2.1-2.2 notes part 4
Chapter 2: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-77
Activity 2.11: Reflection on Life in the South
Questions raised in the chapter:
How far do social divisions prevent generalizations about life in the South during the Civil War?
What key differences should be highlighted for a precise understanding?
Reflection Points:
Type of evidence used to answer these questions.
Dependability of the evidence.
Exploration of whether other students reached the same conclusions as the individual.
Nature of Democracy in the North and South
The American Civil War was fought between two democratic entities:
Both the Union and Confederacy had constitutions that constrained government powers.
The Confederate States of America's (CSA) Constitution closely mirrored the Union's Constitution but included notable differences.
The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the US Constitution) was incorporated into the CSA Constitution.
Elections during the war:
Both sides allowed open elections.
Elections were more contested in the North, where President Lincoln faced significant challenges and initially feared defeat.
The CSA held one presidential election in November 1861, where Jefferson Davis was unopposed and thus won by default.
Political Volatility
Violence used to express dissent:
By summer 1863, there were significant protests and riots on both sides, including:
In Richmond, women rioted for bread.
In New York, men protested against conscription.
Both governments felt pressured to respond to these civil disturbances.
Jefferson Davis personally addressed the demonstrators in Richmond, diverting focus from his leadership of the war effort.
Role of Political Parties
The necessity of political parties for effective expression of political debate:
The North: More established and historic with multiple political parties (Republicans, Democrats, smaller factions).
The North's established political institutions resisted secession efforts from what was deemed a minority (the South).
The South: A fledgling political system still under development, without established Confederacy-wide political parties.
The first presidential election in the CSA in 1861 lacked party conventions; the initial Congress was broadly supportive of Davis's government.
By the second Congress in 1863, critics of Confederate policies increased but lacked collective organization into a political party.
Northern Politics
Political landscape in the North:
Candidates from three main parties: Republicans, Democrats, and smaller parties.
Following the departure of Southern Democrats from Washington D.C., the Republicans capitalized by:
Passing significant acts including:
Morrill Tariff (1861) - Increased tariffs to support Northern industry.
Homestead Act (1862) - Provided land to settlers to promote western expansion and growth.
Transcontinental Railroad Act (1862) - Funded the construction of a transcontinental railroad to enhance national connectivity.
The outcome of the 1862 mid-term elections:
The Democrats gained approximately 25 seats in the House of Representatives; Republicans lost the same number.
Republicans maintained control through an alliance with ‘War Democrats,’ who supported the war despite opposing certain Republican economic policies and violations of civil liberties.
Lincoln’s Re-election Campaign
Lincoln's political strategy in the 1864 presidential election:
Faced opposition from Democratic candidate George McLellan.
General Lee's strategy of continual fighting on the eastern front aimed to inflict casualties that might impede Lincoln's re-election prospects.
CSA troops positioned dangerously close to Washington (within 8 km) raised electoral concerns.
Events such as the New York riots raised further alarms about the war’s unpopularity.
Tensions between Lincoln and the Republican Congress:
Strained relations due to Lincoln vetoing a bill that would have imposed harsher terms on the CSA after the war.
In response to low popularity and war fatigue, Lincoln sought to distance himself from the Republican Party.
He presented himself as the candidate for the 'National Union Party' to attract votes from War Democrats and smaller parties, aiming to widen his electoral base and reduce party loyalty barriers.