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Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

• Order of Troops: Lincoln ordered 75,000 troops in response to the Southern rebellion to assert federal control.

• Primary Goal of the Civil War:

  • Lincoln's primary goal was to preserve the Union, not solely focused on slavery.

  • He aimed to demonstrate that he had the power and authority to maintain control.

• Stopping the Expansion of Slavery:

  • Although concerned about the spread of slavery into new territories, Lincoln was clear that he did not intend to eliminate slavery where it already existed.

The Emancipation Proclamation

• Shift in Focus: By January 1863, Lincoln's stance evolved, leading to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

• Impacts of the Proclamation:

  • It granted freedom to slaves in Confederate states.

  • While politically motivated, it reframed the war to include a moral and ethical justification for fighting.

  • This shift helped to reinvigorate Northern support for the war at a time when fatigue set in.

• Symbolic Nature:

  • Lincoln lacked control over Southern territories, which made the proclamation more symbolic initially.

  • Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) commemorates the delayed announcement of freedom to enslaved people in Texas.

• Continued Challenges:

  • Many enslaved individuals remained at the mercy of their owners, making the proclamation a promise without immediate security.

Reconstruction Amendments

• Thirteenth Amendment:

  • Granted freedom to all slaves, supporting the Emancipation Proclamation.

• Fourteenth Amendment:

  • Established birthright citizenship for all individuals born in the U.S.

• Fifteenth Amendment:

  • Granted African American men the right to vote.

End of Reconstruction

• Political Landscape:

  • Reconstruction ended in 1877 following a contentious presidential election.

  • A compromise led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South in exchange for electoral support for Hayes, marking the end of Radical Reconstruction.

  • This withdrawal allowed segregationist policies to rise, ushering in Jim Crow laws, effectively re-establishing racial oppression.

Industrialization

• Rise of Industrialists:

  • Significant growth in industries such as oil, steel, and railroads.

• Vertical Integration:

  • Andrew Carnegie's strategy of controlling the entire steel production process from raw materials to sales.

• Horizontal Integration:

  • John D. Rockefeller's strategy of acquiring competing oil companies to create a monopoly.

Labor Unions and Workers' Rights

• Goals of Labor Unions:

  • Improve working conditions, better pay, and shorter working hours.

  • Demand for safe work environments and ending child labor.

• Economic Context:

  • Labor unions emerged as a response to the exploitation under industrialists.

Spanish-American War Outcomes

• The U.S. acquired several territories including:

  • Puerto Rico

  • Cuba

  • Philippines

  • Guam

Economic and Political Discussions

• Economic Interests and Historical Events:

  • Economic motivations significantly influenced major historical events, including colonization, industrialization, and labor movements.

• Evolution of Democratic Ideals:

  • Discussion of federalists vs. anti-federalists, and how concepts of democracy evolved over time in U.S. politics.

• Marginalized Groups:

  • Examination of the role of marginalized groups (e.g., Native Americans, African Americans, women) in shaping history despite systemic challenges and discrimination.

Final Notes and Preparation for Midterm

• Important emphasis on addressing how economics shapes history and understanding marginalized groups' contributions.

• Students should prepare for the upcoming midterm with the material discussed, reinforcing understanding of key concepts and historical developments.