SECESSION AND THE CIVIL WAR

A.P. U.S. History

Mr. Krueger

Lincoln Born 1809 to poor illiterate parents –Self educated

1831 settled in New Salem, and made a living as a Surveyor – Shopkeeper – Postmaster

Found some success in law and politicsBecame a leader of the Whig Party and a lawyer in IllinoisServed one term in Congress (1847-1849)

Believed slavery should be tolerated because it was protected by the constitution

He attacked Douglas’ popular sovereignty because it allowed for slavery expansion.

He joined the Republicans and became the presidential candidate in 1860 – he was adept in party leadership.

Lincoln held the party together by: Persuasion, Patronage, Flexible Policy Making.Lincoln identified with the Northern cause and could inspire

others to make sacrifices for it.

Discussion:

“The Civil War put on trial the very principle of democracy at a time when European nations rejected political liberalism, and accepted the conservative views that popular government would collapse into anarchy.”

The Storm Gathers

Lincoln’s election led to the secession of 7 states.

This did not lead directly to war. For this to happen:

A final compromise effort must fail.The North must make a final decision to

maintain the Union by military action. All realized that when the guns blazed at

Fort Sumter that this would be resolved on the battlefield.

The Deep South Secedes South Carolina was the 1st to secede

Pro-slavery Southern Rights December 20, 1860 – S. Carolina dissolved itself from the

Union. Justification – They charged that a sectional party had elected

a president whose opinions and purposes were hostile to slavery.

By Feb. 1st – 7 states seceded: S. Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia

Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas immediate secession was unnecessary due to Lincoln’s election Whigs maintained influence here during sectional crisis More willing to compromise because they were tied to the

North Cooperationists – wanted the south to act as an entirety.

The Montgomery Convention Without the border states, delegates of the

Deep South met in Montgomery, Alabama (Feb. 4th) to establish the Confederate States of America (CSA).

The convention acted as a provisional government while drafting a permanent constitution.

They take a moderate approachIdeas voted down:

○ Reopen Atlantic Slave Trade○ Abolish 3/5th compromise and count all slaves○ Prohibit the admission of free states to the new

confederacy

The Montgomery Convention The central government was denied the right to:

Impose protective tariffs Subsidize internal improvements Interfere with slavery in the states

Similar to the US Constitution – but with traditional southern interpretations

It was required to pass laws protecting slavery in the territories Jefferson Davis (Mass.) – President Alexander Stephens (Georgia) – V.P.

Radicals were denied positions of authority, and moderate views were taken to draw in the border states.

Lincoln’s election developed southern fears that the north wouldn’t leave slavery alone.

Goals of the CSA The Montgomery Convention showed that the goal

was not to create a slave holder utopia, but to recreate the Union prior to the Republican party. Secession was a last resort.

The decision to allow free states into the CSA showed moderation. It was a very conservative revolution.

The only justification for southern independence was the “peculiar institution”

Vice president Stephens states “that the Negro is not equal to the white man, that slavery subordination to the superior race is a natural condition.”

Failure of Compromise Deep South sought independence – the moderate

northerners and border slave states sought compromise.

Dec. 1860 – Sen. John Crittenden of Kentucky presented a plan: Extend the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific It would protect slavery in the territories south of the line Federal compensation to the owners of escaped slaves Constitutional Amendment that would forever prohibit the

fed. Gov. from interfering with slavery Initially, the Republicans showed a willingness to listen Lincoln was strongly opposed to the slavery line

extension (as strong as an oak) Congress then voted the plan down Congressmen in seceding states also voted it down

Lincoln’s Fault? Historians generally blame Lincoln for the unnecessary

war, because he would not support the compromise. But it’s believed the approval of the compromise wouldn’t

have halted the Deep South from seceding. Lincoln felt that extending the Missouri Compromise to

the Pacific wouldn’t halt the agitation for extending slavery to the new territories.

They felt the only solution to the house divide was to remove the chance of slavery expansion.

In his Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861) he stated many patriotic men urged him to accept the compromise, that would shift the ground on which he was elected. Lincoln said it signified that an elected President can’t be inaugurated until he betrays those that elected him.

And the War Came… By Lincoln’s Inauguration:

7 states seceded They formed an Independent Confederacy Seized many Fed. Forts in the Deep South – all accomplished

without firing a single shot Commercial trade with the south was important, but

some felt we were better off with the Deep South gone By March public opinion shifted to strong action to

preserve the Union Business now put most of its weight behind coercive

measures – reasoning – temporary loss of commerce was better than a permanent loss of the south as a market, and raw materials.

Lincoln called for cautions and limited use of force. He would defend un-captured forts in the South. This shifted the beginning of hostilities on the south.

…it hit the fans…. Lincoln knew Fort Sumter must be reinforced –

his cabinet felt it was indefensibleSec. of State William Seward informed the

Confederacy of the indefensible fortLincoln ordered supplies and provisions sent to Fort

Sumter – sent word to the gov. of S. Carolina(Apr. 8-9) The Confederate authorities felt the

resupplying of F. Sumter was a hostile act and attacked (Apr. 12)

Union Forces surrendered under Major Robert Anderson, the Confederate Flag was raised.

The south assumed responsibility for firing the 1st shot.

More Secession Lincoln called for a militia of the loyal states to provide

75,000 volunteers Two days later Virginia joined the Confederacy

In the next 5 weeks – Arkansas, Tennessee, N. Carolina followed Virginia

They had been unwilling to secede due to Lincoln’s election, but when he asked for troops they were forced to choose a side.

They believed secession was a constitutional right and were quick to cut ties to the Union

In the north, the firing on Fort Sumter proved to unite the Union

The CSA moved its capital from Montgomery to Richmond

In the border states of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri – secession was stopped by local unionism and federal intervention. Maryland was kept in the Union by Martial Law Missouri experienced brutal and bloody guerilla fighting – very

unsafe place.

What was the Civil War? Not just a struggle between free and slave states…

More than anything conflicting views on the right of secession determined the ultimate division of states, and the choice of people in areas where sentiments were divided

Robert E. Lee was not a:○ Defender of Slavery○ Southern Nationalist

Lee went south because he was a loyal son to a sovereign state

General George Thomas (VA) chose the Union because he felt it to be indissoluble

The two sides would define the war less as a struggle over slavery than as a contest to determine whether the union was undividable

Adjusting to Total War

The Civil War was “total war” It was a long war because the south put

up a “hell” of a fight Total war tests societies, economies,

and political systems Also, a battle of wits between generals

and military strategists

Prospects, Plans, and Expectations North Advantage – Population, Industries,

Railroads South Advantage – Defend its territory, Could

choose the timing/place for battle, Familiar with terrain

The North had to invade and conquer, the South could define its cause as protecting boundaries

South expected/assumed:Their armies to be better fedSupport from England and France because of cotton

market

Strategy South – Offensive defense North – Anaconda Plan – like a boa

constrictor, squeeze the south into submissionBlockade southern portsSeize control of the Mississippi RiverCut off food supply and other commoditiesLincoln decides on a two front war

○ Pressure Virginia○ Advance down the M. River Valley to isolate Texas

and LouisianaProblems: North lacked superior military leadership

Recruitment At the beginning both sides had more volunteers then

could be outfitted and armed Recruiting was done by states – they were reluctant to

give up forces CSA passes Conscription Law (1862) Lincoln set quotas – if not met a draft followed

War materials produced by private industries South had problems:

Weak industrial base – needed outside help Relied on cash government programs to get needed materials Agriculture could not meet the demands of total war

Both sides had financial problems Taxes, selling war bonds, printing more money (paper)

Political Leadership Both Constitutions made the President Commander and

Chief, politics persisted Elections, Influence of parties and factions

Lincoln was bold in assuming new executive powers Expanded the army Advanced public money to private individuals 1861 – declared martial law Suspended habeas corpus between Philadelphia and

Washington Lincoln believed this power was necessary

Davis was a weak war leader Defined powers literally Personally directed the army, but left policy making to the

Confederate Congress Played favorites with Confederate Leadership – two of the

CSA’s best generals were denied assignments, while Braxton Bragg kept a major assignment

Gradually loses CSA support because he had no party backing

Campaigns and Battles Discussion Famous Battles?

Bull Run Shiloh The West Antietam Fredericksburg Chancellorsville Vicksburg The Wilderness Sherman’s March Appomattox Court House

Major Roles George McClellan Ulysses S. Grant Stonewall Jackson Robert E. Lee William T. Sherman

Emancipation 1861 – Congress voted that the war was fought to

preserve the Union, not to change the domestic institutions in any states However, Congress authorized the government to confiscate

the slaves of masters who supported the CSA Lincoln favored freeing slaves, but not immediately

○ Prolonged Emancipation – did not want to alienate Union elements in the Border States

○ Drafted his speech, but would wait for a major victory so as to not seem desperate

○ After Antietam, his issued the Emancipation Proclamation – 100 days to give up the struggle without losing their slaves

○ CSA congress did not respond – Lincoln declared slaves officially free

○ Did not immediately free slaves, but committed the Union to abolition

About 25% of slave population gain freedom during the war

Africans Americans in War What was it like? What did they have to do? Views on this? What about morale in North and South? Riots? And Copperheads? Lincoln vs. Booth on April 9 at the Fords

Theater

Effects of the War 618,000 victims of war due to enemy fire or

disease Women who served in the war now led reform

movements for women 4 million African Americans were emancipated

from slavery wondering if they would be equal North industries lost ground economically because

prices rose faster than wages Immigrants were optimistic because many had

served in the war, this weakened Nativist sentiment

The war also decided that the federal government had power over the state

The End? Congress passed laws during the war to

encourage business and agriculture – Republicans supported this.High Tariffs, Homestead Act, National Bank“Big Business”

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that the Civil War changed American thought.Organization, government, and civilization over the

deeds of private menThe North won because it was able to organize,

innovate, and modernize better than the SouthThe age of science and technology will now follow