period 5 textbook
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 17MANIFEST DESTINY AND
ITS LEGACY
Americans want Texas, remote backwater of Spanish Empire
US abandoned claim in 1819
1823- new Mexican government gives land to Stephen Austin to bring settlers
2 conditions settlers had to become Mexican citizens, become Catholic
Ignored by settlers, annoyed by presence of Mexican soldiers and government
Settlers typical American individualist, did not want to be pushed around
Slavery an issue, outlawed in Mex., settlers brought slaves anyway
1836 Mex. Leader Santa Ana attempts to repress Texans independence
GONE TO TEXAS
Early 1836 Texans declare independence
Santa Anna attacks Alamo and Goliad become ral lying cries for Texans, galvanized Americans behind Texas cause
Gen. Sam Houston lures Mexicans east to San Jacinto (near present day Houston), and defeats Santa Anna
Forces Santa Anna to sign treaty giving land to Rio Grande to Texas and removing troops from region
Mex. does not recognize agreement
Texas becomes an independent republic but wanted to be par t of the United States
Refused admission, abolit ionists did not want new slave state
Seen as a plot against slavery to Southerners
THE LONE STAR REBELLION
1840’s territorial expansion dominated politics, diplomacy
War with Mexico, gained territory from Texas to California and questions of status of slavery
1841 William Henry Harrison (Whig) elected and died in office
Real leaders of Whigs Clay, Webster tried to push agenda, thwarted by John Tyler (VP, now president)
Tyler supporter of states rights
Clay and others tried to push nationalistic political agenda
Whigs pushed for new bank, tarif fs; all vetoed by Tyler
THE ACCESSION OF “TYLER TOO”
British looked down on Americans, increased tension with America
Americans borrowed extensively from British banks (many defaulted on loans during Panic of 1837)
1837 Caroline incident with Canada, 1841 slaves offered asylum in Bahamas (southern fear of Caribbean becoming haven for escaped slaves), 1842 border disputes in Maine (settled by Webster-Ashburton Treaty)
WAR OF WORDS WITH BRITAIN
1 836- Texas ach ieves independence , not recognized by Mex ico
Britain, France interested in Texas as place for cotton production, check American power
Texas as independent nation threatened US
Presidential campaign 1844 issue of expansion
Texas annexed by joint resolution of Congress 1844
James K. Polk won election on expansion platform
Texas became state 1845
Oregon
enormous wilderness
Claimed by many different countries until 1825, then only US and Britain
British claims based on occupation
American claims based on exploration and occupation
1830’s American missionaries settle Willamette Valley, stimulates interest of Americans
1840’s number of Americans increases, came over Oregon Trail
British had few settlers, weaker claim than Americans
TEXAS AND OREGON
Election of 1844 between Henry Clay and James Polk
Major election issue Manifest Destiny
Feeling that America’s duty was to spread ideals of democracy across continent ( idea of expansion and l iber ty)
Expansion ignored national boundaries, came at the expense of others
Expansionist Democrats won election felt they had a mandate to take Texas and Oregon
New President James K. Polk had 4 point program – lower tarif f , create independent treasury, acquire Oregon and California
1846 US and Britain compromise on Oregon territory border (dying fur trade made Brit ish lose interest in Oregon)
MANIFEST DESTINY AND THE ELECTION OF
1844
Americans wanted San Francisco and San Diego Bays as por ts on Pacific and to expand American trade to Asia
Americans saw weakness in Mexican control of borderlands
Polk eager to buy California, Mexicans would not sel l
Wanted California to balance admission of Texas with a free state
US/Mexico issues over boundary of Texas
Mexican claim was boundary at Nueces River, American claim was Rio Grande
Rumors of Brit ish wanting to purchase California, could not be tolerated under Monroe doctrine
1846 Polk sends troops to Texas, march from Nueces River to Rio Grande
April 1846 US soldiers ki l led and Polk asks for war, Congress overwhelmingly supports i t
WAR WITH MEXICO
Many nor therners and Whigs saw this as a land grab and war for extension of slavery
Lincoln (then Rep. from Il l inois) pushes “spot resolutions” to show where blood was shed on American soi l
Both sides wanted war, America to teach Mexicans a lesson, Mexicans saw US a bully to the nor th
South and West supported warThe US unprepared for the war. I l l equipped volunteers fi l led the American armyAdvantages over the Mexican mil itary that had outdated equipment and l i tt le
motivation to fight.American industrial base to prepare and equip an army, superior leadershipUnited States won easi ly over the Mexican forces in 1847California- John Fremont led a revolt against Mexican rule and declared the state “The Bear Flag Republic”
WAR WITH MEXICO
1848- War ended with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Gave US vast new territory, paid Mexico $15 mill ion dollars for land
Many Americans thought that US should not stop with Mexico
European countries had new respect for American militaryThe Mexican American War was a blatant war of conquest that would have occurred through migration eventuallyThe war also trained the next generation of generals (Lee, Grant) to fight America’s next war – the Civil WarTurning point in US relations with Latin America, became suspicious of “Colossus of the North”War aroused issue of slavery and its expansion1846- David Wilmot tr ies to introduce amendment that slavery should not exist in new territory, never passed the Senate but symbolized issue of slavery in territories (Wilmot Proviso)
WAR WITH MEXICO
Chapter 18
RENEWING THE SECTIONAL
STRUGGLE
1848-1854
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NORTH AND
SOUTH
1848 war with Mexico ends, issue of extending slavery
opened up, split politics along sectional lines, North and
South
Political parties had appealed to people across sectional
lines, during this period it was split by northern abolitionists
and southern fire-eaters
Election of 1848- Democrats turn to Lewis Cass, war hero,
Democratic platform was silent on the issue of slavery
Lewis Cass was not, he supported “popular sovereignty” to
determine status of slavery
Idea took question of slavery out of national politics and
made it a series of local issues; followed democratic ideal of
self determination
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY PANACEA
Whigs nominate Mexican War hero Zachary Taylor (Clay was old, had too many enemies)
Pushed personality of candidate
Anti slavery people not satisfied with either candidate, establish own party “Free Soil” Par ty
Free Soil Par ty - for Wilmot Proviso, broadened appeal by advocating federal aid for internal improvements, free government homesteads for sett lers in new territory
Party attracted industrialists from North, those who wanted cheap land in west to allow free white workers a chance to make money
Nominate Van Buren as candidate
Foreshadowed emergence of Republican par ty
POLITICAL TRIUMPHS OF GENERAL
TAYLOR
1848 gold discovered in California, Americans flock to region to strike it rich
300,000 go to CA (forty -niners)
Most money made by those that provided services to miners
Influx of settlers overwhelm territorial government, to bring order they draft a constitution in 1849 (it excluded slavery), and tried to bypass territorial stage, Taylor saw it as a way to end stalemate over slavery
He felt slavery could be permitted where it existed but not expanded
Supported by free soilers; appalled Southern politicians, knew it would upset balance of slave and free states
“CALIFORNY GOLD”
1850- South relatively well off, cotton prices high, political sentiment was in their favor, president was southern, political sectional balance was well maintained
South worried that new territory would be free and upset the sectional political balance (California, New Mexico, Utah)
Texas and New Mexico dispute over border, Texas threatened to send troops to take Santa Fe in defiance of federal government
SECTIONAL BALANCE AND THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD
Southerners angered by runaway slaves and assistance of Underground Railroad
Assisted by abolitionists it was a series of “stations” where slaves were safe during their escape to freedom
Southerners upset at prospect of abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
Southerners wanted stronger fugitive slave laws, free states refused to cooperate to capture slaves
Upset with moral righteousness of abolitionists
Said Constitution protected slavery and laws that Congress passed to provide for slave catching
SECTIONAL BALANCE AND THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
1850- Congress needed to act decisively on issue of slavery before country fell apart
Last of second generation statesmen- Webster, Calhoun, Clay were at center of fixing issue (or arguing against it)
Clay and Stephen Douglas of Illinois introduced a series of compromises to solve problem
Wanted north and south to make concessions Calhoun upheld Southern position of states
rights and political balance, argued that slaves were property and protected by 5 th Amendment and Article IV of Constitution
March 7 th speech- Webster gave impassioned speech about compromise and was accused as being a traitor to the north, speech helped turn tide for compromise in north
These politicians were the last of a generation to support union at all costs ,new breed more sectional in outlook
TWILIGHT FOR THE SENATORIAL GIANTS
Young Guard from north led by William Seward of NY argued
sections could no longer compromise
Said there was a “higher law” to be followed
President Taylor also believed in higher law and was bent on
vetoing any action by Congress
Taylor dies suddenly in 1850 and new president Millard
Fillmore signed series of compromise measures known as
Compromise of 1850
Many eager to compromise because of prosperity brought by
gold riches from California and growing spirit of goodwill
Southern extremists still opposed to concessions and
planned to meet in Nashville to secede from Union
DEADLOCK AND DANGER ON CAPITOL
HILL
Compromise 1850- series of bills passed to end slavery question, for the most part it favored the North
a) California admitted as a free state
b) New Mexico, Utah organized a territories, open to slavery on basis of popular sovereignty (not going to be slave)
c) Land dispute between Texas and NM settled, NM given land, TX receives $10m to pay off government debt
d) Slave trade outlawed in D.C.
e) Most controversial part was Fugitive Slave law
Escaped slaves could not testify on their behalf or given a trial by jury, bounty paid to federal commissioners, people found aiding slaves were subject to criminal penalties
BALANCING THE COMPROMISE SCALES
Northerners became galvanized around issue of slavery and many states passed personal liberty laws
Many would not support law, further turned tide against south; it became a moral issue
Sectional balance would favor north and growing population would insure it
North was more industrial and wealthy
Through the 1850’s they gained moral and material strength
South dug in their heels to protect their way of life
BALANCING THE COMPROMISE SCALES
Published in 1852, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe (daughter of anti slavery minister) united northerners against slavery
Made slavery seem “real”, not removed from everyday life
Showed indignity of slavery from cruel masters to the ripping apart of slave families
Best selling novel of the 1800’s
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
1852- Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire nominated by Democrats, held pro southern views, wanted territorial expansion, endorsed Compromise of 1850, seen as compromise candidate
Took votes away from southern Whigs, also he was a weak and indecisive man
Whigs nominate another war hero Winfield Scott
Campaign based on personality and Pierce wins
Spelled the end of the Whig party, end of national politics
Legacy was it was the party of union and great leaders (Clay and Webster)
DEFEAT AND DOOM FOR THE WHIGS
Expansionist impulses of the late 1840’s led to the Young America movement
Thought they could transform world through spreading of “American” institutions (democracy, capitalism; part of reforming impulse of antebellum America)
Latin America- Clayton- Bulwer Treaty of 1850 with Brit ish to secure r ight of transit across isthmus of Panama ( later used to justify land grab for Panama Canal)
Southerners wanted new slave territory, looked to Central America
William Walker briefly was president of Nicaragua and made slavery legal (he was eventually executed)
Cuba had a large population of slaves but i t was controlled by Spain
1850, 1851 two fi l ibustering expeditions sent to Cuba but were repelled and tension escalated between Spain and US
Secretly US, France and Britain draf t Ostend Manifesto that recommended US could take Cuba if cer tain conditions met
Northern free soi lers protested and the Pierce administration backed of f of plans
EXPANSIONIST STIRRINGS SOUTH OF THE
BORDER
West coast possessions made US Pacific power
Americans wanted to enter Asian markets
1844 Americans gain entry to Chinese trade and
missionaries (compromised cultural integrity of China in the
long run)
1852 Millard Fillmore sends US navy under leadership of
Matthew Perry to open trade with Japan
Japan had been closed off from the rest of the world for 200
years but show of American military forced open society,
within a decade the “Meiji Restoration” would modernize
Japan
THE ALLURE OF ASIA
New western territory needed to be connected to rest of country, transcontinental railroad was a necessity
Northern and southern sections competed to see would have the railroad and the wealth that went with it
James Gadsden purchased piece of desert from Mexico in 1853 for 10 million
Purpose was for southern rail route that would have been easier to build and it went through already organized territory, easier to protect with US military
PACIFIC RAILROAD PROMOTERS AND THE GADSDEN
PURCHASE
1854- Stepen Douglas “The Little Giant”, sought to break the deadlock of western expansion
Called the Kansas-Nebraska Act He proposed a northern route for the railroad,
it would begin in Chicago and spread a string of settlements to the Pacific
To gain southern support he split the Nebraska Territory into two parts -Kansas and Nebraska, their status regarding slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty
Problems- it contradicted the Missouri Compromise, a sacred sectional pact
President Pierce supported the plan Douglas also had other motives - he owned land
along the proposed route and he wanted to be president
Douglas defeated the free soil group in Congress and pushed the bil l through
DOUGLAS’S KANSAS -NEBRASKA SCHEME
Kansas-Nebraska Act greased the slope to the Civil War
Northerners saw the events of the previous decade as a southern conspiracy (popular theme in American history)
Compromise was harder to come by , each side would not give in to the other
Democrats torn apart by the Kansas -Nebraska Act and would not put another president into the White House for 28 years
Caused the Republican party to emerge, it consisted of anti -slavery groups, Know-Nothings, Free-Soilers
It quickly gathered strength in the years leading up to 1860, the party was supported only in the north
CONGRESS LEGISLATES A CIVIL WAR
Chapter 19
DRIFTING TOWARD
DISUNIONTHE 1850’S
Hope for compromise and keeping Union together fell apart
in the last half of the 1850’s
Kansas erupted into violence, the Supreme Court in the Dred
Scott decision validated feeling of a “Southern conspiracy”
Attitudes on both sides hardened
1852 Uncle Tom’s Cabin published, novel had great political
force- no Northerner wanted to support “peculiar institution”;
also popular across Europe
1857 Impending Crisis of the South by Hinton Helper tried to
prove that non-slave holders in South suffered the most from
slavery (poor whites could not get ahead)
Planter elite feel attacked from all sides
STOWE AND HELPER: LITERARY INCENDIARIES
Kansas issue on popular sovereignty came to a head
Various groups came to Kansas - regular pioneers, groups financed by nor thern abolit ionists (some armed by New England Emigrant Aid Company)
Southern spokesmen under the impression Kansas would be slave, Nebraska free and began to sponsor slave owning famil ies to move to Kansas (r isky to take slaves to region)
1855- crisis in Kansas blows up (Bleeding Kansas)
Elections for fi rst territorial legislature, many came over border from slave state Missouri to vote (early and of ten)
Slavery forces won election, free soi lers see this as an i l legal conspiracy and set up own government
State home to two separate governments
Tension increased when proslavery raiders attacked free town of Lawrence
THE NORTH-SOUTH CONTEST FOR
KANSAS
1856- John Brown, insanely dedicated abolitionist, moved to Kansas
Led a band of abolitionist to a pro slavery settlement on Pottawatomie Creek and hacked to death a group of five proslaveryites and brought swift retaliation from proslavery forces
Civil war erupted in Kansas after this attack
1857 Kansas applies for admission to US with proslavery constitution (Lecompton Constitution) approved in 1857
Constitution supported by President Buchanan, many saw this a popular fraudulency
Issue divided Democratic party along north -south l ines and broke last strands that kept Union together
KANSAS IN CONVULSION
1856- US Senator Charles Sumner (MA) and
Congressman Preston Brooks (SC)
demonstrated how inflamed the political
passions had become
Sumner gave a two day long speech on
slavery and the Kansas issue
During the speech he insulted a relative of
Brooks and he attacked and beat Sumner
with a cane on the Senate floor
Brooks resigned and was reelected, Sumner
had to leave office because of his injuries
and his Senate seat remained empty
“BULLY” BROOKS AND HIS BLUDGEON
1856 presidential election Democrats nominate James
Buchanan a Pennsylvania lawyer not tainted by Kansas
controversy
Republicans nominate John Fremont who had little political
experience, also not part of Kansas dispute
Republican platform against extension of slavery under any
circumstances
Democrats supported popular sovereignty
Know Nothings and their stand against foreigners also
nominated Millard Fillmore, party cut into Republican
strength
OLD BUCK VERSUS THE PATHFINDER
Buchanan won easily
Democrats won because of threats of secession if anybody else elected
Many northerners wanted to preserve Union and keep business connections with South
Events had not gotten bad enough to see no chance for reconcil iation (KS trouble had yet to explode)
Democrats were losing strength as evidenced by election of 1854
THE ELECTORAL FRUITS OF 1856
Dred Scott l ived with master in I l l inois and free terr itory of Wisconsin, master died and he sued for his freedom on basis of his residency on free soi l
Dred Scott vs. Sanford (1857)
Pro southern Supreme Court said he could not sue in federal cour t because he was a black slave and not a cit izen
Said slaves were private property and they could be taken to any territory (free or slave) and they were st i l l slaves
Basis was the 5 th Amendment, i t protected private property from the government
Southerners happy with decision, fur ther drove a wedge between nor th and south
Used as a ral lying cry for anti slavery forces, refused to fol low decision
South wondered how they could exist with a group wil l ing to defy the Supreme Court
THE DRED SCOTT BOMBSHELL
1857 economic panic
CA gold had artificially inflated
currency
Over production of grain to feed
Europeans (Crimean War over and it
was no longer needed), grain prices
dropped
Over-speculation in land and railroads
Hit north harder than south,
Southerners saw this as proof cotton
was king
THE FINANCIAL CRASH OF 1857
Northerners called for free land to help out (provide employment), met opposition from industrialists because it would drain away people needed for factories
Opposed in the South because plantation agriculture could not flourish on small homesteads and if territories fi l led up it would further tip sectional balance
1860- Congress does pass Homestead Act , public lands available for 25 cents an acre
Panic caused clamor for higher tariff rates, surplus funds caused Treasury to lower tariff rates and panic wiped out surplus
North wanted higher tariffs, Southern politicians blocked tariff increases
Events gave Republicans two issues to focus on in election of 1860 that were not slavery, tariff protections and farms for farmless
THE FINANCIAL CRASH OF 1857
1858 Senatorial election takes national spotlight
Abraham Lincoln (R) and Stephen Douglas (D) running for Senate seat in Il l inois
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates, Douglas was known a great debater and Lincoln was expected to fall
Freeport, IL major debate Lincoln questioned how could popular
sovereignty survive with Dread Scott decision Douglas’ reply became known a Freeport
Doctrine, where public opinion does not support law it is almost impossible to enforce (slavery would stay down if it was voted down)
Douglas defeats Lincoln but Lincoln becomes a national figure
Douglas and his support for popular sovereignty splinters Democrats - How could they vote for him if he supported what they opposed?
AN ILLINOIS RAIL-SPLITTER EMERGES
John Brown hatches scheme to invade south,
cause slave rebellion and arm them
1859- Invaded a federal arsenal in Harpers
Ferry, VA and failed
Quickly captured and hanged
South viewed him as a murderer and guilty of
treason, , moderate northerners agreed
Abolitionists were upset by his execution and
viewed him as a martyr for their cause
“ How can a barbarous community and a
civilized community constitute one state. We
must either get rid of slavery, or get rid of
freedom” Ralph Waldo Emerson
JOHN BROWN: MURDERER OR MARTYR?
Election of 1860 hung on issue of peace or war
Democrats divided could not choose presidential nominee
Southern states would not support Douglas and they
nominated their own candidate John C. Breckinridge
Middle of the road group wanted compromise candidate to
keep country together nominated John Bell from Tennessee
Northern Democrats platform for popular sovereignty, and
supported Fugitive Slave Law
Southern Democrat platform foe extension of slavery into
territories and annexation of Cuba
DISRUPTION FOR THE DEMOCRATS
Republican choice between Will iam Seward and Lincoln
Seward seen as too radical, Lincoln had fewer enemies
Republican platform for non-extension of slavery, higher tariffs, free homesteads and internal improvements at federal expense
Southern secessionists said if Lincoln elected they would leave Union, thought federal government would get rid of slavery
Lincoln elected as a minority president, was not even on the ballot in 10 states
Election of 1860 essentially two elections- North and South
RAIL-SPLITTER SPLITS UNION
Chain of secession began to erupt
Dec. 1860 SC calls special convention and unanimously votes to secede from Union
Over the next 6 weeks six other states follow
Feb. 1861 meet in Montgomery, AL to establish government and choose former Senator Jefferson Davis from MS as president
Buchanan, did nothing
He was surrounded by pro-southern advisers and he could find no authority in Constitution to keep states in Union
Public opinion in North not for fighting to keep Union together, so there was still hope for reconciliation
Ideas proposed by James Crittenden (KY)
Crittenden Compromise proposed Constitutional Amendments designed to appease South
Slavery permitted south of Missouri Compromise line and open to popular sovereignty in all other territory
Lincoln rejected plan and hope of compromise evaporated
THE SECESSIONIST EXODUS
South left for a variety of reasons
1. Slavery, loosing sectional balance that was a threat to
slaveholding minority
2. They though departure would be unopposed
3. Northern economic interests would not put up a fight to
maintain business relations
4. South had a dif ferent culture and they could form a
country that fit their ideas
5. Develop own economic relations with Europe, keep tarif fs
low
6. Felt it was their destiny and they were not doing anything
immoral or wrong
FAREWELL TO UNION
“ The Greeks did not understand each other any longer, though they spoke the same language” Thucydides
THE CIVIL WAR AND
RECONSTRUCTION
1860-1877
Lincoln Conciliatory toward the south in his inaugural address. He had no intention to interfere with slavery where it existed, but he would preserve the Union.
There would be no war unless the south started it, the north did not want to be viewed as the aggressor
Southern states seized federal forts and arsenals. 1861- South Carolina seized Fort Sumter, by April 1861 they needed
food and supplies and Lincoln notified the government of South Carolina that he was sending supplies.
Confederates were suspicious of his motives and they wanted the total surrender of the fort. They began to fire on the fort and Lincoln declared this an act of war
April 15 Lincoln asked for 75,000 Union troops to fight against the confederacy The Confederacy began to raise troops and Arkansas, Tennessee, and
North Carolina left the Union
Both sides predicted a short war…..
END OF THE WAITING GAME
Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and later West Virginia
Huge strategic prize in population and manufacturing capacity
KY and WVA strategic because of Ohio River
Maryland- Lincoln sent in troops and declared martial law
To keep border states on side of Union Lincoln would not declare publicly he was fighting to free slaves
Indian Territory - Five Civil ized tribes fought on side of Confederacy because many owned slaves
War became “brothers war” in many families
BORDER STATES
ADVANTAGE FOR NORTH AND SOUTH
Europe’s ruling classes sympathetic to Southern cause (agreed with southern social order)
So why did King Cotton diplomacy fail them?
Enormous cotton exports of late 1850’s, caused oversupply of fiber
Hoped for “cotton famine” never happened,
Union supplied Britain through captured cotton, British turned to India and Egypt for cotton production
Northern states supplied England with corn and wheat
Foreign Policy
Confederate government wrote Constitution similar to US Constitution, except it protected slavery
Fatal weakness in Confederate government was tension between Southern idea of state’s rights vs. the need for a strong central government
Problems with Confederate Government
North had an established and internationally recognized government
Congress not in session when war started, Lincoln proclaimed blockade and increased size of army
Lincoln did suspend some freedoms protected by the Constitution
Suspended habeas corpus (jailing somebody without telling them of crime) so anti-Union sentiment could be controlled
“Supervised” voting in the border states, suspended the press
Union Government During Wartime
When war first started volunteers filled ranks, by 1863 pace had dropped off and Union Army began to draft soldiers
Many were immigrants, poor
Wealthy could pay substitute to go in their place
1863 draft riots in NYC
South had fewer men to draw from and needed manpower more quickly, rich could also buy their way out of service
Deserters problem in both armies
Volunteers and Draftees
North customs fees and tarif f fees major sources of revenue
Without southern opposition Morrill Tariff Act passed (1861)
Money backed by nations credit, not gold
Bonds sold to finance war
National Banking System established to back bonds and provide sound credit (existed until 1913)
South had customs duties choked off because of blockade
Had to increase taxes, resisted by states righter's
Government printed money was worthless, inflation was a huge problem
Confederate government had little international credit or revenue stream
South had 30% of national wealth in 1860, 12% ten years later
South experienced food and material shortages during the war
Many southerners turned to stealing from northern army and blockade running to supply basic necessities
War Economy
Wartime prosperity for northProtective tariffs, need for war
time goods stoked manufacturing
Many speculators profited from war
Lack of labor caused innovation, made factories more efficient
Westward settlement kept growing, Homestead Act 1862
New opportunities for women due to labor shortage in factories
War Economy
The Civil War was the first modern war.
New technologies and devices mobilized men and materials- railroad transport, artillery, repeating rifles, ironclad ships, telegraph, trenches, wire entanglements were all battlefield devices used for the first time
Photography brought the war to others not involved in fighting living far away
Brought violence and life of war home
Fighting the War
Anaconda Plan gradually began to work and the Union began to make progress in the western part of the Confederacy by late 1862. They began to cut supply lines, destroy crops and rail lines.
The first major blow to the south occurred at Antietam in Maryland in 1862
By the beginning of 1863 the north was beginning to use its advantages of men and materials to defeat the Confederacy
War Turns for the North
Lee took tried to take the war to the north in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July of 1863. He was defeated and retreated south.
Ulysses Grant was named commander of Union forces in 1864 and he began to purse Lee until he was defeated
Union General Will iam T. Sherman led 60,000 troops on a march through Georgia and South Carolina in the fall of 1864.
400 mile “march to the sea” used a strategy called total war - targeted troops, support and supplies needed to feed, clothe and support the army.
Troops burned crops, destroyed railroad tracks, homes and plantations. They burned the city of Atlanta in the fall of 1864
By the spring of 1865 the south was exhausted and Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox courthouse April 9, 1865
War Turns for the North
When the war began Lincoln did not think he had the authority to abolish slavery- his chief goal was to preserve the Union
In the fall of 1862 after the Battle of Antietam he decided the time was right to issue the Emancipation Proclamationthat freed the slaves
January 1, 1863 all slaves in the south were declared free.
It did not apply to free states or areas of the south already under federal control (to keep border states happy)
Union army began to actively recruit former slaves to join their cause
This changed the nature of the Civil War from something to preserve the Union and redefined it as to being about slavery, gave war a moral tone
Removed any chance of negotiated settlement to war
Emancipation Proclamation
1864 presidential election fell in the midst of war
Many Northerners did not support Lincoln
Resented expansion of presidential power and the war itself
Democrats against the war (Copperheads) obstructed the war efforts in Congress
Election of 1864 between Lincoln (R) and George McClellan (D)
Lincoln choose Andrew Johnson of TN as his running mate to attract war Democrats and border state vote
Lincolns election was secured by a series of Union victories in the months before the election
1865 Five days after Lee’s surrender Lincoln was assassinated at the pinnacle of his fame by a fanatically pro -southern actor John Wilkes Booth
Politics of War
600,000 died; 1 million wounded or maimed
Generation of men lost to war Idea of states’ rights moot Passage of 13 th Amendment officially
ended slavery, 14 th Amendment guaranteed civil rights
US became a singular nation, not a collection of states
Power of federal government expanded, banking, judicial system became more powerful, government expected to protect rights above state powers
Industrial growth kick started because of war effort
National legal, industrial and governmental institutions came out of war
Aftermath
Results of War
1865-1877
Spring 1865 war was over. War that began as a way to preserve the Union, became a war fought for the abolition of slavery. The next twelve years were known as Reconstruction
By the end of 1865 Lincoln had been assassinated, Thirteenth Amendment had been passed guaranteeing the end of slavery
The north had developed economically, the south was devastated, and over the next three decades civil rights and citizenship became redefined
The questions that faced the country were; how would the south be rebuilt? How would liberated blacks fare as free men and women? How would the South be reintegrated into the Union, and who would be in charge of it?
Across the south: most of the fighting occurred there
railroads were destroyed
land values were worthless
labor pool was wiped out
cotton and tobacco production dropped
many southerners left homeless
Southern planters no longer had a voice in politics and many remained defiant towards the “Yankees”
What was the meaning of freedom for the former slaves?
Many planters resisted emancipation either through violence or refusing to recognize it until the local government did so
Most were forced to recognize emancipation by the Yankee army of occupation
Freed blacks began to take matters into their own hands, some sought to legalize their marriages, work in towns and cities away from their former masters
Many settled in black communities that offered mutual protection and assistance
Many went north and west
1878-1880 mass exodus to Kansas by free Southern African Americans (Exodusters)
Church became focus of black community
Formed own churches and they grew rapidly
Also mutual aid societies were established, helped blacks
protect their newly won freedoms
Opportunity to have an education for the first time
Purchased land to build schools and hire teachers
Most freed slaves had few skills, no property
or money
Did not know how to live like free people
To cope with problem Congress creates
Freedmen’s Bureau (1865)
Primitive welfare agency - provided food,
clothing, medical care and education to freed
slaves and white refugees
Greatest success was education
Tried to provide former slaves with 40 ac. of
land, little passed to them and many blacks
were tricked into signing labor contracts with
their former masters
President Johnson tried repeatedly to kill it
and it expired in 1872
Johnson was a self made man from
humble beginnings
Used by Lincoln in 1864 to garner
votes from war Democrats
Supporter of the Constitution and
states’ rights
Not up for job of Reconstruction ,
supported by nobody
Lincoln believed that south never really left the Union
and he wanted to reunite it as quickly as possible
Formal restoration would be simple
1863 came up with 10% Plan-10% of voters would
pledge allegiance to the Union, pledge to abide by
emancipation and formally elect a new state
government they would be restored to the Union
Many in Congress wanted to punish the South
1864 Wade-Davis Bill required 50% to sign oath of allegiance,
stronger safeguards for emancipation
Congress refused to seat a delegation from Louisiana in that
followed Lincoln’s 10% plan
Felt that South had forfeited all rights and were conquered
provinces
Minority radical group wanted to uproot social structure and
protect freed blacks with federal legislation
Group became known as Radical Republicans
Johnson agreed with Lincoln’s plan and came up
with his own plan
Took away right to vote for leading Confederates,
and those with property
They could petition him for pardons (which he
granted)
States had to call special conventions and ratify
13 th Amendment that freed slaves
Last half of 1865 many southern states did
reorganize but run by the old regimes
All Republicans became furious
One of the first things the new
Southern governments did was pass
black codes
Varied in severity from state to state
All tried to regulate affairs of freed
blacks and assure a stable and
subservient labor force
Work contracts resembled slavery itself
Blacks were left out of the political
process
Although a few new rights were
recognized (freedomish, marriage) they
mocked the idea of emancipation
Freedmen lacked capital, had little to offer except labor
Many blacks and poor landless whites became slaves to soil and creditors and slipped into the status of sharecroppers (crop-lien system)
This lasted well into the 20th century
After the Civil War many in the north wondered if these people were still being enslaved, had the North really won the war?
December 1865 Congressional delegations from the south
came to reclaim their seats, northerners shut them out
Voters across south turned to experienced leaders, many
leaders were tainted with association of Confederacy
While war went on Republican leaders had a free had and
passed legislation favorable to the North
Politicians became attached to northern business interests,
western farmers and free labor.
Congress passed tarif f legislation, financing of a
transcontinental railroad, Homestead Act (of fered land to
settlers that occupied the land for 5 years), Morrill Land Grant
Act (provided land for colleges)
Republicans worried that he
South would increase power in
Congress
Blacks were now counted as a
whole person, not 3/5ths of a
person
South gained 12 electoral votes,
12 more Congressional members
Republicans feared that they
would perpetuate black codes,
get rid of Republican economic
program
1866 Republicans wanting to keep Johnson in check pass Civil
Rights Bill to strike back at the Black Codes
Johnson tried to veto, overturned by Congress
Civil Rights bill became 14 th Amendment
1. Citizenship to all persons regardless of race
2. Reduced representation if conditions not met
3. Disqualified former Confederates from federal and state
office
4. Guaranteed federal debt
5. Did not grant the right to vote
Issue between Congress and President was Reconstruction
to be carried on with or without 14 th Amendment
1866 Congressional elections showed country favored
Republican plan
Republicans won a veto proof control of
Reconstruction policy in Congress
Radicals opposed rapid restoration of
Southern states (led by Thaddeus Stevens
and Charles Sumner)
Wanted to transform society and economy of
south with federal government
Moderates did not want states to take away
rights of A-A’s but did not want federal
government involved in people’s everyday
l ives
Both groups wanted blacks to have the right
to vote
1867 Reconstruction Act divides south into 5 military districts controlled by Union general and policed by Union army
Had to ratify 14 th Amendment and guarantee suffrage for black men
Purpose was to create electorate that would vote states back into Union and free federal government from direct responsibil ity of protection of black rights
1870 15 th Amendment passed that guaranteed suffrage in the Constitution
Military Reconstruction of the South took away power of president as commander in chief and set up regimes that were possibly unconstitutional
By 1870 all states had met conditions of readmission into the Union
When federal troops left states they swiftly went back to old governments and became solidly Democratic (Redeemers)
Passage of 13 th, 14 th, 15 th Amendments disappointed advocates for women’s rights, many had been abolitionists and viewed the causes as similar
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton actively campaigned against passage of the 15 th Amendment
Southern black men began to
organize politically
Campaigned and ran for office as
Republicans
Union League included educated
men, churches and schools
represented black grievances in
employment and recruited militias
to protect black communities
Black and white politicians helped
write new state constitutions
Black congressmen were elected
to federal and state offices
although they were never a
majority in any government
State White Citizens Freedmen
SC 291,000 411,000
MS 353,000 436,000
LA 357,000 350,000
GA 591,000 465,000
AL 596,000 437,000
VA 719,000 533,000
NC 631,000 331,000
Southern conservatives reaction
Labeled those that helped Reconstruction as “carpetbaggers” and “scalawags”
Carpetbaggers from north came south to take advantage of them
Scalawags were southerners that were former Unionists and Whigs
Radical regime rule did make some reforms in education, tax systems, property rights for women and public works, actually rebuilt the South
Graft and corruption was rampant during Reconstruction (all across the country), many freedmen were used a pawns by white politicians
Whites resor ted to violent means to protest Union rule
Resented success of black polit icians and corruption of government
Formed secret societies, most notorious was KKK formed in 1866
Harassed free blacks and “carpetbaggers”
Congress tr ies to outlaw this with Force Acts of 1870,1871; was successful in stamping out activit ies
Work of int imidation was already done though
White resistance continued to undermine attempts to empower free blacks
Literacy tests, pol l taxes, int imidation continued to openly flourish across the south for decades
THE KU KLUX KLAN
Radicals in Congress try to impeach Johnson for his continued obstruction of Reconstruction
Basis was Tenure of Office Act which they claimed Johnson ignored (removed somebody from office without Senate’s consent)
Also had a spy in Executive branch (Edwin Stanton)
1868 House votes to impeach Johnson and case goes to Senate
In Senate they fail to get 2/3 majority
Kept alive constitutional mechanism of checks and balances
Impeachment would have destabilized government and weakened one of the three branches of government
THE FAILED IMPEACHMENT OF ANDREW
JOHNSON
One of the few successes during Johnson administration was
purchase of Alaska from Russia, although it would not be
realized for years
Alaska had become a financial and logistical l iability and they
did not want it to fall into the hands of the British
Sold it to the US for 7.2 million, for its potential profitability
and as a favor to an American ally
THE PURCHASE OF ALASKA
Many Southerners were more offended at Reconstruction than the
outcome of the war itself
Resented “Yankee” intervention in their social, racial and polit ical
affairs
Reconstruction happened without a clear plan from the beginning and
was a constant struggle between the executive and legislative branches
and of the entrenched white society
Early 1870’s many northerners lost interest in remaking the south,
focus was on other political, social, economic issues (western
expansion, Indian Wars, Panic of 1873)
Generation of leaders that wanted abolition and change began to pass
away. Many racial prejudices in the north began to reemerge. Political
scandals brought down Radical Republicans
1871 troops were withdrawn from the south and Republican state
governments were replaced with conservative Democrats .
1872 Congress abolished the Freedman’s Bureau
THE HERITAGE OF RECONSTRUCTION
Southern Democrats began to discredit African American politicians, former Confederates were elected to office and many African Americans were denied opportunity to participate fully as citizens.
Americans were united as a nation , federal power became dominant over state power
De jure segregation, legal separation of the races became law in all southern states
The election of 1876 marked the official end of Reconstruction as part of the Hayes- Tilden election compromise (Compromise of 1877), all federal troops were pulled out of the south
When troops left Democratic rule returned and many blacks faced harsher discrimination
THE HERITAGE OF RECONSTRUCTION