Chapter 20

Girding for War: The North and the South, 1861–1865

Introduction to the Civil War

  • Central Idea: The struggle centered around proving that popular government is not an absurdity.

  • Abraham Lincoln emphasized the necessity of settling the question of whether a free government can endure if a minority can disrupt it.

  • Failure to resolve the conflict would imply the incapability of the people to govern themselves.

Abraham Lincoln's Inauguration

  • Date: March 4, 1861

  • Context: Lincoln arrived in Washington at night, disguised to thwart potential assassins.

  • Significance: Became president not of the United States, but of the dis-United States, with seven states having already seceded and eight more on the edge.

  • Symbolism: The unfinished Capitol dome represented the imperfect state of the Union.

The Menace of Secession

  • Lincoln's Inaugural Address: Firm yet conciliatory; stated there would be no conflict unless provoked by the South.

  • Impracticality of Secession: Lincoln claimed physical separation between North and South was impossible due to geography.

    • Geographical Bound: North and South were inseparably intertwined, preventing a feasible sectional divorce.

    • Controversies: Issues would arise regarding national debt, division of federal territories, and fugitive slave laws.

Global Implications of a Divided Union

  • A divided United States could lead to European nations seizing the opportunity to disrupt the stability in North America.

  • Potential for European powers to exploit a divided America and ignore the Monroe Doctrine.

The Crisis over Fort Sumter

  • Context: Following secession, many federal properties were seized by the Confederate states.

  • Fort Sumter: Only significant fort in Southern territory still under Union control, faced supply shortages.

  • Lincoln's Dilemma: Choices were precarious; reinforcement could lead to conflict; no resupply led to potential surrender.

  • Decision: Lincoln opted to send a ship to provision the fort, seen by the South as an act of aggression.

  • April 12, 1861: Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter; the fort surrendered after thirty-four hours, rallying Northern sentiment.

The Response to Fort Sumter

  • Northern Reaction: Call to action with cries of "Remember Fort Sumter" and "Save the Union".

  • Mobilization: Lincoln called for 75,000 militiamen, resulting in enthusiastic volunteer enlistments.

  • Subsequent Actions: Proclamation of a blockade of Southern ports on April 19 and 27, showing Lincoln's active approach towards war.

Secession of Additional States

  • Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina joined the Confederacy after Fort Sumter.

  • Richmond, Virginia became the Confederate capital, replacing Montgomery, Alabama.

The Border States Situation

  • Border States: Critical states included Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware, each carrying significant military and strategic importance.

  • Lincoln's Strategy: Used martial law and federal troops to maintain control; indicated war was primarily to preserve the Union, not immediately to abolish slavery.

  • Emphasis on Political Calculus: Lincoln’s statements focused on not driving the Border States towards the Confederacy.

Conflict within Families and Communities

  • Northern and Southern loyalties divided families, leading to individuals fighting on both sides of the conflict.

  • The term “brothers' war” underscored the personal nature of the conflict across the nation.

Early Balance of Forces in the War

  • Southern Advantages: Defensive fighting, interior lines, talented military leaders such as General Robert E. Lee.

  • Northern Disadvantages: Initial lack of effective military leadership, reliance on political appointees rather than military experience.

Economic Disparities

  • Northern Economy: Dominated by manufacturing capacity, controlling 75% of the nation’s wealth and resources, including the majority of railroads and manpower.

  • Southern Economy: Primarily agricultural, lacked industrial capability and was significantly hampered by the Union blockade; faced shortages in essential supplies.

Public Response and Conscription

  • North's manpower largely voluntary initially, later evolving into drafted forces due to volunteer shortages.

  • Conscription introduced nationwide in 1863, leading to significant public backlash, particularly in urban Democratic strongholds.

Financial Challenges of War

  • Northern Finance: Created income tax, increased tariffs, and issued greenbacks; set up the National Banking System.

  • Southern Finance: Struggled with inflation and lack of economic infrastructure; instituted heavy taxation and printed money recklessly leading to hyperinflation.

Economic Boom in the North

  • Industrial Expansion: Wartime prosperity led to a significant increase in factories and production capabilities.

  • The emergence of a new millionaire class highlighted the contrasts between wartime wealth and the struggles facing average citizens.

The Role of Women in War

  • Increased Employment: Women entered the workforce to fill positions left vacant by men who went to war.

  • Nursing and Support Roles: Women became nurses, organized fundraising, and provided vital support services, transforming their employment prospects in the post-war era.

Conclusion: Aftermath of the Civil War

  • Economic Ruin in the South: Post-war, the South faced devastating losses and had to navigate the challenge of rebuilding amidst significant economic and social changes leading to cultural transformation.

  • The Future: The war marked a transition of power, showcasing the North’s industrial rise and fundamental shifts in American society post-war.

Chronology of Key Events

  • 1861:

    • Confederate government formed

    • Lincoln takes office (March 4)

    • Fort Sumter fired upon (April 12)

    • Four Upper South states secede (April–June)

    • Morrill Tariff Act passed

    • Trent affair

    • Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus

  • 1862:

    • Confederacy enacts conscription

    • Homestead Act

  • 1863:

    • Union enacts conscription

    • New York City draft riots

    • National Banking System established

  • 1864:

    • Alabama sunk by Union warship

  • 1865:

    • End events of major significance linked to the Civil War.