Impact of War on the Union & Confederacy

1. Impact of War on the Union & Confederacy A look at politics, economics, & society.

2. Politics in the Union • Republican-dominated Congress expands bureaucracy • Broaden federal power • Further war effort • Homestead Act (1862) • 160 acres of Western land free to any settler who would farm the land for five years. • Morrill Land Grant College Act (1862) • Proceeds of land sales in states used to est. agricultural colleges • National Banking Act (1863) • Provided uniform currency = “greenback” • Pacific Railway Act (1862) • Authorized subsidies in land and money for the construction of transcontinental railroads.

3. Economics in the Union • Funding the War • Instituted an income tax = 10% on incomes  $5,000 • Raised tariffs to highest rate yet • Borrowing • War Bonds = $400 million • Loans from banks & lg. financial interests = $2.6 billion • War Sped Economic Development • Wages increase BUT prices increase more • Workers lose purchasing power • Increase in trade union movement • Labor conflicts b/w striking white workers and black strikebreakers

4. Union Society • Conscription Act (1863) • National draft • Avoid service by hiring by… • Hiring a replacement • Pay government $300 • Draft provokes riots • NYC Draft Riots (July 1863) • Irish destroy draft office • Attack city’s black population • Blamed African Americans for war • War fought for benefit of slaves who would compete for jobs post-war

5. Women in the Union • Took jobs, often previously reserved for men • 100,000 employed in factories • Became teachers, retail clerks, office workers • Nursing becomes female field • Paid less than men • Many women widowed • New economic opportunities helped broaden view of women’s roles • Women admitted to 8 previously all-male state universities post war

6. Politics in the Confederacy • West Virginia secede from Virginia and declare loyalty to Union • States’ Right = obstacle • States refuse to comply with national efforts to win war • Particularly regarding funding the war & conscription • Conscription Act (1862) • All white males 18-35 • Draft Exemptions • Could provide a replacement • Was only white male on plantation of 20+ slaves

7. Economics in the Confederacy • Funding the War • Only specie (gold & silver) was seized from U.S. mints = $1 mill • Small unstable banking system = had little $ to lend to war effort • Income tax = produced on 1% of total gov’t income • Sold war bonds • Printed paper currency = $1.5 billion worth • Naval Blockade = shortages in all supplies • Inflation • Prices rose 9,000% • Black market & hoarding • Food shortages = bread riots • Farm land decimated by advancing Union army • “food draft” • Allowed soldiers to confiscate crops

8. Confederate Society • Women • Left in charge of family farms • Managed slave force on • Plowed fields & harvested crops • Worked for the Confederate government • Entered into nursing • By end of war = gender imbalance • Slaves • Whites fearful of slave revolts • Severely enforced slave codes • More likely to escape than revolt

9. In Brief