Studied by 0 people
1776
black volunteers fought in the War of Independence for the US
1792
federal law created to stop black people from bearing arms
this barred African Americans from joining the US army
this law was created due to the inherent white American belief that African Americans were inferior and thus wouldn’t be able to follow instructions or fight bravely
this law was also created as white settlers were scared of the violent repercussions against them by African Americans due to slavery
April 1861
Civil War began
1861
surplus of free black volunteers trying to join the Union Army
June 1868
seven southern states were re-admitted to the Union after the loss of the Confederacy
July 1868
14th Amendment comes into law
this was a landmark ruling that overturned pervious significant cases like Dred Scott (1857)
November 1868
Andrew Johnson loses the election to Ulysses S. Grant (ex-Union leader)
February 3rd 1870
15th Amendment was accepted
1870s
more than 2000 African Americans were elected to political posts
why is it deemed ‘controversial’ to believe the civil war was fought over slavery
because people don’t want to believe that southern populations were willing to fight and die for morally corrupt reasons such as slavery
what evidence states that slavery was the overwhelming cause of the civil war
‘Charleston Mercury’ (southern newspaper) stated the issue before the country was the ‘extinction of slavery’ and the south was ‘not prepared to surrender the institution’
7 southern states seceded the Union to protect their ‘peculiar institution’ (slavery) from the north
“our new government was founded on slavery […[ the n* is not equal […] slavery […] is his natural [….] condition”
explain the other factors raised as causes of the civil war and the limitations of these arguments
south only wanted to protect state rights
the south was preoccupied with maintaining its state rights as the most importance of these rights was the retainment of slavery
the southern states never mentioned specific rights that they were fighting for
the southern emphasis on state rights as a cause of the Civil War is justification and legitimisation of its morally-corrupt core motivations (retaining slavery)
tension over state rights has always been an ongoing conflict, never being a big enough issue for continental conflict
e.g. Roe v. Wade
what was Lincoln’s position on slavery
Lincoln initial motivations for the Civil War were to maintain the Union
however, he became increasingly committed to vanquishing slavery as he realised this would aid in retaining the Union
1858 - “a house divided against itself cannot stand” - President Lincoln
Lincoln recognises that the maintenance of slavery was dividing the US
“I believe that this government cannot endure permanently endure half slave and half free”
links to 1820 Missouri Compromise
1860
many southerners came to view the north as a threat to slavery
causing them to want to leave the Union to evade this
which was now controlled by Abraham Lincoln
a know anti-slavery figure
explain how different economies in the US led to the outbreak of the Civil War
1850 - the 3.2 million slaves in the US had a market value of US$1.3 billion
1860 - market value of the south’s 4 million slaves was US$3 billion
the costs of slaves in the south was more than the value of land and cotton
thus the trade of slaves in the south generated billions of dollars for the southern economy; something that could not be recreated in the northern states
1860 - only 25% of white southerners owned slaves
but most white southerners supported slavery, with many aspiring to become slaveholders themselves
and others feared the repercussions on white settlers of abolishing slavery
this caused the belief in white southerners that slavery was not only desirable but was essential for peace, safety and prosperity in the South
this influenced the southern states to begin the Civil War to protect their ‘peculiar institution’
describe the economy in northern states
modern, capitalist system - greater scope for individual advancement
mixed economy - farming, small businesses and small factories provided profits for the economy
used paid labour
general overarching belief in the unfairness and immorality of slavery, caused by the belief that slavery distorted business patterns
describe the economy in southern states
semi-modern, plantation system - dominated by a few powerful slave holders
mostly agriculture - dominated by large plantations; little industry
used slave labour
believed slavery was natural, modern factories and capitalists businesses made white workers into ‘wage slaves’
describe William Lloyd Garrison’s role in promoting abolitionism
1831 - founded ‘The Liberator’
‘The Liberator’ was a newspaper that spread abolitionist views
describe Arthur Tappan’s role in promoting abolitionism
1833 - William Lloyd Garrison and Tappan formed the National Anti-Slavery Society
1838 - National Anti-Slavery Society had 250,000 members
describe Frederick Douglas’ role in promoting abolitionism
Douglass was an escaped slave
he gave lectures and wrote articles on the nature of life for enslaved people in the south
raising awareness of the exploitations and cruelty of the industry to ignorant white populations
describe Harriet Tubman’s role in promoting abolitionism
Tubman assisted thousands of slaves in escaping their masters
Tubman smuggled enslaved people to freedom in the north, utilising the ‘Underground Railroad’
describe Harriet Beecher-Stowe’s role in promoting abolitionism
1851 - Beecher-Stowe published ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’
this was a novel that tried to explain the horrors of slavery to a white audience
1853 - ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ had sold 2 million copies
explain how the rise of abolitionism in the US led to the outbreak of the Civil War
1830 - there was a rise in militant abolitionism in the North after exacerbated tension
figures such as Frederic Douglas and Arthur Tappan branded slavery as both a sin and a violation of the principle of liberty upon which the USA had been founded
the abolitionist message was filtered into mainstream northern politics
the rise of abolitionism worried southerners about the future of slavery, causing them to secede the Union to prevent the abolition of slavery
explain how the impact of westward expansion in the US led to the outbreak of the Civil War
1846
Congress declared that slavery should be banned in new territories
1850 - expansion and slavery
legal development = Henry Clay’s Compromise
consisted of the rules:
that California should enter the Union as a free state
sale of enslaved people should be banned in Washington DC
territories should be allowed to decide whether or not to condone slavery in their area
all states and national governments should accept a Fugitive State Act
this act would make it the legal duty of the state government to return people who had escaped slavery to their captors
1854 - expansion and slavery
legal development = Kansas-Nebraska Act
overturned the Missouri Compromise
allowed each state to vote on whether they wanted slavery or not
this enhanced the power of the individual instead of the state
1856 - expansion and slavery
legal development = Dred Scott Decision
1857 - landmark ruling by US Supreme Court
this ruling saw Dred Scott, an enslaved African American man who was suing for his freedom due to him living in ‘free’ territory being rules against by the US government
the US government ruled against Scott as they stated that he was ‘property’ and not a citizen, thus he could not be granted freedom
what was the Missouri Compromise, 1820
limited the expansion of slavery geographically and politically
maintained equilibrium between ‘slave’ and ‘free’ status of new states
why were Stephen Douglas’ proposals so controversial
Douglas believed people living in Nebraska and Kansas should decide whether the territories were ‘slave’ or ‘free’ states
Douglas also wanted to divide the large, unorganised areas of land into Nebraska and Kansas, which were both open to slavery if the populations allowed it
this enhances the idea of popular sovereignty in contrast to Congressional power
what were the consequences of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854
northerners saw it as a repeal of the Missouri Compromise
enhances the political tensions between northern and southern states, as northern states were afraid this would allow slavery to expand nationwide
deeply polarising piece of legislation
supported by the south
resisted by the north
political consequences
northern Whigs and Democrats were against the Kansas-Nebraska Act
since Whigs were so deeply divided on this topic geographically, the new Republican party was formed in the north, with most Whigs joining it
this political tension made the Civil War more likely due to conflict of the polarising opinions on the legislation
violent consequences
people living in Kansas who were against the legislation tried to incite abolitionists to come to the states
southerners replied to this with ‘border ruffians’ who raided anti-slavery settlements
thus the Kansas-Nebraska Act caused the breakdown of societal order in Kansa
this caused the death of 50 people, causing Kansas to gain the status: ‘Bleeding Kansas’
this event was a microcosm for the consequences of the political division on a future national scale
what contributed to the establishment of the new Republican Party in mainstream politics, 1854
1856 - Buchanan (Democrat) becomes president
1860 - Lincoln (Republican) becomes president
it’s clear 1860 was a significant turning point in the fortification of the Republican Party’s influence in mainstream politics
what was the African American experience of jobs in the North, 1861-1865
did not get equal access to jobs
black workers were not allowed to be in charge of white workers
a few educated black men got positions of responsibility or power
what was the African American experience of housing in the North, 1861-1865
black communities tended to live in poorer areas of cities
black communities were charged higher rents for poorer quality houses than white people
what was the African American experience of education in the North, 1861-1865
most schools were segregated
there were a few black universities
even well-educated black people struggled to get good jobs
what was the African American experience of society in the North, 1861-1865
public places were usually segregated
there was a lot overt racism against black people
this originated largely from white working-class citizens that saw African Americans as competition for jobs
what was the African American experience of jobs in the South, 1861-1865
most African Americans were slaves, thus they couldn’t get jobs or earn wages
what was the African American experience of housing in the South, 1861-1865
plantation housing varied but the majority of slaves lived in cramped cabins with little comforts
disease was common due to the lack of sanitation and density of populations within small areas
what was the African American experience of education in the South, 1861-1865
in most southern states, it was illegal for black slaves to learn to be literate
this was to quell any uprisings from enslaved people
most slaveholders believed educating slaves was pointless
what was the African American experience of society in the South, 1861-1865
slaves were treated as items of property rather than people
slaves could not use public facilities without permission
slaves suffered brutal discriminatory violence
describe phase 1 of the Civil War: ‘Limited War’, 1861-1862
1861 - no move was made by the Union to abolish slavery
1861 - excess of free black volunteers came forward to join the Union Army
1776 - black soldiers had fought in the War of Independence
1792 - law created to ban black soldiers from bearing arms
Lincoln did not revoke the 1792 law banning free black men from serving
this is influenced by Lincoln’s belief that allowing African Americans to serve in the army would make some slave-holding border states join the Confederacy
in the South, a few slaves worked for the Confederate Army - they weren’t allowed to fight, instead to deferred to building defences and moving supplies
these black men may have hoped to earn their freedom through helping the Confederates or feared violence if they didn’t help out
July 1862 - Lincoln passed a new law which said that slaves could legally be held as ‘Contraband of war’
this meant African Americans could work for the army instead of being forcibly marched back to their masters
however they were still not able to join the Union Army as soldiers
July 1862 - Congress passed the ‘Second Confiscation Act’, stating that any slave-holding land taken by the Union Army became free automatically
this legislation had a huge impact on African Americans, especially in the Sea Islands, off the coast of South Carolina
1861 - 10,000 slaves working on plantations on the island when the Union troops arrived
1862 - these slaves were freed and were allowed to keep the land to farm for themselves
this led to the formation of Mitchelville; a town where northern volunteers, such as Harriet Tubman, came to offer healthcare and education
describe phase 2 of the Civil War: ‘Total War’, 1863-1865
September 22nd 1862 - Lincoln issued the south an ultimatum: surrender before the year was out or he would abolish slavery permanently
January 1st 1863 - Emancipation Proclamation was issued
this legislation freed millions of slaves overnight, given the promise that Union victory in the Civil War would keep this emancipation permanent
major events for African Americans during ‘Limited War’, 1861-1862
July 1862 - Lincoln passes ‘Contraband of war’ legislation
1862 - Congress passes ‘Second Confiscation Act’
1862 - Militia Act passed
Autumn 1862 - the first black regiment: ‘First South Carolina Volunteers’ were formed from freed slaves
major events for African Americans during ‘Total War’, 1863-1865
January 1863 - ‘54th Massachusetts Coloured Regiment’ became the first northern black regiment
June 1864 - equal pay was granted to African Americans
1865 - missionaries sent by the national government had taught literacy skills to 200,000 freed African Americans
what was the significance of the border states in the Civil War
border states = Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri
significant as they were ‘slave’ states that had sided with the Union
how long did many expect the Civil War
many believed it would only last a few weeks
this inhibited Union motivations to include black people in the Union Army as they believed they weren’t necessary in either military or logistical roles
statistics of African Americans during the Civil War, 1861-1865
51% of African Americans were women
War included 186,000 black volunteers
134,000/186,000 volunteers came from ‘slave’ states
over 70% of black men who were eligible to enlist in the north did
10% of Union forces consisted of African Americans
black people’s diligence and dedication in the war changed Lincoln’s perspective on them receiving full US citizenship
what was significant about Mrs Susie Baker King Taylor
the only black woman to publish a book reflecting her time spent in contraband camps during the Civil War
first African American to provide education for African American children in Georgia
through this, Taylor empowered black children by letting them see their community portrayed with possibility to gain socioeconomic opportunities like teaching
what was significant about Harriet Tubman during the Civil War
served as Union spy
she was paid by the Secret Service and used this money to recruit other black people to the cause
black people were effective spies due to the racism of the south causing white Americans to overlook black people as threats
by doing this, Tubman was subverting both racist and gender prejudices
Tubman also led covert military operations
e.g. June 2nd 1863 - Combahee River raid to free enslaved people in South Carolina
what is meant by ‘Juneteenth’
refers to events of June 19th 1865
this day is when General Graner let 250,000 enslaved people in Texas know through General Order #3 that they had been emancipated
Mississippi on seceding the Union
“our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world”
Louisiana seceding the Union
“the people of the slaveholding states are bound together by the same necessity and determination to preserve African slavery”
Texas on seceding the Union
“they (African Americans) were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependant race”
who was Alexander Stephens
leader of the Confederacy
what was Alexander Stephens’ perspective on African Americans
“the great truth is that the n**** is not equal to the white man”
April 9th 1865
Confederacy surrendered
Civil War statistics
750,000 Americans were killed
18 out of every 100 Confederate soldiers were killed
this was 3x higher than the soldier mortality rates of the Union
what were Lincoln’s main challenges after winning the Civil War
how to integrate African Americans into white American society
reducing violence between different populations
e.g. African Americans/Native Americans vs. white Americans
Confederate believers vs. Union believers
ensuring new conflict did not arise between northern and southern states
how to re-incorporate southern states back into the Union
how to rebuild Southern economy
January 31st 1865
Congress passed 13th Amendment to the US Constitution
what was the significance of the 13th Amendment
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude
shall exist within the US
or any place subject to the US’ jurisdiction
made slavery a FEDERAL offence
what did Lincoln promise, March 4th 1865
to work on rebuilding the country with ‘malice toward none and with charity for all’
significance of Lincoln’s funeral
millions attended his funeral processions which travelled 1600 miles on the railroads that Lincoln helped to create
this significant as it demonstrates the popularity of Lincoln and by extension, his legislation, including abolitionist legislation
who was Andrew Johnson
Lincoln’s vice president
who became president after his assassination
what were Andrew Johnson’s presidential aims
believed the most important job after the war was to unify the country once more
he opposed the powerful plantation owners who served as Confederate generals, believing they should be punished
this did not extend to those who fought in the war
he was suspicious of the US government getting involved in state laws and forcing states to do things which they opposed
strongly believed that the lower-class white population in the south needed protecting from the growth of capitalism in the north
what were Andrew Johnson’s presidential actions
allowed the Confederate states to reapply for Union membership with almost immediate effect
planned to punish the Confederate leaders
May 1865 - published a plan to pardon 16,000 Confederate soldiers
allowed southern states to re-establish their state governments with little interference
returned plantation lands that had previously been given to freed slaves
only 2000 black families held onto land they had been given
describe the state of the reconstruction project, December 1865
December 1865 - President Johnson said Reconstruction was finished
this shocked his fellow republicans as southern state government were back in the hands of plantation owners, with some of them not having even sworn an oath of loyalty to the Union
although no southern states tried to re-install slavery, many used legal loopholes to pass laws that virtually had the same effect
these were called ‘black codes’
‘black codes’ limited the rights of black workers, stopped them from testifying against white people and banned mortgages between white and black people
e.g. Mississippi ruled that African Americans were not allowed to rent or own farmland
December 1865 - Ku Klux Klan had been formed
this was a violent and racist group that threatened and murdered African Americans at will
describe Radical Reconstruction, 1866-1870
radical anti-Slavery abolitionists such as Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner challenged President Andrew Johnson for control of the Reconstruction project
Stevens and Sumner argued that, by forming the Confederacy, the southern states had given up their rights to rule themselves, until they could prove they could be trusted
radicals insisted southern states must be run by Congress
they also implored that Union troops remain in southern states to protect African Americans’ rights
February 1866 - Congress had begun putting a new Reconstruction plan into action, spurred on by radical Republicans
describe the achievements of the radical Republicans in the new Reconstruction project
June 1868 - seven southern states were re-admitted to the Union
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina
July 1868 - the 14th Amendment became law
November 1868 - Andrew Johnson lost the election to ex-Union general Ulysses S. Grant
February 3rd 1870 - 15th Amendment to the US Constitution was accepted
1870s - 2000+ black Americans were elected to political posts
explain the significance of the 14th Amendment
granted full US citizenship to emancipated African Americans
established the ‘Equal Protection Under the Law’ legislation for all the US citizens that ensured every person within their jurisdiction had equal protection under the law
created the ‘Due Process Clause’ that prohibited states from depriving a person of their liberty, life or their property
explain the significance of the 15th Amendment
‘the right of citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the US
or by any state
on account of race, colour or previous condition of servitude
describe southern resistance to reconstruction
southerners were angry about national government interfering with state government
they complained that the reconstruction programme was being exploited by “scallywags” and “carpetbaggers”
“scallywags” were southern white Americans that sympathised with the radicals’ views
“carpetbaggers” were people who had moved to the south from the north to make quick money by buying plantation land to sell
southerners were convinced that the 14th Amendment would give the vote to illiterate African Americans, ruining the south indefinitely
describe the supreme court rulings that affected reconstruction
1873 - Supreme Court ruled that all citizens had to be treated equally in national issues, but there was nothing in the Constitution that required this on a state level
1875 - Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution didn’t give the national government the power to intervene if black voters were being stopped from voting in states
1877 - remaining Union soldiers in the south had to be withdrawn
describe the radical weaknesses that affected reconstruction
1870 - reconstruction project started slowing down
due to increased deaths of republicans, 1868-1875
worsened by their loss of the majority in Congress, 1874
1872 - Freedman’s Bureau was closed down due to insufficient funds
this cut off necessary support for many African Americans
1870s - African Americans were increasingly being targeted by violent groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the White League
1874 - American said to be ruled by a “white man’s government”
all voting was done in public at the time, leaving African Americans vulnerable subject to discrimination and violence when attempting to vote
describe Lincoln’s actions in the Reconstruction Project
February 1866 - Lincoln sets up a temporary Freedman’s Bureau
the bureau took land from ex-slave holders and gave it to ex-slaves
it also helped freed African Americans with education and healthcare
Congress eventually made the Freedman’s Bureau permanent, but after a while had little land to give out to families
March 1866 - Congress introduced a civil rights bill
made it a federal punishment to deprive a person their civil rights
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill twice, but Congress overruled it
January 1867
black men in Washington DC were given the right to vote
March - July 1867
Congress passed three Reconstruction Acts
the Acts stated:
all state governments would be removed from the ex-Confederacy
south would be divided into 5 military districts to be run by Union generals
all people who fought against the Union in the Civil War were banned from voting
Confederate states were required to write a new Constitution, allowing African Americans to vote
Confederate states were required to accept the 13th and 14th Amendments before they could run themselves again
