the war begins the war begins. lincoln's election in 1860 causes immediate reaction in the...
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THE WAR BEGINS
The War Begins. Lincoln's election in 1860 causes immediate reaction in the South.
Crittenden Compromise: John Crittenden KY Compensate owners of runaway slaves Repeal of N. Liberty Laws Amendment to prohibit fed gov from interfering in
slavery Amendment to restore Missouri Compromise
for remaining territories and any taken
The beginning….
A. Dec. 1860. South Carolina secedes, six other Deep South States join SC…but not Virginia.
1. The Confederate States of America (CSA) forms Feb 1861. Jefferson Davis is elected President.
2. Lame-duck Pres. Buchanan does nothing, he claims no constitutional authority to deal with it.
B. Lincoln is inaugurated in March, 1861. In his speech, He tries to appeal to moderates in South by saying the gov’t will not interfere with existing slavery or FS law...but his appeal fails
The beginning….
C. Actions by the CSA: Spring 18611. Confeds begin to seize federal property around the South: Arsenals, ships, any military stuff
2. April, 1861, CSA attacks Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC. It surrenders, and the war begins.
The beginning….
D. Remaining southern states join the CSA. Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri become “border states”
1. Maryland’s location (it surrounds most of DC!) create major security issues for Lincoln. Fears of public uprising forces Lincoln to waive civil rights (habeas corpus) in Maryland. 100’s jailed
The beginning….
A. How do the sides compare to each other at the start of this conflict? 1. North: more population, factories, firearms, rail miles, textiles
2. South: agric. output, poss. allies (B+F trading partners), more trained military leaders
Early military action…
A. Current strategy of the era (West Point) stresses infantry attacks supported by massed artillery. 1. New tech will make this strategy obsolete. The new "minie" bullet could travel up to 500 yards with accuracy, many die as leaders on both sides continue to send troops across open fields. 2. The North adopts the "Anaconda Plan” a naval blockade to weaken the South over time. If they cannot trade, they cannot survive long. But the North’s navy is not up to this task yet. 3. The South is hoping their spirit and leadership will overwhelm the lackadaisical North.
EARLY MILITARY ACTION
C. The first major battle is “Bull Run I” (or Manassas) is fought 30 miles outside of DC in July 1861
1. Most battles are fought around Richmond and D.C.
2. Union troops are routed, and they run back to Washington DC. But the Rebels fail to pursue!
3. Lincoln begins a 3 year cycle of firing generals after disasterous defeats.
EARLY MILITARY ACTION
D. Gen. George McClellan takes over the Northern army He renames it the "Army of the Potomac". He quickly organizes it into a well-organized and well-supplied army. 1. McClellan is timid and slow-moving…and the South will win easy victories at first(1861-62)
2. An emboldened General Lee moves his “Army of Northern Virginia” into Maryland. The battle of “Antietam” ends as a bloody stalemate.
ANTIETAM
a. Huge losses (25,000 total for both sides).
b. Lee is forced back to the South, McClellan is fired by Lincoln for not pursuing weakened Lee
c. Antietam, although a stalemate, shows European powers the South is not a sure winner.
SOUTHERN VICTORIES
3. South continues to score major victories: “Fredericksburg” and “Chancellorsville” (late 1862- early 1863) see the South rout the Northern forces badly….causing huge losses for the Union.
1. Gen Stonewall Jackson is killed at Chance, he is one of South's best generals.
WEST
E. In the West, Union forces try to take control of the Mississippi River. Hoping to divide the South
1. Gen US Grant wins a bloody battle at “Shiloh” (April 1862). His leadership get’s Lincoln eye
NAVAL WAR
F. Naval War: The Union blockade is weak early. Too few ships, too long coast (189 ports)1. The South has few ships, and lacks the shipyards to make many more. So their goal is to try to break holes the growing blockade, and seize Union shipping.
a. Ironclad Boats Spring, 1862. The "Merrimac", Southern ironclad, fights the "Monitor" in Norfolk. A draw, but the South lacks materials to build many ironclads.
b. The South purchases ships “commerce raiders”, to harass Northern merchant ships in the Atlantic. They are successful, but do little to change the course of the war.
Naval War
2. The South simply cannot compete with the North on water. By 1863, a Union “noose” of ships steadily shuts down the Southern coast. The Anaconda Plan is starting to work.
SOUTH
MEN:1. First Conscription Law 1862: 18-35 men;
eventually 17-501. 30 days to volunteer and elect officers2. 4 out of 5 men served; 1 in 5 draftee3. $50 and 60 day furlough to those who
reenlist
2. Exemptions:1. 20 Negro Law – 1863 no longer pay for a
sub ($6000)
SOUTH
3. 1864 soldiers were in for duration of war
4. Desertions increased as war continued due to pressure from home
NORTH
MEN:1. Enrollment Act: March 1863, men ages
20-45 eligible for draft1. Substitute or pay fine of $3002. State quotas3. 8% draftees, substitutes4. Draft Riots 1863 in places like NY City
SOUTH
SUPPLIES:1. Relied on European imports2. Gorgas organized contracts to iron
works, Tredgar works3. Lost few if any due to ammunition
shortage4. Shoe shortage (led to invasion at
Gettysburg)5. Poor RR network made distribution
difficult6. Salt shortage
SOUTH
SUPPLIES:7. Impressment Act 1863 – take food at
prescribed rates from farmers8. Impress slaves to assist in war effort
NORTH
SUPPLIES:1. Women helped with sewing machines2. Labor surplus – did not raise right away3. Food was supplied easier due to things like
the McCormick reaper4. Protests and strikes from women earning
less than men1. After EP, immigrants were afraid freed blacks
would take jobs2. National Labor Union forms in 1866
SOUTH
FINANCE:1. War bonds – were difficult to sell, not enough
capital2. Paper money was never made legal tender
1. No confidence in money, printed more
3. Never raised more than 5% from taxes4. INFLATION: 1861 $1 was worth $46 by 1864 =
9000% inflation5. 1863 tax on crops 1/10 to government, those
who lived near RR were hardest hit (difficult elsewhere to collect)
NORTH
FINANCE:1. War bonds – Jay Cooke led campaign to
sell bonds1. Specie shortage2. 2/3 money will be acquired through loans
2. Paper money made legal tender 1862 $150 million greenbacksEasier to pay soldiers, levy and pay taxes and war bonds
NORTH
FINANCE:3. 80% inflation4. Taxes – liquor to billiard tables
a. raised confidence in paper moneyb. 21% revenuec. August 1861 income tax of 3% over $800
SOUTH
LEADERS:1. Jefferson Davis v. Alexander Stephens:
1. No tariff, no internal improvements2. Opposed Stephens who was strong
advocate of state’s rights; Davis willing to override states for Confederacy
3. Willing to use martial law – suspension of civil liberties
1. EX. Richmond – banned alcohol, pass system, arrest drunken soldiers, jailed without trial
NORTH
1. LINCOLN vs. Radical Republicans v. N Democrats
2. Willing to do whatever was necessary and proper
3. Released prisoners by loyalty oath4. Put critics in cabinet5. Suspended writ of habeas corpus6. Radicals wanted emancipation7. N. Democrats opposed strong central
government
Troop Organization
Infantry: (Brig Gen, Maj Gen, Lieutenant Gen – Grant)Company – 100 menRegiment – 10 companiesBrigade – 3 or 4 regimentsDivision – 3 or 4 brigadesCorp – 3 divisions by 1862
ArtilleryCavalry
SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION1. Homestead Act – May 20, 18621. 160 acres to settler after 5 years on his
claim, make improvements (squatter rights)
2. Morrill Act – 1862Public land to states for promotion of higher education; each state received 30,000 acres for each member of Congress
SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION3. Pacific Railroad Act – 1862
a. 6,400 miles of public land per mileb. $16,000 per mile plains; $48,000 per mile in mtns.c. 1869 RR complete giving away over 120 million acresd. Government stimulated construction and economic development but was criticized for corruption
SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION4. Legal Tender Act – 1862; Chase in charge of
treasuryLegalized greenbacksAllowed for passage of tax law
5. National Banking Act 1863Allowed national bank to become depositor of public fundsSecured notes by bonds that were free from specie
SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION6. Internal Revenue Act 1862
Established bureau for overseeing tax collection
GENERALS
NORTH:McDowell, McClellan, Hooker, Meade,
Burnside, Grant, Sherman, Farragut, Sheridan, Rosecrans
SOUTH:Bearegard, Stonewall Jackson, Lee,
Longstreet, Johnston, Bragg, Pemberton, Hood
WAR FIRSTS:
SubmarineRepeating rifleUse of RRTelegraphMass-produced weaponsIron warshipsTrench warfareJoint army-navy tactics
FRAGILE BORDER STATES
MARYLAND – capitol 100m to Richmond DELAWARE – close to Philadelphia KENTUCKY - Ohio, RR link to west MISSOURI – Mississippi and west
Made Lincoln hesitant to pronounce EP
Cotton Diplomacy
IV. Diplomacy During the War. The South needs diplomatic recognition by England and France. This would open up financial opportunities (loans!) and make their cause legitimate.
A. England + France declare neutrality. Don't back a loser, don't want to upset balance of power.
B. The South hopes the cotton trade will force England + France to intervene in the war.
Cotton Diplomacy
1. Problem is, oversupply in Europe before war starts, and altern. markets in India, Egypt.
2. The North also threatens them to stay out. The bloody nature of the war reinforces that.
C. Using Cotton as a diplomatic tool fails. Europe will not directly come to the aid of the South
Emancipation Proclamation
VI. The Second Half of the War 1863-65. The Emancipation Proclamation is the turning point.
A. Lincoln sees the Radicals in his own party gain in strength. He feels Emancipation is now politically necessary to win this war.
1. His goal is to show it as a measure that will end the war quicker; so save the union and lives. 2. He issues it in two parts: Sept 1862 (After
Antietam). He says he will free the rebelling states slaves if they don’t stop war by Jan 1, 1863.
Emancipation Proclamation
a. He knows the South won't give up, so emancipation will become a reality by default.
This also doesn't free any slaves in Border States or re-conquered Southern land
3. The Proclamation is formalized on Jan. 1, 1863. It’s Impact? .
a. The EP makes the war a moral one against slavery. It is popular among the people of Europe (not by their gov'ts). Actively supporting the South seems immoral now.
Military 1863-65
B. Military Action. 1863-1865. An increasingly desperate South cope with growing Northern power1. July 1863 becomes the military turning point of the war. Two key events…. a. In the East, Lee makes a 2nd attempt to invade
the North. His army enters Pennsylvania1. His goal is to threaten major cities (Wash,
Phila.) and possibly capture one…this would maybe get diplomatic recognition. and the North may sue for peace.
Military 1863-65
2.Gettysburg, PA Lee's army meets Union forces led by Gen Meade. A huge battle ensues
- The three day battle is a stunning Northeen victory, but with huge losses. 23,000 d/w for North, 28,000 d/w for South. Lee is again forced to retreat back South, b. In the West, US Grant captures Vicksburg and control of Miss R… Lincoln now has the leader he wants, he appoints Grant as Commander of all Union forces
