UNIT 4

“A Nation Divided”The Civil War&Reconstruction

The Wilmot ProvisoA resolution

authored by David Wilmot of Penn., proposed no slavery in the Mexican Cession Territories.

Passed twice by the House, never passed the Senate.

Set the stage for political debate in the Pre-Civil War period.

North & South Compromise

As slavery spread, a number of measures were proposed by the U.S. gov’t Goal: attempt to keep the peace

between North & South. Under Jackson, the “Missouri

Compromise” was passed Allowing one free state (Maine)

admitted w/ each slave state (Missouri) admitted (this eventually fails).

Compromise of 1850 California admitted as a free

state Utah & New Mexico could vote

in issue of slavery (pop. sovereignty)

Sale of slaves banned in D.C. Stronger fugitive slave laws in

North.

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott attempted to sue for his

freedom His master had taken him north for

several years to free states, then died.

Scott sued for his freedom in Missouri, but he lost at every court level.

Finally, the Supreme Court ruled that blacks were not citizens and therefore could not use the courts to sue for their freedom.

Slaves were defined as property (just like a horses or draft animals)

Kansas-Nebraska Act Sponsored by Stephen Douglas in

part to get southern legislators to support a northern route for the transcontinental Railroad (1869)

“Popular sovereignty” was the key component as the act overturned the Missouri Compromise line

Pro and anti slavery supporters rushed to Kansas to influence the vote, the pro-slavery “border ruffians” won in a fraudulent election.

This resulted in the failure of popular sovereignty and…

Bleeding Kansas! Violence erupted in the struggle for

Kansas. Anti-slavery supporters est. the town

of Lawrence, KS. Pro-slavery supporters attacked and

burned the town to the ground. Abolitionist John Brown and his sons

responded and hacked 5 pro-slavers to death w/ broad swords at the Pottawatomie Massacre.

The Brooks-Sumner clash brought the violence to the U.S. Congress as Sumner spoke out against the pro-slavery violence, but was then caned by Congressman Preston Brooks of SC.

1861: Kansas admitted to Union as a free state

John Brown’s Raid In 1859, abolitionist John Brown

returned with a scheme to free the slaves by seizing arms at the Federal Armory at Harper’s Ferry VA.

The raid failed because Brown did not notify slaves in the area of his plans.

He was captured, tried and found guilty of treason.

He was hung and instantly became a martyr for the abolitionist movement.

Southern states respond by building up their militias and preparing for conflict.

WAR WAS INEVITABLE!

Election of 1860

Based on this map, why might the election of Lincoln have encouraged the South to secede from the Union?

1st Shots @ Ft. Sumter The fort guarding Charleston harbor

was one of only two still in Union hands. 1st shots fired April 12, 1861.

No-one killed in the bloodless beginning to bloodiest war in US History!

Huge reaction in North and South as volunteers are called up by 100,000’s.

SIGNIFICANCE: Following Ft. Sumter; Ark, Tenn, NC and Virginia seceded, and the Capitol of the CSA was moved to Richmond, VA.

Both sides entered the war overconfident & expected only “one big battle.”

1st Bull Run / Manassas The first major battle of the War

following Union invasion of VA. Union spectators followed army

in hopes of great victory. Initial Union surge stopped by

“Stonewall” Jackson’s Virginians. Confederate counterattack aided

by reinforcements arriving by Railroad.

Route of Union Army halted by fatigued rebels.

SIGNIFICANCE: Both sides realize this is NOT going to be a short war.

The “Anaconda” Plan Gen. Scott developed the overall

strategic plan for Union victory called “Anaconda.”

1st, Blockade of Confederate coastline

2nd, Liberate slaves for reinforcement

3rd, Divide and conquer/ Miss. River & Strike heart of CSA @ Georgia & Carolinas

Finally, take Confederate Capital of Richmond

Use superior numbers to grind out victory.

Battle of Antietam / Sharpsburg

Lee made his first invasion into the North, following CSA victory at 2nd Bull Run.

Sept. 1862, at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg MD, Lee took on McClellan and fought to a draw at “the Cornfield,” “Bloody Lane,” and “Burnside’s Bridge.”

Single bloodiest day of fighting in US History as Lee retreated the next day.

Foreign recognition eluded CSA (no British help).

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation adding ending slavery to preserving union as war goals.

Emancipation Proclamation

In September of 1862, after the Union's victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued a preliminary decree stating that, unless the rebellious states returned to the Union by January 1, freedom would be granted to slaves within those states.

The proclamation officially issued on Jan. 1, 1863 declared, "all persons held as slaves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."

Battle of Fredericksburg

Lee was able to do more with less again at two battles in VA., both CSA victories.

At Fredericksburg (Dec ‘62) and Chancellorsville (May 63) the South won and the North began to doubt whether they could win.

Lee’s success would lead him to consider one more attempt at invasion of Union

“Stonewall” Jackson was killed by “friendly fire” at Chancellorsville. Lee wept…

Gettysburg/Vicksburg Summer 1863, Lee’s makes last gamble at Gettysburg Penn. 50,000 CSA, lured by promise of shoes, fought larger Union

army for 3 days in and around small town. 1st two days a draw, as hand to hand battles raged in “Devil’s

Den,” “the Peach Orchard,” and on “Little Round Top.” On 3rd day, Lee threw caution to the wind and ordered infamous

Pickett’s charge against Union defensive positions. “High water” mark of CSA, as Union cannon decimated Rebels

and Lee ordered a retreat. Warned by Georgian Gen. Longstreet, Lee took the blame as

“Johnny Rebs” limped home. Meanwhile US Grant’s siege of Vicksburg Miss., the last

stronghold of the CSA on the Miss. R., was finally victorious. All downhill for CSA, as last hope of Brit. overt help fades.

Battle of Vicksburg

“Unconditional Surrender” Grant earned fame at Shiloh and later Vicksburg overlooking the Mississippi River.

Union forces secured New Orleans, the Miss River, and split the CSA, which finally worked. (Anaconda Plan)

Grant was promoted, won victories in Tenn. near Chattanooga, and “opened the way to the heart of the South.” He would later be made a U.S. President…

The Atlanta Campaign

Launched from Chattanooga in Summer 1864, the campaign was a series of battles between TN and Atlanta.

It would make Sherman the most hated man in the South.

Atlanta was vital for CSA transportation communication, RR, supplies, etc.

The 1864 election made Atlanta vital to Lincoln’s reelection.

Following the brutal defeat of Sherman at Kennesaw Mtn., Atlanta was under siege then fell Sept. 1864, just before the election.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Sherman an early believer in “Total War,” burned Atlanta and vowed “to make Georgia howl”.

He launched his infamous March to the Sea toward Savannah, looting, pillaging, raping & destroying southern RR.

Burned many cities but not Madison or Savannah

Sherman gave Lincoln Savannah as a Christmas gift.

Appomattox Courthouse

By March 1865, Grant approached Richmond, VA from the west, Sherman approached from the south following his siege in Columbia SC.

Pres. Davis and his gov’t abandoned Richmond and burned it to the ground.

Lee & Grant met @ Appomattox Courthouse to arrange surrender on April 9, 1865.

At Lincoln’s request, terms were generous. Grant paroled Lee’s soldiers, gave them personal possessions / horses, and food.

After 4 long years, the Civil War was finally over.

AftermathOver 600,000 dead, more than all other US wars

combined.A lost generation of Americans between ages of 17

& 35 were killed and the loss of births staggering.$15 Billion in damage along with social, political,

economic and psychological cost incalculable.States rights/secession/nullification now dead issues.Republican/democracy at home and abroad

triumphed.Slavery ended but racial problems endured.Civil, human and voting rights given black men but

denied women, both black and white.Sets stage for strongest Dem/Republic, Economic &

Military Superpower in the world.

Reconstruction

There were many questions following the war: Reconstruction? Freed Slaves? Reunion? Reconstruction Plan? Southern Leaders?

The South’s major cities laid in ruins as economic and social structures were destroyed.

3 Plans for Reconstruction: Lincoln’s- died with him, Johnson’s- died in committee Radical Republicans- put into place.

Reconstruction

Lincoln had begun plan to readmit Southern States with his “Ten-Percent Plan” (pardon all but high-ranked Confederate Officials & demand 10% to swear allegiance to Union).

Johnson’s plan, similar to Lincoln’s, called for leniency and to bring the South back into the Union quickly (withdraw secession, swear allegiance, annul war debts, ratify 13th amendment)

Bill proposed Congress be in charge of Reconstruction & required 51% “loyalty.” Lincoln vetoed before his death.

Radical Republicans wanted to punish the South and called for land, vote, & protection for freedmen.

Freedman’s BureauDesigned to assist newly freed,

unskilled, uneducated, poor former slaves.

Provided food, shelter, clothing immediately. Set up hospitals, schools, and industrial institutes.

Congress passed Civil Rights Act 1866

Southern Gov’ts enacted legislation to control newly freed blacks.

Called “Black Codes”, they were an evolution of the former “slave codes” enacted 150 years earlier….

Mainly forced blacks to work for their former masters through contracts or “Legal slavery.”

Radical Reconstruction

Johnson declared in December 1865 that the “union is restored” but Radicals rejected it.

Johnson also vetoed the Civil Rights Act but was overridden by 2/3 vote in Congress.

Congressional election of 1866 gave 2/3 of both houses to Thaddeus Stevens & Radical Republicans.

They will run Reconstruction.Two phases:

Military occupation New amendments to “make the

South pay for the war.”

Reconstruction Amendments

13th Amendment: Freed the slaves and abolished slavery in the United States...

14th Amendment: Made former slaves citizens of the US. All entitled to equal protection and due process under law

15th Amendment: Guaranteed voting rights to all male citizens both black and white.

Johnson’s ImpeachmentRadical Republicans attempted to

hand cuff Johnson by passing the Tenure of Office Act.

Under this act, Johnson couldn’t fire any of Lincoln’s former cabinet members.

Johnson promptly fired Sec. Of War Stanton, testing Congress’ power, and was charged.

His impeachment trial followed:House brought 11 charges and

voted 126 to 47 for impeachment.Senate voted 35 to 19, just 1 vote

shy of majority, which prevented Johnson’s imprisonment and immediate removal from office.

Election of 1868Republicans chose Grant to

run and beats H. Seymour. (Dem-NY)

Grant won handily and the “Era of Good Stealings” began.

His lack of judgement led to the hiring of many corrupt officials and scandals in the Fed. Gov’t.

Under the Enforcement Acts, Grant tried to put the KKK out of business, but ultimately failed.

Even with the scandals, Grant easily won reelection in ’72, as northern voters became indifferent to events in the South and instead focused on corruption and economic “Panic of 1873.”

Collapse of Reconstruction

In the election of 1876, Republicans nominated Rutherford B. Hayes.

Samuel Tilden (Dem.) won the popular vote but fell short in electoral votes as 20 were disputed.

Congress appt. a commission (w/ majority Rep.) to oversee controversy. They gave the election to Hayes.

Dem. House agreed to approve election if last of Fed. troops were removed from LA & SC (Rep. strongholds), Fed. funded railroad from TX to west coast, & Pres. Hayes to appoint southerner to cabinet.

This “Compromise of 1877” led to white former Confederate “redeemer” gov’ts in the Southern states.

AftermathSouthern “redeemer gov’t,”

led by white former CSA officials, regained “home rule” in the South.

A rise of white supremacist groups such as the KKK led to terrorism attacks against blacks, which included beatings and lynching.

Jim Crow laws began to be installed by “redeemers,” which disenfranchised blacks & included poll taxes, literacy tests.

Plessy v. Ferguson made separate facilities “equal” in law.

*Important Notes (add these to your notes)

Redemption: The return of Southern Democrats to power

following the end of ReconstructionHome Rule:

The ability of a state to run the government without federal intervention

Hiram Revels: The first African-American U.S. Senator (R-

Mississippi)