Discussion Questions Ch. 201. Why did seven southern states secede from the Union in 1860? Why did four

southern states secede after battle of Fort Sumter?Seven southern states seceded from the Union in 1860 because Lincoln

became president who was an unclaimed abolitionist and felt that since he took office he would abolish slavery throughout the states. Four Southern states seceded after the Battle of Fort Sumter because Lincoln called for troops to blockade the Southern seaports.

2. Why were the Border States both significant to both the North and South? How did they influence the shaping of Union strategy?

The Border States were Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia. To the South the large white population would double the manufacturing capacity of the South and increase by nearly half its supply of horses and mules. The Ohio River also flowed along the northern border of Kentucky and West Virginia and was crucial for the transportation of supplies and goods. It influenced the Union strategy by forcing Lincoln to rely on moral suasion and dubious legality to win over the Border States as allies. Because of the Border States, Lincoln was obliged to declare publicly that he was not fighting to free the blacks. An abolition declaration would have driven the Border States to being allies of the South. An antislavery war was very unpopular within the "Butternut" region of southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

3. How did the North and the South each handle their economic and human resource needs? Why were the economic consequences of the war so different for the two sides?

Human resource needs were fist volunteers but then the volunteers were running short so Congress decided to pass a federal conscription law to recruit. This conscription was unfair to the poor because they were able to pay substitutes to go in their place. The economic needs were provided for by way of taxing and customs receipts. Economic consequences were so different for the two sides because the North was wealthier and new factories sprung up from the protective tariffs. While the South suffered from a collapsing Cotton Kingdom and even transportation was shot.

4. Explain why Britain finally decided against intervention on behalf of the Confederacy? In what ways was Britain helpful to the South anyway?

Many British working people had read Uncle Tom's Cabin and felt that the American Civil War would eventually extinguish slavery if the North won. Although Britain depended on American South for cotton supplies, they already had an enormous export of cotton from the South in the years prior to the Civil War. Also, Britain needed food crops more than cotton. The North had King Wheat and King Corn, which the British needed more desperately.

5. Do you think that President Lincoln was justified in his violations of ordinary civil liberties during the Civil War? Why or why not?

Yes, because even though he ignored ordinary civil liberties there was a bigger picture of keeping the Union. The United States as we knew it was separating and becoming egotistic in their ways. The power of presidency was

slowly losing its prestige and Lincoln acting in that manner told the people that he still had power to do something.

6. During the Civil War many poor Southerners complained that it was a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight. On what basis did they make this complaint? Could Northerners have made the same accusation for the same reason? Explain.

The basis was that the rich men had the most at stake from this war. The poorer men had little to gain or lose. For example, the rich Southern slave owners would be economically crippled if slavery was to be abolished. However, while it was a rich man's war, it was mostly the poor men who did the fighting. Plus, men could pay out of military service. The rich could buy their way out of serving in the war which was mainly the Northerners.

7. What political factors affected Lincoln’s approach to the goals and conduct of the war? Why was he a more successful political leader than Jefferson Davis?

One political factor was the Border States, which were of high importance to both the North and South and it forced Lincoln to declare a war for Union rather than abolition. Also, because of the extreme conditions of the Civil War, he was able to essentially have unchecked authority. He was able to ignore the Constitution at times for the sake of winning the war, such as increasing the size of the Federal army (only Congress can do this under Constitution). He was a more successful political leader than Jefferson Davis because he was able to interpret and lead the public opinion. He also enjoyed the advantage of a long-established government and financial stability of the North.

8. What changes did the Civil War bring about in civilian society, North and South? How did it particularly affect women?

There was an economic boom in the North because of wartime industry from new factories and new protective tariffs. Many people grew in wealth in the North. In fact, the millionaire class arose in the North. In the South, their economy plummeted from the blockade. People lived much poorer and humble lives in the South. Women found more job opportunities because the men left for war. Women in the South denied themselves the silks and satins of Northern women and decided to spin their own clothes because of the South's economic woes.

9. Key Terms:Fort Sumter A fort in Charleston harbor

where the battle of Fort Sumter took place

The battle led to four states seceding to the Confederacy: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina

Border States Included Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia

If the Union could achieve them as allies then the Ohio River would be under their control and the South would have less manufacturing capacity

Robert E. Lee He was offered by Lincoln to command the Northern armies but when Virginia seceded left because he felt bound to them

He commanded the Southern armies and won many battles

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson A gifted tactical theorist and Lee’s chief lieutenant to much

master of speed and deception; killed by his own men @ Chancellorsville

of the Civil War

King Cotton The major export of the South and it reigned as “king”

Britain had enough cotton and didn’t aid the South in the Civil War instead no intervention

Alabama A vessel that was not a warship because the ship was left unarmed and picked up their weapons elsewhere (British built Confederate raiders)

“British pirate” that burned bulks of Yankee merchants

Trent Affair A union warship cruising on high seas of Cuba stopped a British steamer, the Trent, and forcibly removed 2 Confederate diplomats headed for Europe

Enraged Britons and almost started a another war b/c the started to march towards Canada

Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy and was tense, humorless, legalistic, and stubborn

In contrast to Lincoln he was inclined to defy rather than appeal to public opinion

Habeas Corpus “innocent until prove guilty” by your peers

This was waived during the Civil War

Draft Riots These occurred especially in the democratic strongholds of the North b/c the rich were able to pay substitutes to go for them when drafted

On instance led to several days of a burning, drunken, pillaging mob; scores of lives lost many were lynched blacks

Morrill Tariff Act Superseded the low Tariff of 1857 increased the existing duties to some 5-10%

Rates were sharply increased due to necessities of war to raise additional revenue and to sustain protection of the manufacturers

National Banking Act 1863 Passed by Congress to stimulate sales of government bonds & to establish a standard bank-note currency

The first significant step toward a unified banking system since 1836 when Andrew Jackson killed the “monster” bank

Clara Burton Superintendent of nurses for the Union in the Civil War; helped transform nursing, a lowly profession, into a respected one

Opened up another major sphere of employment for women post war era

Sally Tompkins The “Clara Burton” of the South ran the Richmond infirmary for wounded Confederate soldiers

Awarded rank of captain by Confederate president Jefferson Davis