Chapter 14: Key Terms and Vocabulary
Wartime Advantages: Military
+ South: They only had to fight a defensive war. - Union: Had to conquer an area as large as W ER. + South: Had to move troops and supplies shorter distances. -Union: Had to move troops and supplies longer distances -Union/+South: S had longer indented coastline which made it hard to blockade. + South: Experienced military leaders and high troop morale. +Union: Higher population (22M whites to 5.5.M whites). Enhanced by 800,000 immigrants to N during war. Emancipation brought 180,000 AA to union army in the final years of war. +Union: Loyal U.S. Navy that gave it command of rivers and territorial waters.
Trent Affair
- Britain was close to siding with the Confederacy in late 1861 over an incident at sea. - Confederate diplomats James Mason and John Slidell traveled to BR on a BR steamer, the Trent, on a mission to gain recognition for their government. - Union warship stopped the BR ship, removed Slidell and Mason, brought them to the U.S. as prisoners of war. - BR threatened war unless the 2 diplomats were released. - Despite intense public criticism, Lincoln gave in to BR commands. - Mason and Slidell were freed, but after sailing to ER again, failed to obtain full recognition of Confederacy from either BR or FR.
CSA issue
Always short in $. Tried loans, income taxes (incl. A 10% tax-in-kind on farm produce), and impressment of private property. These only paid for small part of war. Govt. issued over $1B in paper money, so much that it caused severe inflation, devalued CSA dollar to <2 cents by end of war,
Confederate Raiders
- Confederates were able to gain enough recognition as a belligerent to purchase warships from BR shipyards. - Confederate commerce-raiders did serious harm to U.S. merchant ships. - One of them, Alabama captured 60+ ships before being sunk off the coast of FR by a Union warship. - Post war, BR agreed to pay the U.S. $15.5 M for damages caused by S's commerce raiders. - U.S. minister to BR, Charles Francis Adams prevented a potentially more serious threat after learning of Confederacy arrangement to buy Laird rams (ship with iron rams) from BR for use against Union naval blockade. - He persuaded BR to cancel sale instead of risking war with U.S.
Confiscation Acts
- Early in war (May 1861), Union General Benjamin Butler refused to return captured slaves to Confederate owners, saying they were "contraband of war". - Power to seize enemy property used to wage war against U.S. was legal basis for the first Confiscation Act. - was not an explicit freedom statute, but it authorized Union army officials to seize any slaves employed by the Confederate army. - Thousands of Contrabands were using their feet to escape slavery by finding their way into Union Camps. - July 1862- Congress passed the second Confiscation Act that freed persons enslaved by anyone engaged in rebellion against U.S. -Empowered the POTUS to use freed slaves in the Union army in any capacity (even battle).
Emancipation Proclamation
- July 1862- Lincoln had already decided to use his powers as C IN Chief of armed forces to free all slaves in the states at war with the u.S. - Justified it as "military necessity" -Delayed announcement until he could win the support of conservative Northerners and at the same time, encouraged border states to come up with plans for emancipation with compensation for slave owners. - Post battle of Antietam, on September 22nd, 1862, Lincoln issued warning that slaves in all states in rebellion on January 1st, 1863 would be forever free. Listed states from Arkansas to VA.
Gettysburg
- Meanwhile in the East: Lee took the offensive by leading an army into enemy territory: Union states of MD and PA. -If he could either destroy Union army or capture a major N city, he hoped to force the Union to call for peace or at least gain foreign intervention on behalf of the Confederacy. -July 1st, 1863- invading Confederate Army surprised Union units at Gettysburg in S PA. - Most crucial battle of the war and bloodiest with 50,000+ casualties. -Lee's assault on Union lines on the second and third days (including a famous, but failing charge led by George Pickett, proved futile and destroyed a key part of the Confederate army). -What was left of Lee's forces retreated to VA, never to regain the offensive.
Freedmen in War
- Post Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863), hundreds of thousands of blacks (25% of slave population) left slavery to seek protection of the approaching Union armies. - Almost 200,000 AA (most were newly freed slaves) served in Union army or navy. - Segregated into all-black units (i.g. Massachusetts 54th Regiment), they bravely performed under fire and won respect of Union white soldiers. -37,000+ AA soldiers died in what became known as the Army of Freedom.
Failure of Cotton Diplomacy
- S's hope for ER intervention were disappointed in the end as "King Cotton" didn't have the power to dictate another nation's foreign policy since ER quickly found other sources for getting cotton. -By the time southern cotton shortages hit BR textile industry,adequate shipments of cotton began arriving from Egypt and India and other materials like woollen and linen industries were not slow to take advantage of the opportunity and could be used for textiles. -2 other factors for BR not recognizing the Confederacy: - General Lee's loss at Antietam; without seeking a decisive Confederacy military win, BR would not risk recognition. - Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863) made the goal for the Union be the end of slavery which appealed to BR's working class. Despite conservative leaders being sympathetic to Confederates, couldn't defy the pro Northern, anti slavery feelings of BR majority.
Union Strategy
- Use U.S. Navy to blockade Sports (called Anaconda Plan), cutting off necessary supplies from reaching Confederacy. - Take control of MS River, dividing Confederacy into 2. - Raise and train an army 500,000 strong to conquer Richmond. First two parts were easy, third wasn't, but all 3 were critical for N win. After Union defeat at Bull Run, federal armies experienced a succession of crushing defeats as they attempted various campaigns in VA, each less successful than the one before.
Vicksburg
- W by Spring of 1863: Union forces controlled New Orleans and most of the MS. River and the surrounding valley. - So their objective was to secure complete control of the MS River and were close to doing so when General Grant began his siege of the heavily fortified city of Vicksburg, MS. -Union artillery bombarded Vicksburg for 7 weeks before the Confederates surrendered the city (and almost 29,000 soldiers) on July 4th. -Federal warships now controlled the full MS River and cut off TX, LA, AR from the rest of the Confederacy
Emancipation Proclamation Consequences
-Since proclamation only applied to slaves in COnfederate states outside Union control, immediately freed only 1% of slaves. -Slavery in border states was still allowed. -Proclamation was still important because it enlarged the purpose of war: Union armies were fighting against slavery, not just secession. - Added weight to Confiscation Acts - Increased # of slaves who sought freedom by fleeing to Union. -Thus, with each advance of N troops into the S, abolition advanced as well. - Added blow to the Confederacy, it authorized the use of freed slaves as Union soldiers → thousands of dedicated new Union recruits
Lincoln's concerns/hesitate to taking action against slavery
1) Keeping the support of border states 2) Constitutional protections of slavery 3) Racial prejudice of many N 4) Fear that premature action could be overturned in next election.
Wartime Advantages: Political
2 goals - Confederacy: Struggling for independence - Union: Fighting to preserve Union Ideology of states' rights proved a serious liability for the new Confederate government. Irony was, to win the war Confederates needed a strong central government with strong public support. - Confederates had neither while Union had a strong central government (AL and Dem and Rep parties) with experienced politicians with a strong popular base. Ultimate hope of Confederates was for the Unionists to turn against Lincoln and Rep, quit war because it was too $.
13th Amendment
Abolition of slavery -Standing in the way of full emancipation were phrases in U.S. Constitution that had long legitimized slavery. - To free all slaves in border states, country needed to ratify a constitutional amendment. - Despite abolitionists giving Lincoln credit for playing an active role in political struggle to secure enough votes in Congress to pass, by December 1865 (Lincoln had already died), the amendment was ratified by needed states.
Lincoln's inaugural address
Assured S that he would not interfere with slavery, he also warned no state had the right to break up with the Union.
Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy
CSA expected the cotton to prove "king" and get BR or FR to give direct aid. Besides depending on cotton for textile mills, wealthy BR industrialists and BR aristocrats wanted to break up U.S. democracy experiment. Unions felt it was important to prevent CSA from getting foreign support and recognition.
CSA and internal improvements
CSA nationalized railroads and encouraged industrial development. Sustained nearly 1M troops at its peak, but war of attrition loomed.
General George B. McClellan
Commander of Union Army East at Peninsula Campaign, replaced by Pope at end of Peninsula Campaign. Brought back for Antietam, but replaced by Gen. burnside at Fredericksburg.
Anaconda Plan
Completing a blockade of CSA ports.
General Robert E. Lee
Confederate
CSA
Confederate States of America; had a constitution that modeled U.S. except 1 6 year term for POTUS and gave them an item veto (power to veto 1 item of bill only). - Denied the Confederate Congress the power to levy a protective tariff and to appropriate funds for internal improvements. - Banned foreign slave trade. Jefferson Davis tried to increase exc. Powers but S governors resisted attempts at centralization, some holding back troops and resource to protect their states.
James Mason and John Slidell
Confederate diplomat; Trent affair
General Thomas (STonewall) Jackson
Confederate; apart of Battle of Bull Run
Keeping Border States
DE, MD, MO, and KY (border states) was partly due to Union sentiment to them and the result of shrewd federal policies. MD- Pro-secessionists attacked Union troops and threatened the railroad in D.C. Union army resorted to martial law to keep the state under federal control. MO-presence of Union troops prevented pro-south elements from gaining control there, although guerrilla forces sympathetic to CSA were active throughout the war. KY- State legislature voted to remain neutral, Lincoln respected this at first, waiting for the S to violate it before moving in troops. Was a military and political goal for Lincoln because otherwise the CSA would have increased their pop. by 50% and severely weaken N's strategic position for conducting war. Lincoln rejected initial calls for emancipation of slaves to avoid alienating Unionists in border states.
Fredericksburg
December 1862- Burnside led a large army and attacked Lee at Fredericksburg, suffered a huge loss. 12,000 died/wounded (Union) compared to 5,000 CSA. Both Union and CSA generals were slow to learn that improved weaponry took the romance out of heroic charges. By the end of 1862, magnitude of war was to clear with no prospect of military victory for either side.
Fort Sumter
Despite Lincoln's message of conciliation and warning, war loomed. The status of 2 federal forts in states that had seceded was most critical. Fort Sumter in a Charleston, SC harbor was cut off from vital supplies and reinforcements by S control of the harbor. Instead of giving up the fort or trying to defend it, Lincoln sent provisions of food there, giving SC the choice of either allowing the fort to hold out or open fire which they then did. April 12th, 1861 war began; attack on Fort Sumter was captured after 2 days by N behind a patriotic fight to save the Union.
First Battle of Bull Run
First MAJOR battle of Civil War (July 1861) - 30,000 federal troops marched from D.C. to attack Confederate forces at Bull Run Creek at Manassas Junction, VA. - As Union forces seemed close to victory, Confederate reinforcements under General Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson counterattacked and sent inexperience Union troops in panic back to D.C. (together with civilian curiosity and picnickers) . Battle ended idea that the war would be short and the myth that the Rebels were invincible in battle.
Antietam
Following victory at Second Bull Run, Confederacy led his army across Potomac into enemy territory in MD. By doing this, he hoped that a major Confederate win in a Union state would convince BR to recognize them officially and support them. - By this time (September 1862), Lincoln restored McClellan to command Union army. - McClellan had advantage of knowing Lee's battle plan (copy was dropped by Confederate officer). - Union intercepted invading Confederates at Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, MD. - Bloodiest single day of combat in the entire war, 22,000 casualties. - Confederacy couldn't break through Union lines so they retreated to VA. - Lincoln was disappointed with McClellan for failing to pursue Lee's weakened and retreating army, so he removed him as general because he was slow. - Proved to be a decisive battle because - Confederates failed to get what they desperately needed, recognition and aid from a foreign power. - Lincoln found enough encouragement in the results to claim a Union win. Lincoln used the partial win to announce plans for a direct assault on slavery.
Alexander H. Stephens and states' rights
In defense of states' rights, even urged secession of GA in response to tyrannical actions of CSA.
Peninsula Campaign
Gen. George B. McClellan insisted troops have more training before battle. After this, his army invaded VA in March 1862, however, Union army was stopped by Robert E. Lee's brilliant moves. After 5 months, McClellan had to retreat and ordered back to the Potomac.
The Civil War transformed American society by accelerating _______________
Industrialization and modernization
Second Battle of Bull Run
Lee took advantage of change in Union generals to attack Pope's army in N VA quickly. Trapped Pope, struck the enemy's flank and sent Union army backward to Bull Run. Pope withdrew to the defenses of Washington.
Fort Sumter: Use of Executive Power
More than any other potus, Lincoln acted in unprecedented ways. He used both his chief exc. and commander in chief powers without the approval of Congress. With Fort Sumter he 1)Called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the "insurrection" in the CSA. 2)Authorized spending for a war 3)Suspended writ of habeas corpus Congress wasn't in session so Lincoln acted on his own authority and he later clarified that he had to take these measures w/out Congress's authority for public safety.
General John Pope
Replaced McClellan at end of Peninsula Campaign as Commander of Union army.
General Ambrose Burnside
Replaced McClellan at start of Fredericksburg, aggressive, discovered reckless attack could be worse than McClellan cautious actions.
Secession of Upper South
Prior to Fort Sumter, only 7 states in the deep south had seceded. After it was clear that Lincoln would use troops in crisis so 4 states in the upper south seceded- VA, NC, TN, nad AR. CSA moved capital to Richmond. WV remained loyal to Union and separated as a state in 1863.
Charles Francis Adams
U.S. minister to BR, Charles Francis Adams prevented a potentially more serious threat after learning of Confederacy arrangement to buy Laird rams (ship with iron rams) from BR for use against Union naval blockade. - He persuaded BR to cancel sale instead of risking war with U.S.
Ulysses S. Grant
Union general, MS River campaigns, Vicksburg
Wartime Advantages: Economic
Union+: Unions dominated economy - Controlling most of banking and capital of country *85%+ of factories *70%+ of railroads *65%+ of farmland - Northern clerks and bookkeepers helped with logistical support of large military operations. Confederates believed the cotton demand by ER would bring recognition and $ from ER, like other rebels in rebellions, they relied on foreign nations to be successful.
General Winfield Scott
Union;General in Chief - vet of WO1812, AND Mexican Wars, had a 3 part strategy for winning a long war.
Monitor v Merrimac
Unions hopes to win war depended on ability to max $ and naval advantages by effectively blockading CSA ports. During McClellan's Peninsula campaign, Union blockade strategy was in jeopardy when CSA ironclad ship (Merrimac, a former Union ship, rebuilt and renamed Virginia) which attacked and sunk several Union wooden ships on March 8th, 1862 near Hampton Roads, VA. It seemed unstoppable. March 9th- Union's own ironclad ship, Monitor fought for 5 hours with Merrimac. Ended in draw, but Monitor prevented CSA formidable new weapon from challenging Union blockade. Also marked a turning point in naval war with wooden ships being replaced by ironclad ones.
Grant in the West
Was part of Union campaign to control MS River, used combo of gunboats and army maneuvers in 1862 to capture Fort Henry and Fort Donelson on Cumberland River (branch of MS River). 14,000 CSAs were taken, opened MS to Union attack, Union win. Few weeks later, CSA army under Albert Johnson surprised Grant at Shiloh, TN but Union army held its ground and finally forced CSA to retreat after losses on both sides. Grant's drive down MS was complemented in April 1862 by capture of New Orleans by Union navy under David Farragut.