Girding for War: The North & the South

1. Girding for War:The North & the South 1861 - 1865

2. President of the Disunited States of America • Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861 • 7 states had already succeeded, 8 more were trying to decide • Inaugural address – there would be no conflict unless the South provoked it

3. A Split in the Union? • Split brought up questions about the sharing of the national debt & the allocation of federal territories • Split would please European countries: • US was the only major display of democracy in the Western Hemisphere • Monroe Doctrine could be broken

4. SC Assails Fort Sumter • South seized all arsenals, mints, & other public property within their territory • Fort Sumter • Occupied by Northern troops who needed supplies

5. Lincoln’s Plan • Lincoln decided to send supplies to troops • promised Governor Pickens(SC) that he was not sending more men or weapons • South demanded surrender of Fort Sumter • Grounds for war if North sent supplies

6. The War Begins (April 12, 1861) • South fired on Fort Sumter • 34 hour bombardment- no lives lost • Northern troops surrendered • The Civil War had begun

7. “Remember Fort Sumter” • Provoked the North to fight • Gen. Scott Commander of the Army (75 yrs. old) • April 14, 1861 – Lincoln called for 75,000 union troops • April 19 & 27, 1861 - ordered a blockade of Southern ports • 4 more states seceded • VA, Ark., Tenn., & NC map p. 447 • Capital of Confederacy moved from Montgomery to Richmond

8. The Valuable Border Statesmap page 447 • Border States • MO, KY, MD, Del, & later WV • WV split from VA in 1861 over secession • MD, MO, & KY would almost double the manufacturing capacity of the South & increase by nearly half its supply of horses & mules • Ohio River – Cumberland & Tennessee Rivers was where much of the Confederacy’s grain, gunpowder, & iron was produced

9. Lincoln deals with the Border States • Lincoln: • In MD declared marital law & sent in troops • Sent federal troops to WV & MO • He declared publicly that he was not fighting to free slaves • Declared that his goal was to get the Union back together • Indian Territory mainly sided with the South

10. Brother’s Blood • Many brothers fought against each other • Particularly in the border states • Northerners fought on the side of the South and vice versa • Senator Crittenden’s sons fought on opposite sides • Lincoln’s wife had 4 brothers who fought for the Confederacy

11. South Fighting defensively on familiar territory Strong support Strong military leadership **** Southerners were well trained Didn’t have to win the war Shortage of supplies North Economy***** Large population 22 million to 9 million (3.5 were slaves) Immigrants Industry Abundant resources Shipping Railway system Abraham Lincoln Advantages/ Strengths

12. South Small population Economy Few factories Few railroads Belief in states’ rights/ government lacked power Lack of supplies North Had to invade the South Public opinion was divided/ support was shaky Northerners were not as experienced as Southerners Disadvantages/ Weaknesses

13. Dethroning King Cotton • South depended on foreign intervention • didn’t get it • Many Europeans were pro-North & anti-slavery • Shortage of cotton during war? • England & France had a surplus • As North won Southern territory, they sent cotton & food to Europe • India & Egypt upped their cotton production • **Result** – Europe needed more wheat & corn from the North than cotton from the South

14. The Decisiveness of Diplomacy • Crisis • 1861 – Union warship stopped the British mail steamer theTrent & forcibly removed two Confederate diplomats bound for Europe • Lincoln released the prisoners & tension cooled

15. The Alabama • British build ships for the Confederacy (unarmed) • 1862 – the Alabama went to the Portuguese Azores & took on weapons & crew from Britain • Never actually arrived in the South • Destroyed in 1864 off the coast of France • Charles Francis Adams • persuaded Britain not to build any more ships for the Confederacy • Could be used against England in the future

16. Foreign Flare-Ups • Britain had two Laird rams • 2 Confederate warships that could destroy wooden Union ships • Britain decided to use ships in its Royal Navy • Near Canada • Confederate agents plotted to burn down American cities • Mini-armies raised by British-hating Irish-Americans sent to Canada • Napoleon III installed Austrian Archduke Maximilian as emperor of Mexico

17. President Davis vs. President Lincoln • Problems for the South: • Gave states the ability to secede in the future (from the Confederacy) • Getting Southern states to send troops to help other states was difficult • J. Davis – never very popular • A. Lincoln – benefit of leading an established government

18. Limitations on Wartime Liberties • Lincoln • Illegally proclaimed a blockade • Increased the size of the army & sent troops • Advancement of $2 million to 3 private citizens for war purposes • Suspended habeas corpus • Intimidation of voters in border states • Justification: actions weren’t permanent & were needed to preserve the Union • South refused to sacrifice state’s rights & therefore lost the war

19. Volunteers & Draftees: The North • 1863 - Congress passed the first conscription law • Angered the poor because rich could hire a substitute by paying $300 to Congress • Riots broke out – New York City Draft Riot – 1863 • Volunteers manned more than 90% of the Union army • Later money was offered for service when volunteers became scarce • Many deserters

20. The South • Had to resort to a draft nearly a year before the North • Also included privileges for the rich • Those who owned 20+ slaves were exempt from the draft

21. The Economic Stresses of War • North - Morrill Tariff Act • Increased tariff rates by about 5-10% • Later increased more • Treasury issued green-backed paper money • Money was unstable & sank to as low as 39 cents per gold dollar • Treasury sold war bonds • Runaway inflation • 9000% inflation rate in the South • 80% for the Union

22. National Banking System • Created to establish a standard bank-note currency • Banks that joined could buy government bonds & issue sound paper money • 1st step towards a unified national banking network

23. The North’s Economic Boom • Emerged from the war more prosperous than before • A millionaire class was born • Many Union suppliers used shoddy equipment in their supplies • Sizes for clothing were invented • Reaper helped feed millions • 1859 – discovery of petroleum oil sent people to Pennsylvania

24. Women in War Times • Women gained new advances: • Took jobs left behind by men • Some posed as men & fought in the war • Clara Barton & Dorothea Dix • Helped transform nursing to a respectable profession • Sally Tompkins • Ran an infirmary for wounded in Richmond • Received rank as Captain from Davis

25. A Crushed Cotton Kingdom • South was ruined by the war • Transportation collapsed • Supplies became scarce • End of war, South claimed only 12% of the national wealth • Pre war – 30% • Per capita income –2/5 that of Northerners • Pre war – 2/3 of Northerners

26. South Defensive strategy Expected Britain & France to pressure the North so cotton supply would be restored North Blockade of Southern ports Gain control of Mississippi River Capture Richmond, Virginia War Aims & Strategies