The Politics of War 11.2
James Mason and John Slidell
-Diplomats that attempted, again, to gain support from Britain and France. -Their ship was called the Trent (British ship). -Arrested by Caption Charles Wilkes of San Jacinto (American ship).
Conscription
-A draft that would force certain members of the population to serve in the army.
The Confederate Law
-Drafted all white men between ages 18-35. -If you could afford it, you could hire a substitute to take your place. -Exempted planters who owned 20 or more slaves.
The Union Law
-Drafted all white men between the ages of 20-45. -If you could afford it, you could hire a substitute to take your place. -Provided for commutation (paying $300 to avoid conscription).
William Yancey
-From Alabama -Him and two other confederate diplomats asked Britain (major importer of cotton) to formally make the Confederacy an independent nation. -Declined; this man went home and told Southerners not to hope for British aid. People did anyway.
Emancipation Proclamation
-Lincoln issued this which had immense symbolic importance. -To many, it gave the war a high moral purpose by turning the struggle into a fight to free the slaves. -It didn't free any slaves right away because it applied to areas only in Confederate lines, outside Union control. -Since it was a military action, it aimed at the states in rebellion. -Did not apply to Southern territory occupied by Union troops nor to the slave states that had not seceded.
Habeas Corpus
-Lincoln suspended this. -A court order that requires authorities to bring a person held in jail before the court to determine why he or she is being jailed.
Copperheads
-Northern Democrats who were arrested and advocated peace with the South.
Clement Vallandigham
-Ohio congressman who was the most famous Copperhead. -Tried and convicted by a military court for urging Union soldiers to desert and for advocating an armistice.
Henry M Turner
-The Reverend who was a free-born African American. -Watched the capital's inhabitants receive the news of the emancipation.
Commutation
-The substitution of one kind of payment for another. -Paying a $300 fee to avoid conscription.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney
-declared that Lincoln had gone beyond his constitutional powers, the president ignored his ruling.
