0.19 union war effort

against lincoln

little administrative experience

some say he deserves little credit (foreign - seward, financial measures - chase , economic - left to congress)

poor and indecisive choice of commanders of the army

he had an easier task than davis

accused of acting tyrannically (1862 - suspended writ of habeas corpus, anyone could be imprisoned by military authority, conscription)

case for lincoln

easier to praise than criticise hime

recognised for his resilience, diligence, honesty, humour, deceptive simplicity

made strong impression on who knew him + cabinet

selected able men, delegated well, important role in shaping national strategy ,fought to preserve union, could articulate war aims

many loyal men in party + government

didn’t alienate members of cabinet, didn’t involve himself in matters others could deal with, remained focused

worked well with congress

took responsibility + used power for best effort (1861- called for troops, proclaimed blockade, ordered military spending of $2 million without congressional approval

civil liberty

he was committed to ‘government of/by/for the people’

but still willing to suspend civil liberties, like freedom of speech and freedom of press

came into conflict with congress and supreme court but didn’t appear to worry him as main focus war war

were Lincoln’s poliicies effective

arguably, his vigorous policies of 1861helped keep border states in the union

military goals were more important to him than political when he allowed restriction of civil liberties

with the grim realities of guerrilla war, martial law was essential

lincoln’s cabinet

more stable than davis’

most secretaries remained at their post most of the war

cabinet members performed well

secretary of state = seward ‘right hand man’

of treasury - salmon chase - main radical spokesman of cabinet

congress + lincoln

controlled by republicans throughout war

generally cooperated well with lincoln

state government

most states republlican controlled - providing invaluable assistance to Lincoln

those that were democrat didn’t hinder union war effort

voluntary association

helped fill gaps helping provide food and better conditions

thousands of women helped by knitting, wrapping bandages and raising funds

how was the union prepared to finance the war

unlike confederacy - 1861 - union had:

• an established treasury

• gold reserves

• an assured source of revenue from tariffs

what shows the financial system was not ready for war

financial structures not ready for war

1861 - 62 the banking system seemed to nearly collapse

secretary chase kept treasury afloat by raising loans and issuing bonds, people were encouraged to invest in

1 million northerners owned shares in the national debt

what was revenue raised by

1 /5 raised by taxes

2 /3 raised by loans and bonds

when was an income tax imposed

the first income tax in us history enacted in 1861

imposed 3% tax on annual incomes over $800

BUT

the internal revenue act 1862 - was far more important

it brought in 10x as much as income tax, taxing basically everything

what else was brought in in 1862

congress approved an inflationary monetary policy

legal tender act which authorised the issuing of $150 million in paper currency

provided treasury with resources to pay its bills and restored investors confidence enough to make the sale of $500 million of new bonds