Unit 8: Part 2: The Civil War & Reconstruction Flashcards
I. Overview
A. Generalizations
B. Prevailing Causation Theories
C. Effects of the Civil War
A. Generalization
- Captured American Imagination
- Huge Scope of Civilian/Military Involvement
- Lasting Social, Economic, Political Effects
- New Period of Race Relations
B. Prevailing Causation Theories
- Slavery: The “Irrepressible Conflict”
- Economic Determinism
- Clash of Cultures
- Constitutional Issue: State’s Rights vs Federalism
- “Blundering Generation” Theory
C. Effects of the Civil War
- Strengthen Role of Gov’t and Office of the Presidency
- Accelerates economic growth of North
- Devastates the Southern agri. System
- Strengthens the Republican Party
- Leads to the end of Slavery
II. The Secession Crisis
A. The South Withdraws
B. Attempt at Reconciliation: The Crittenden Compromise
C. Fort Sumter: (Charleston Harbor, South Carolina)
D. The Opposing Sides: Northern Advantage
E. The Opposing Sides: Southern Advantage
A. The South Withdraws
- South Carolina, 6 other states secede
- Form the Confederate States of America
- Seized Federal Property within borders
B. Attempt at Reconciliation: The Crittenden Compromise
- Permanent existence of Slavery within current slave states
- Reinforce Fugitive Slave Laws
- Re-establish Missouri Compromise Line
C. Fort Sumter: Charleston Harbor, South Carolina
- Running low on supplies, had to be provisioned or evacuated
- Lincoln sends relief expedition to the fort
- General Beauregard ordered to take the island before re-provisioning
- Major Anderson refuses to surrender, South bombards, starting hostilities
D. The Opposing Sides: Northern Advantages
- Population Advantage
- Greater Manpower in Battle, Workforce
- Superior Industry and Resources
- Superior Transportation System
- Lincoln superior to Jefferson Davis
- Claimed the Recognized Government
E. The Opposing Sides: Southern Advantages
- Large in Area, Difficult to Defeat
- Fighting a Defensive War
- At Home, on Familiar Territory
- Initially, High Morale
- Initial Advantage in Military Leadership
- Diplomatic Advantage
III. The Mobilization of the North
A. Economic Measures: Promoting Economic Growth
B. Economic Measures: Methods of Financing the War
C. Raising the Union Armies
D. Wartime Politics: Lincoln Acts Decisively
E. Lincoln Acts to Suppress Dissent
F. Lincoln’s War Aims and Slavery
G. The Emancipation Proclamation
H. Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation
I. The Black Soldier
J. War’s Effect on Northern Economic Development
K. Women and the War
A. Economic Measures: Promoting Economic Growth
- Aggressive Programs to Promote Economic Development in the West
- Passage of a series of tariff bills
- Steps to complete the Transcontinental Railroad
- Creation of a New Banking System (National Bank Acts, 1863-1964)
B. Economic Measures: Methods of Financing the War
- Levying Taxes
- Issuance of Paper Money: Greenbacks
- Loans from Private Citizens
C. Raising the Union Armies
- Volunteers
- National Draft Law, 1863
- Draft Riots
D. Wartime Politics: Lincoln Acts Decisively
- Assembled Inclusive Cabinet
- Sent Troops into Battle w/o a Declaration of War
- Increased Size of Regular Army
- Unilaterally proclaims Naval Blockade
E. Lincoln Acts to Suppress Dissent
- Military Arrests of Civilian Dissenters
- Suspends Right of Habeas Corpus
- Defied efforts by Supreme Court to Curb his authority
F. Lincoln’s War Aims and Slavery
- War Objective: Restore the Union
- Gradual Abolition of Slavery in the Border States
- Recommended Compensation for Owners
G. The Emancipation Proclamation
- Goal: Reunion, not Abolition
- All Confederate slaves declared free
- Order did not apply to Border States
- States could avoid emancipation by returning to the Union
- Paradox: No slaves were freed as a Result
H. Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation
- Transformed war into Social Revolution
- Invigorated Northern Sentiment
- Positive Diplomatic results for the North
- Strengthened Radical Republican
- Emergence of the Black Soldier
I. The Black Soldier
- Active Recruitment after Proclamation
- Active Fighting: Black Regiments
- “Behind-the-Lines” Tasks
- Conditions, Pay Unequal
J. War’s Effect on Northern Economic Development
- Enhances Overall Economic Development of the North
- Economic Expansion in Specific Sectors
- Increased Mechanization of Agriculture
- Increase in Union Membership
K. Women and the War
- Took over Roles Vacated by Men
- Nursing: U.S Sanitary Commission led by Dorothea Dix
- Stanton, Anthony fight for Abolition and Suffrage
- Suffered Loss and Dislocation
IV. The Mobilization of the South
A. The Confederate Government
B. Funding the Southern “Cause”
C. Manpower
D. Economic Effects in the South
E. Social Effects of the War
A. The Confederate Government
- Constitution upheld state sovereignty and slavery
- President: Jefferson Davis; Vice President: Alexander Stephens
- No Formal Political Parties
- Southern Political Divisions
- Southern Political Divisions
a. Backcountry vs Plantations
B. Funding the Southern “Cause”
- Liquid Assets Scarce
- Requisition Requests Turn to Taxation
- Borrowing a Failed Strategy
- Turned to Issuing Paper Currency
- Liquid Assets Scarce
Money in Land and Slaves
C. Manpower
- Volunteers
- Conscription Act
- Service Avoidance Stipulations
- Drop-off in conscription as North seized Southern territories
- Last Resort: Young, Old-Slaves