Download Chapter 20 Notes - George`s AP US Survival Blog

The Menace of Succession
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Lincoln assured that there would be no conflict unless the South started it
Secession wasn’t a big deal to Lincoln because he believed that the US physically cannot
separate.
There would be tons of controversies, though, because of secession.
Europeans would be happy though. They wanted the strong republic to splinter.
South Carolina Assails Fort Sumter
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The seceded states took all their arms and forts with them except Fort Sumter in Charleston
harbor.
Fort Sumter would fall without a shot if Lincoln did nothing. No supplies were coming into that
fort. But if reinforcements were sent, then that may provoke South Carolina into fighting for
that key port.
Lincoln told the South Carolinans that he would “provision” but not “reinforce” the fort,
promising not to send munitions or men but the South saw those two words as the same thing.
As a result, they Carolinians came in and opened fire on the fort leading to surrender but no
blood was spilled.
The North was now ready to fight back.
Lincoln sent out a call for militiamen and volunteers burst in.
The South was alarmed and three other states: Virginia, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Richmond,
Virginia was the new capital of the Confederacy.
Brother’s Blood and Border Blood
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Only border states remained in the Union. Especially important was Kentucky for it had many
rivers that poured through it providing movement of resources.
Lincoln went as far as declaring martial law in Maryland because it may cut Washington off from
the North. Union soldiers were sent to western Virginia (not West Virginia) and Missouri where
they fought beside unionists in a localized civil war.
Lincoln had to paint the war as “not an antislavery war” since an antislavery war would be quite
unpopular. He focused the purpose on saving the union.
Indians in Oklahoma sided with the South as a few of them did own slaves. Federal government
of the Confederacy agreed to send the Indians federal payments in return for a supply of troops
from the tribes.
The Plains Indians sided with the Union and got practically nothing in return.
The Balance of Forces
Advantages of the South
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They were defending, not offending.
All they had to do was hold on.
Military talent
Got around blockades and supply shortages
Advantages of the North
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Economy
Railroads
Factories
Navy
Controlled Seas
Manpower (population)
Disadvantages of the North
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Inexperienced
Dethroning King Cotton
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South thought there would be foreign intervention but there was none
o European ruling classes were thought to have been favoring the South
o France and England were praying for the North since they read Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The South overproduced cotton and that led to some downfall in their economic supremacy.
Britain was experiencing cotton shortages but also famine. Food was obviously more important
and they decided to import food from the North rather than infuriate the North by busting the
blockade in the South to get cotton for the North may cut the food supply of the British.
Decisiveness of Diplomacy
The affairs summed up:
Trent: Union warship stopped British steamer Trent in order to remove Confederate diplomats.
This angered the British that the diplomats were captured so Lincoln released them as he only wanted
one war at a time.
Alabama: British pirate ship that sunk many until being sunk by a Union cruiser
Confederate Warships: Two of these were in a GB shipyard and designed to sink Union ships.
British bought these ships instead for the Royal Navy as selling them to Confederates would mean war.
Irish Hatred of British: the Irish hated the British and took it all out on Canada. Canada
condemned the US government for not taking any action but because the Irish had so many voters, the
government could not afford to lose such a voting base. As a result, the British established the Dominion
of Canada in 1867 in order to bolster the integrity of the territory.
Napoleon III: Sly old Napoleon is back. He decided to send his army to occupy Mexico City and
enthrone Maximillian. This was a violation of the Monroe Doctrine but what would the Americans do?
Well they’d fight the Civil War, stop fighting when the North won and the come down and ruin
Napoleon’s seemingly smart strategy. Napoleon retreated and left Maximilian to die by firing squad.
President Davis v President Lincoln
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Confederate constitution was borrowed from the Union constitution but it lacked a few things.
o Since it was created by secession, government could not comfortably deny the right to
secede.
o Jefferson Davis had in mind a central government but to many states rights advocates
wouldn’t have such an idea. Some were unwilling to even fight outside of their state.
Davis wasn’t very popular and had trouble with his Congress. If anybody had a nervous
breakdown from all the stress, it was Davis.
Lincoln also had some problems, obviously. But the North enjoyed:
o Long established government
o Economy
o Recognized home and abroad
Lincoln was also well-spoken tactful and firm.
Limitations on Wartime Liberties
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“Honest Abe” wasn’t quite so honest. The real Abraham Lincoln tore holes in the constitution.
There would be no constitution to preserve had he not done the things he had done.
o Lincoln took matter into his own hands when congress was not in session by proclaiming
a blockade.
o Lincoln increased the size of his army even though that was a Congressional power, but
congress later approved (what else could they have done anyway?)
o Martial Law in Maryland, habeas corpus was suspended and he took money and gave it
to three people for military purposes.
o Supervised voting was in the border states. Editors of newspapers were also silenced
from making opposition comments about the war.
The South was too focused on states’ rights and would rather have those than win the war.
Volunteers and Draftees: North and South
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Initially the Northern armies were just full of volunteers. Fort Sumter was the spark.
A federal draft was initiated after the volunteering stalled in 1863.
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The rich could pay their way out of the draft with $300 which was extremely unfair to the poor.
The rich were called “three hundred dollar men”.
NYC was a place of protest by Irish Americans who disliked the draft but the riot was calmed
down by troops.
Enlistment bounties were increased as able-bodied men became less.
“Bounty Brokers” and “substitute brokers” arose out of the situation. They would enlist for
money and then ditch.
The South also had volunteers but they started enlisting everybody. Anyone that could hear
thunder and see lightning was considered ok to fight.
They started a draft a year earlier and it was 20 slaves rather than 300 bucks to get out of the
war.
The Economic Stresses of War
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The North didn’t have as bad of an economy as the South.
o Excise taxes were raised on tobacco and alcohol.
o First income tax was levied.
o Morrill Tariff Act was introduced raising tariff duties by 10-15%. But soon boosted it
even higher because of the war. It was a protective tariff for the manufacturers being
weighed down by income taxes but also a way to raise revenue.
o Greenbacked paper money was also issued totaling more than $450 million. But there
wasn’t enough gold backing for it so it fluctuated and indirectly taxed the victims of
inflation.
o Bonds were the primary way of raising money for the war.
o National Banking System was established in order to create a standard currency. It was
the first step for a national banking system since the Bank of the US.
 Functioned for years until the Federal Reserve came along.
The South had a much worse economic situation.
o Bonds were issued to foreign and domestic investors.
o Blockade was taking its toll by choking off customs duties.
o Taxes were increased sharply and there was a 10 percent tax on farm produce.
o Opposed to direct tax by government due to states’ righters.
o Blue-backed paper money was printed but all it did was increase inflation horribly.
o 9000 percent inflation rate compared to 80 percent inflation rate in the North.
The North’s Economic Boom
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New factories were formed and protected by the tariff.
o Inflation plagued the nation though, the laborer and the white collar worker especially
Only manufacturers benefited.
Millionaire class was formed although.
More theft in the North because more to steal.
Some cheated their customers with cardboard shoe soles and “shoddy” wool.
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New laborsaving machines.
o Reapers for wheat that caused a surplus of grain sent overseas.
Petroleum
Gold
homestead act
Civil War also a women’s war with “government girls” that took over government work as well
as other women that filled the jobs of the men during the war.
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell first women physician that assisted the armies on the field with medical
supplies, trained nurses, and hospitals.
Crushed King Cotton
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South was exhausted.
Initially 30 percent of nation’s wealth, now only 12 percent.
Transportation collapsed.