The Election of Lincoln: Fragmented Opposition and Southern Secession

1. The Civil War (1861-1865)Segment 15History 16

2. The Election of Lincoln • Wins Northern, Pacific States Only. No Southern or Border States • Opposition Fragmented into Three Parties: Southern Democrat, Northern Democrat, Constitutional Union • Wins only 39.8% of the Popular Vote. President Lincoln Lincoln’s Positions “On the Territorial Question, I am inflexible” • “House Divided Cannot Stand” • Firm Stand on Territories • Will not touch Slavery in South • Supports USC Amendment Guaranteeing Slavery in South • Slavery will die natural death • Early Believer in “Back to Africa”. Douglas changes him. • Strong Believer in Union. Begs South not to Secede Electoral College Results of the 1860 Election

3. Lincoln Letter to The SouthPractically Begging For Peace To Alexander H. Stephens For your own eye only. Springfield, Ills. Dec. 22, 1860 Hon. A. H. Stephens-- My dear Sir: Your obliging answer to my short note is just received, and for which please accept my thanks. I fully appreciate the present peril the country is in, and the weight of responsibility on me. Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Republican administration would, directly or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them, about their slaves? If they do, I wish to assure you, as once a friend, and still, I hope, not an enemy, that there is no cause for such fears. The South would be in no more danger in this respect than it was in the days of Washington. I suppose, however, this does not meet the case. You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us. Yours very truly A. Lincoln President Lincoln Alexander Stephens Georgia Politician

4. The South Rejects Lincoln • Radical Southerners Use Election as Pretext for Secession • South Carolina votes to Secede: December 20, 1860 • Deep South Votes to Secede in January • Border States in April/May • Lincoln Demonized by Southern Politicians and Press • Lincoln Overtures Mocked, Ignored, Not Reported in Press Gov. Francis Pickens South Carolina “They have thus combined a party exclusively in the Northern States, whose avowed objects, not only endanger the peace, but the very existence of near one-half the States of this Confederacy. And in the recent election for President and Vice-President of these States, they have carried the election upon principles that make it no longer safe for us to rely upon the powers of the Federal Government or the guarantees of the Federal compact” Sequence of Secession: 1860-1861

5. The Secession Crises Comes to a Head EARLY NORTHERN STRATEGY (Dec 1860-March 1861) LINCOLN’S ACTIONS • Do Not Surrender Fort Sumter; Resupply • Split Rebellion: Appeal to Border States • Force Rebels to Fire First: Gain Moral Ground • Holdout, Then Surrender Fort • Ignore Existing Secession Votes CONSEQUENCES OF SECESSION • Search for Compromise • War Between the States • Galvanize Northern Opinion • West Virginia Secedes from Virginia SECESSIONISTS TAKE ACTION • Northern Public Opinion Turns on South • Rebels Seize Federal Land, Property, and Institutions • Border States Vote to Secede • Rebels Surround Federal Military Installations: Demand Surrender • Rebels Meet to form Government • Actions Force Lincoln’s Hand LINCOLN’S CHOICES • Evacuate Military Installations • Pre-emptive Strike on Rebels • Attempt to Supply Installations Rebel Forces Shell Fort Sumter Charleston Harbor – April 12, 1861 • Refuse Surrender, Force Rebels to Fire

6. The Southern War Strategy The Political Strategy • Form Government • Gain European Recognition • Build Southern Empire • Obtain Independence • Drive Lincoln from office in 1864 Election • Turn Northern Public against the War Rebel Government Forms in Alabama State House, 1861 The Military Strategy • Fight Defensive War • Avoid Major Engagements if possible. Simply Survive • Inflict Casualties on North Make them sue for peace • Invade North 2x to Increase Alarm, Insecurity • Use Small Size as Advantage Federal Assault Against Fixed Rebel Fortifications – Fredericksburg, VA 1862

7. The Northern War Strategy The Political Strategy • Woo Pro Unionists in the South • Exhaust Southerners; Make them Renunciate Secession • Isolate Southern States from Each Other • Isolate Southern States from Europe General George B. McClellan Federal Army Union Flag 1861 • Emancipate Slaves: Keep Europe Out • Do not use the word “Confederacy” The Military Strategy • Take the Offensive • Besiege Southern Cities – McClellan • NO! Destroy the Rebel Army – Lincoln • Emancipate Slaves – Open Second Front • Control Mississippi River – Split South • Naval Blockade of Southern Ports: Starve South of Supplies, Trade, Food • Use Numerical Superiority to Advantage Richmond, Virginia Lay in Ruin - 1865

8. Northern Strengths, Southern Weaknesses Northern Strengths • 7 to 1 Population Advantage • Industry: Iron, Steel, Textiles, Goods • Self Sufficient Economy: Enough Farms • Massive Production of War Material • Large Navy – To Blockade the South • Could claim moral high-ground in Europe • New Immigrants: New Soldiers + Workers Charles Frierson, 15th MS Infantry Rebel Army Dwight Woodbury 4th MI Infantry Federal Army • Excellent Equipment, Supplies for Troops • Extensive Transportation Links - Rail • Extensive Communication Links - Telegraph Southern Weaknesses • Trade Dependent Economy • Economy in Ruins: Overprinted Money, Can’t Get Credit, Can’t Sell Goods • Poorly Equipped Troops • Weak, Bickering, Ineffectual Government Northern Industry + War Production - 1861

9. WAR AIM -OUTSET OF WAR - 1861 Lincoln Expands The War Aims • War to Preserve the Union • Most Northerners cared not about Slavery • Most Northerners believed blacks inferior Gettysburg Address • Northerners Felt Southerners were Traitors WAR AIM AFTER 1862 • Emancipates the Slaves in Union Controlled Parts of South • Begins Talking about War as Moral Crusade to end Slavery • “Dedicated to the Proposition that All Men Are Created Equal” MOTIVES FOR THE CHANGE • Open Second Front by Releasing Slaves The Emancipation Proclamation • Increase Recruitment Efforts for Blacks • Keep Europeans from Recognizing South • Lincoln Becomes a Changed Man RISKS OF STRATEGY • Risk Alienating Northern Whites who fight only to restore The Union

10. The South Surrenders Ground Down by War of Attrition • Army Destroyed • Economy Ruined • Cities and Infrastructure Destroyed • Slave and Plantation Life Destroyed The Appomattox Courthouse - Virginia • Secession Fever Evaporates • Political Will to Fight Disintegrates 1864-65 Southern Politicians Approach North about Re-Entering The Union 1865 The Army Surrounded and Exhausted General Lee Surrenders to General Grant 1865 Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia Surrenders Overprinting Causes Hyper-Inflation

11. The Effects of the War THE HIGH PRICE • 558,052 Dead (Mostly From Disease) • 412,475 Wounded – Many Amputees and Invalids • $5.2 Billion Cost (in 1865 Dollars) • The South Lay in Total Ruin WHAT WAS GAINED Rebel Dead at Antietam, Maryland, October 1862 • The South is Defeated and would re-enter the Union • 13th Amendment to USC Ends Slavery in 1865 • The Secession Question is Resolved in the “Negative” Federal Dead at Cold Harbor, Virginia - 1865 Atlanta in Ruins - 1865

12. Discussion Topic 1: The South and The Civil War • How did the South Miscalculate by attempting secession from the Union? • Despite the risks and odds against success, why did the South proceed with secession?

13. Discussion Topic 2: Suspending Habeas Corpus Was the Civil War justifiable cause for Lincoln to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus? What does the Constitution say about suspending Habeas Corpus?

14. Discussion Topic 3: The War after 1864 Was there any point in the South prolonging the war after Lincoln's 1864 reelection? Having failed in their goal of making a war-weary North vote out Lincoln, should Jefferson Davis have ordered Lee to surrender?

15. Discussion Topic 4: The Civil War and The U.S. Economy In what ways did the Civil War damage the U.S. economy for years after the war?