Union initiative creating problems Flashcards
Topic sentence
Lastly, some historians such as Brian Holden Reid argue that it was Union initiatives creating obstacles for the Confederate economy which was the most important reason for the South experiencing economic hardship during the war.
Evidence 1 - blockade
The Union blockade, a Union attempt to prevent the Confederacy from exporting cotton or accessing supplies for the war proved to be a significant obstacle to Southern exports. The South led world cotton exports as they produced 2/3rds of the worlds cotton, and had export links with foreign powers such as Britain, this meant that the blockade was detrimental to them as it prevented them from accessing vital money to fund the war.
Therefore, the Union blockade caused the Confederacy to look to other solutions to gain foreign recognition to break it, for example the Confederacy introduced a cotton embargo in 1862 where they reduced the amount of cotton they produced to encourage foreign powers, such as Britain, to trade with them as if not, the price of cotton would sky rocket.
However this measure put the South in a troublesome position as the reduction in the production of cotton meant that they weren’t able to gain money from exporting to cotton, to use on the war. In spring 1862, Southeners planted around ½ of their usual cotton acreage.
Counter analysis
Despite this, it could be argued that blockade running was extremely successful as Blockade runners stoop a 75% chance of success and the South imported 60% of their small arms, meaning that the Confederacy were able to find cracks in the Union blockade so that they could access war supplies.
Evidence 2 - naval strength
As well as the blockade, the North could use its naval strength to attack the Confederate coat and threaten its main ports, making it almost impossible for the South to export, or import goods needed for them to maintain a strong fight against the Union.
Evaluation
To evaluate, the Union created many difficulties that caused Southern wartime economy to fail. The Union blockade made it almost impossible for the South to export cotton, the good that they gained most of their income from, meaning that they had little funds to pit towards winning the war. Additionally, the South’s hope of gaining foreign recognition to break the blockade was a failure as nations like Britain wanted to remain neutral during the war. Historian Brian Holden Reid argues that the South’s belief in the power of King Cotton deluded them into believing foreign recognition would come, however Britain reminded persistent in staying neutral, and France would only follow Britains lead.
