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The Politics of War. Foreign Nations in War. US blockade could have caused backlash from European Nations Europe instead recognized the Confederates as the “Belligerents” so essentially did not question blockade Initially hurt European markets
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Foreign Nations in War • US blockade could have caused backlash from European Nations • Europe instead recognized the Confederates as the “Belligerents” so essentially did not question blockade • Initially hurt European markets • Eventually, Britain no longer dependent on Southern Cotton BUT now Dependent on Northern wheat and corn • Distracted with other problems • France – Mexico • Denmark and Poland
Britain in the Civil War • The Trent Incident • Southern Delegates met on British ship to convince Britain to join their side • North stopped the ship and arrested the 2 men • Britain threatened war wanted US to apologize • Lincoln freed the men and said Captain was unauthorized in his actions, did not apologize though • Britain was Happy to not go to war, as was Lincoln
Britain in the Civil War • Britain did not officially recognize the Confederacy • Did sell Ships to the South • The Alabama Sunk or captured 64 Union ships • After the war, the US handed a bill of $19 million to Britain, they ignored, later forced to pay $15.5 million in damages.
Habeas Corpus • Baltimore crowd attacked Union regiment, a week after Fort Sumter • Lincoln sent fed troops • Suspended habeas corpus in MD • Court order that requires authorities to bring a person held in jail before court to determine why he or she is being jailed. • Strategy used to hold dissenters in jail
Effects of Suspension of Habeas Corpus • Suspended in other states • Seized telegraphs to make sure no one used wires for subversion • President ignored chief of justice ruling that he went beyond presidential powers • Copperhead – Northern democrats who advocated peace. • Congressman Clement Vallandigham tried in a military court for urging Union soldiers to dissent • Lincoln showed dramatic expansion of presidential powers.
Lincoln’s Generals Winfield Scott Joseph Hooker Ulysses S. Grant Irwin McDowell George McClellan George Meade Ambrose Burnside Henry W. Halleck
Battle of Antietam “Bloodiest Single Day of the War” September 17, 1862 23,000 casualties
Conscription • Heavy casualties and widespread desertions made volunteer army dwindle • Both sides called for a draft, but allowed men to:
Conscription • Heavy casualties and widespread desertions made volunteer army dwindle • Both sides called for a draft, but allowed men • Pay fee to avoid draft • Hire a Substitute
Draft Riots • Northern resentment to the draft led to riots. • It was unfair for poor white workers to fight for emancipation • Slaves would become free, move North, and take jobs. • Attacked well-dressed men and women, especially African Americans. • 11 African Americans are lynched, homes are smashed, burned a black orphanage.
Conscription • Heavy casualties and widespread desertions made volunteer army dwindle • Both sides called for a draft, but allowed men to pay fee to avoid draft or provide a substitute • About 92% of 2 million were still volunteers • Led to riots, one in NYC • Wrecked draft offices • Attacked well dressed men • Lynched 11 African Americans • Burned black orphanage
Leading up to Emancipation • Laws leading up • First Confiscation Act of 1861 – confiscation of any Confederate property, including Slaves • Forbade Union Army officers from returning fugitive slaves – March 1862 • Compensate slave owners who freed their slaves – April 1862 • Battle of Antietam Sept 1862– gave Lincoln support • Released emancipation on September 22, 1862 that stated it would go in effect Jan 1, 1863
WHY Emancipation • Lincoln’s goal was to preserve the union, not abolition. • Felt didn’t have constitutional power • South used slaves to build fortifications and grow food • Lincoln can order troops to seize enemy resources, why couldn’t slaves be included in that? • Strategic Purposes: • Discourage Britain from supporting the Confederacy • Hurt Southern War Efforts
Effects of Emancipation • Only applied to non-captured CONFEDERATE states (not loyal slave states) • Southern Response • Confederates were furious and more determined to fight • Compromise was no longer possible. • Negative Northern Response, felt it would: • 1) prolong war by antagonizing the South • 2) did not care to fight for African Americans • Positive North Responses • Gave moral purpose to the North • Free Blacks happy to join Union army now • Former slaves fought
Extensive Legislation PassedWithout the South in Congress • 1861 – Morrill Tariff Act • 1862 – Homestead Act • 1862 – Legal Tender Act • 1862 – Morrill Land Grant Act • 1862 – Emancipation Proclamation(1/1/1863) • 1863 – Pacific Railway Act • 1863 – National Bank Act
Morrill Tariff Act -1861 • High protective tariff that increased duties 5%-10%. • Increases were designed to raise additional revenue & provide more protection for the prosperous manufacturers. • EFFECT: Protective tariffs became identified with the Republican Party, Upset foreign nations
Homestead Act -1861 • FINALLY Passed in 1862 • Promised ownership of a 160-acre tract of public land to a citizen who had resided on & cultivated the land for 5 years
Legal Tender Act -1862 • Authorized use of paper notes to pay the government's bills. • Ended the long-standing policy of using only gold or silver in transactions • Allowed the government to finance the enormously costly war long after its gold and silver reserves were depleted. • “Greenbacks”
Morrill Land Grant Act -1862 • Transformed higher education • Was responsible for the establishment of numerous colleges across the country. • Under the terms of MLGA: • the federal government distributed land proportionately to the states • The proceeds of the land sales supported colleges • Some states used the money from the sale of land to aid existing schools, and other states used the money to establish new colleges and universities
Pacific Railway Act -1863 • Authorized the construction of the first transcontinental railway line connecting the east and west coasts. • Provided that after each railroad laid forty miles of track, it was to receive: • 6,400 acres of public lands • government loans ranging from $16,000 to $48,000 per mile of track completed.
National Bank Act -1863 • Authorized the National Banking System. • Designed to stimulate the sale of government bonds and to establish a standard bank-note currency. • Banks who joined the National Banking System could buy government bonds and issue sound paper money backed by the bonds.
