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Role of Lincoln in the Union victory in the American Civil War Lincoln’s contribution Positives Personal qualities: resilience, diligence, tenacity, humour, selfconfidence; not afraid of talents of others. Selected well and delegated; excellent man- management skills. Wrote own speeches which conveyed Union war aims very clearly. Shaped strategy: willing to fight to the finish. More in favour of racial equality than were most Northerners. Worked well with Congress. Tended to represent the middle ground. Used Presidential powers to the full as Commander in Chief: voted $2m for military and naval spending (1861) without reference to Congress. Able to concentrate on wider military issues, not details. Encouraged and exhorted his commanders. Kept border states in the Union. Had a balanced, inclusive war cabinet. Motivated through speeches. Negatives Limited political experience No military experience Opposed by many Democrats Opposed by some Republicans Often out of touch with military and political leaders Democrats accused him of ‘executive tyranny’: suppressed civil liberties; 1862, suspended Habeas Corpus- arbitrary arrests without ref to courts; civilians were tried by military commissions. Other factors o 4 slave states (Missouri, W Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland) remained loyal to Union. North’s advantages (see year 12 notes): Population size: N = 22m; S = 9m.; Great lead in industrial output- 97% US firearms; 93% US cloth; 94% pig-iron; 90% US boots and shoes. 6x no of factories in S; 10x S’s productive capacity. More railway track. More skilled workers. o Most soldiers were loyal to the Union. 1820-1860: 2/3 West Point graduates were from N. o High standard of some military commanders, notably Ulysses S Grant. o N had naval supremacy (Anaconda Plan) Emancipation Proclamation gave some in North sense that they were crusaders: motivational o 1861: Union banking and financial structures not ready for war- no national bank; northern systems close to collapse in first winter of war. o Treasury Secretary SP Chase did an excellent job holding the Union’s finances together, raising loans and bonds, encouraging investment in them, and therefore raising 2/3 revenue of Union in this way; 1/5 revenues came from taxes inc federal income tax from Aug 1861 (3% annual incomes over $800) and Internal Revenue Act (1862) which taxed almost everything and was 10x more lucrative than income tax. o Legal Tender Act (1862) authorised printing of notes ultimately to value of $431m, which allowed Treasury to pay for war effort. o Reform of banking system: 1863/1864 National Banking Actsattempt to create more uniform currency; 10% tax on state banknotes kept number in circulation under control. o o o o o o May 1862: Congress set up Dept of Agriculture to improve farming methods. May 1862: Homestead Act encouraged westward expansion and opened up more land for cultivation. Imposed higher customs dues: protected industry and increased govt revenues. Development of infrastructure, esp railways, from govt grants of land and general encouragement. [1862: transcontinental line approved from Omaha to San Francisco] Northern economy coped much better than the southern under pressure of war: had raw materials, technological expertise and capital. Demands of war probably stimulated northern economy. 1864: iron prodn 29% higher in North than for whole US in 1856. Northern economy also able to export food, eg wheat (high demand from Britain because of successive poor harvests). BUT trades linked with South, eg N Eng cotton mills, suffered. Weaknesses of South: Leadership of Davis- some question his ability to hold his ‘side’ together, though gave undivided support to Lee: often categorized as weak, petty, unable to establish good working relations with his advisers. NB Supported tough measures and put needs of Confederacy above states’ rights. Economic disadvantages, made worse by disruption to cotton exports Campaign being fought on southern soil: created economic and infrastructural dislocation. Will to fight faded in later stages of war. Failed to gain the foreign support needed: Britain in particular not likely to support rebel states; sought that foreign support too late in the war. 3. Historiography Traditionally viewed as America’s greatest President Farmer: Cynics might claim that it was Lincoln’s assassination, rather than his leadership, which assured his reputation. McPherson: The President’s unique blend of firmness and deference, the iron fist of decision clothed in the velvet glove of humour and tact, enabled him to dominate his subordinates without the appearance of domination. Lincoln: If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do so, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. [to anti-slavery journalist Horace Greeley] Wendell Phillips: He is a first rate, second rate man. EV: Lincoln’s distinctive style of leadership