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.