and

invited them to Congress; many Indians joined confederate army

One group of the Cherokee and most of the Plains Indians sided with the Union (forced onto reservations after war)

A Poor Man’s Fight What did this mean: “A rich man’s war but a

poor man’s fight”? On both sides, the rich were given advantages

and loopholes In the South, especially, the poor man was often

fighting for the rich man’s right to own slaves

Economics in the North & South How did the North benefit economically?

New factories built for war effort and bolstered by stronger tariff protections (Morrill Tariff Act)

First income tax New inventions: reaper, sewing machines

Who benefited the most? Inflation-bred price increases benefited business (while

hurting workers) First millionaire class, especially in the North Scam artists of all sorts New petroleum industry

More Economics Why did the Union re-establish a national

banking system? To stimulate the sale of govt bonds to raise

money for war Also to set up standard bank-note currency

(fluctuating “rag money” was destabilizing)

Southern Economy Flounders What happened to the Southern economy

during the war? Blockade cut off duties; bonds sold, taxes raised Runaway inflation from excess paper money Reduced trade and war destruction, broken

down transportation system The South faced great economic decline at war’s

end (from 30% to 12% of national wealth)