The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln

OBJECTIVE(S):OBJECTIVE(S):•Understand Lincoln’s goal at the outset Understand Lincoln’s goal at the outset of the warof the war•Understand why Southern states secededUnderstand why Southern states seceded•Describe the key events of the warDescribe the key events of the war•Explain how the North eventually wonExplain how the North eventually won•Describe how the meaning of the war Describe how the meaning of the war changed changed •Evaluate Abraham LincolnEvaluate Abraham Lincoln

I.I. Key Events of the Civil Key Events of the Civil WarWar

A.A. South Carolina South Carolina starts the starts the secession crisissecession crisis

1.1. With the election of Abraham Lincoln With the election of Abraham Lincoln and a Republican Congress, Southern and a Republican Congress, Southern states were on edge. Concerned that states were on edge. Concerned that their way of life was being threatened, their way of life was being threatened, states threatened to leave the Union. states threatened to leave the Union. Using Calhoun’s logic of his theory of Using Calhoun’s logic of his theory of nullification, the states chose to be nullification, the states chose to be part of the Union and could, therefore, part of the Union and could, therefore, chose to leave if they wanted to.chose to leave if they wanted to.

2.2. The first to leave was The first to leave was South Carolina, before South Carolina, before Lincoln had even taken Lincoln had even taken office. But others soon office. But others soon followed. After Fort followed. After Fort Sumter, even more left. Sumter, even more left.

3.3. States still in the Union States still in the Union argued that the argued that the southern states did not southern states did not have a legal right to have a legal right to secede and were, secede and were, therefore, rebelling.therefore, rebelling.

B.B. Key military events of the Civil WarKey military events of the Civil War

1.1. Historians point out Southern Historians point out Southern advantages at the outset of the war. advantages at the outset of the war. Most of the top generals in the country Most of the top generals in the country were from the South, such as Robert E. were from the South, such as Robert E. Lee. After the war started, Lincoln had Lee. After the war started, Lincoln had trouble finding a competent leader for trouble finding a competent leader for the Union army. Ulysses S. Grant didn’t the Union army. Ulysses S. Grant didn’t get appointed until half-way into the get appointed until half-way into the war after Lincoln was frustrated by war after Lincoln was frustrated by several generals unwilling to attack the several generals unwilling to attack the Confederates.Confederates.

2.2. The war started in The war started in 1861 at Fort Sumter. 1861 at Fort Sumter. The Confederate Army The Confederate Army attacked the Union attacked the Union fort, which is in South fort, which is in South Carolina. Carolina.

3.3. The Battle of Antietam stands The Battle of Antietam stands as the bloodiest single day in as the bloodiest single day in American military history. This American military history. This battle gave an indication of the battle gave an indication of the nature of the Civil War, which nature of the Civil War, which was deadlier than previous was deadlier than previous wars due to the introduction wars due to the introduction of weapons created by of weapons created by industrialization.industrialization.

4.4. In 1863, the turning point of the In 1863, the turning point of the war, the Battle of Gettysburg, war, the Battle of Gettysburg, took place. The South invaded took place. The South invaded into Pennsylvania and the into Pennsylvania and the Union was able to stop their Union was able to stop their advance and started pushing advance and started pushing the Confederate forces back the Confederate forces back into the South.into the South.

5.5. Union General Grant was appointed Union General Grant was appointed soon after and began fighting a war of soon after and began fighting a war of attrition, meaning that he would wear attrition, meaning that he would wear down the South to try and get them to down the South to try and get them to quit. A good example of this is quit. A good example of this is General William Tecumseh Sherman’s General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. Sherman’s army March to the Sea. Sherman’s army destroyed everything in its path from destroyed everything in its path from Atlanta, Georgia to the ocean.Atlanta, Georgia to the ocean.

6.6. Confederate General Lee Confederate General Lee surrendered at Appomattox surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865. The North Courthouse in 1865. The North had too many advantages over had too many advantages over the South, most particularly its the South, most particularly its industry to mass produce industry to mass produce weapons and other war weapons and other war materials.materials.

C.C. Effects of the war at homeEffects of the war at home

1.1. The Civil War had the The Civil War had the highest cost of human highest cost of human life of any American life of any American war. 620,000 soldiers war. 620,000 soldiers died and 412,200 were died and 412,200 were wounded. wounded.

2.2. Even before the war and while states Even before the war and while states were seceding Lincoln suspended were seceding Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in some key border habeas corpus in some key border states in the interest of national states in the interest of national security. This meant that the security. This meant that the government could throw anyone in jail government could throw anyone in jail without just cause. Lincoln has been without just cause. Lincoln has been criticized for this action, but deemed it criticized for this action, but deemed it necessary to prevent more states from necessary to prevent more states from seceding and later to help the war seceding and later to help the war effort. effort.

3.3. The Union and Confederate armies The Union and Confederate armies instituted a draft. For the first time instituted a draft. For the first time in American history, citizens were in American history, citizens were required to serve in the military required to serve in the military during war. The draft laws of the during war. The draft laws of the day, however, allowed for the day, however, allowed for the wealthy to buy their way out of wealthy to buy their way out of military service. Consequently, the military service. Consequently, the war was mostly fought by the poor.war was mostly fought by the poor.

4.4. Lincoln and the Republicans passed Lincoln and the Republicans passed a major land bill in 1862, called the a major land bill in 1862, called the Homestead Act. It gave citizens the Homestead Act. It gave citizens the right to apply to the federal right to apply to the federal government to be give, free of government to be give, free of charge, land out west to establish a charge, land out west to establish a small, family farm. small, family farm.

D.D. Lincoln and EmancipationLincoln and Emancipation

1.1. Lincoln was a moderate on Lincoln was a moderate on the issue of slavery. He the issue of slavery. He advocated for stopping the advocated for stopping the spread of slavery into the spread of slavery into the new territories and new territories and containing it to where it containing it to where it already existed.already existed.

a.a. Once the states seceded, Lincoln Once the states seceded, Lincoln sought to preserve the Union and sought to preserve the Union and did not want to let them go. Once did not want to let them go. Once this conflict turned into a war, this conflict turned into a war, Lincoln was still committed to Lincoln was still committed to keeping the Union together and keeping the Union together and did not intend to end slavery. did not intend to end slavery.

b.b. ““My paramount object in this struggle My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery,” Lincoln to save or to destroy slavery,” Lincoln wrote in a letter in 1862. “If I could wrote in a letter in 1862. “If I could save the Union without freeing any save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”would also do that.”

c.c. ““My paramount object in this struggle My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery,” Lincoln to save or to destroy slavery,” Lincoln wrote in a letter in 1862. “If I could wrote in a letter in 1862. “If I could save the Union without freeing any save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”would also do that.”

2.2. Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation (1862)(1862)

a.a. Lincoln issued and Executive Lincoln issued and Executive Order known as the Order known as the Emancipation Proclamation in Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, which was an ultimatum 1862, which was an ultimatum threatening to free the slaves threatening to free the slaves in all the states that seceded if in all the states that seceded if they did not return to the they did not return to the Union. Union.

b.b. None of the None of the Confederate states Confederate states returned, so the slaves returned, so the slaves in those territories in those territories were freed.were freed.

c.c. Some historians argue Some historians argue that Civil War didn’t start that Civil War didn’t start over slavery, but with over slavery, but with this action, slavery this action, slavery became the became the unmistakably central unmistakably central issue of the war.issue of the war.

d.d. Lincoln had said back in 1858 that Lincoln had said back in 1858 that “’A house divided against itself “’A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ I believe this cannot stand.’ I believe this government cannot endure government cannot endure permanently half slave and half permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”all one thing, or all the other.”

3.3. The Gettysburg Address The Gettysburg Address (1863)(1863)a.a. The Gettysburg Address The Gettysburg Address

is a speech by Abraham is a speech by Abraham Lincoln and is one of the Lincoln and is one of the most well known most well known speeches in United speeches in United States history. States history.

b.b. It was delivered by Lincoln at the It was delivered by Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg.Battle of Gettysburg.

c.c. Abraham Lincoln's carefully crafted address Abraham Lincoln's carefully crafted address was just over two minutes long. In it, was just over two minutes long. In it, Lincoln invoked the principles of human Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and redefined the Civil War Independence and redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as "a new birth of freedom" that would as "a new birth of freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens, and bring true equality to all of its citizens, and that would also create a unified nation in that would also create a unified nation in which states' rights were no longer which states' rights were no longer dominant.dominant.

d.d. Beginning with the now-iconic phrase Beginning with the now-iconic phrase "Four score and seven years ago," "Four score and seven years ago," Lincoln referred to the events of the Lincoln referred to the events of the Civil War and described the ceremony Civil War and described the ceremony at Gettysburg as an opportunity not at Gettysburg as an opportunity not only to consecrate the grounds of a only to consecrate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to dedicate the cemetery, but also to dedicate the living to the struggle to ensure that living to the struggle to ensure that "government of the people, by the "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."perish from the earth."

4.4. The 13th AmendmentThe 13th Amendment

a.a. The 13th Amendment to the The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution United States Constitution was proposed in the House was proposed in the House in April 1864, while the Civil in April 1864, while the Civil War was still being fought. It War was still being fought. It proposed to outlaw slavery proposed to outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude.and involuntary servitude.

b.b. It did not pass in the It did not pass in the Senate until January Senate until January 1865. It finally became 1865. It finally became law in December of law in December of 1865, after the war had 1865, after the war had been over for half a year. been over for half a year.

5.5. Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan and Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan and AssassinationAssassinationa.a. Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 Lincoln was re-elected in 1864

as the war raged. Once the war as the war raged. Once the war was over, Lincoln called for a was over, Lincoln called for a plan to rebuild the nation and plan to rebuild the nation and bring the Confederate states bring the Confederate states back into the Union. His plan back into the Union. His plan was to be forgiving and sought was to be forgiving and sought not to punish.not to punish.

b.b. Before his Reconstruction Before his Reconstruction program was in place, Lincoln program was in place, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s was assassinated at Ford’s Theater by southern actor John Theater by southern actor John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was the Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was the first of four American first of four American presidents to be assassinated. presidents to be assassinated. The death of Lincoln would put The death of Lincoln would put Reconstruction into a tail spin.Reconstruction into a tail spin.