Chapter 19: Girding for War - The North and the South, 1861–1865

The Menace of Secession

  • Lincoln’s Inaugural Address:

    • Tone: Firm yet conciliatory.

    • Claims no conflict unless provoked by the South.

    • Argued secession as impractical and warned of new controversies:

    • Division of federal debts.

    • Allocation of federal territories.

    • Resolution of the fugitive slave issue.

    • Emphasized inseparability of North and South, likening them to conjoined twins.

South Carolina Assaults Fort Sumter

  • Tension arose over federal forts as secessionist states seized U.S. arsenals.

  • Fort Sumter:

    • Located in Charleston harbor, low on supplies.

    • Lincoln notified the South about a supply mission without reinforcement, which the South interpreted as a provocation.

  • April 12, 1861: Carolinians fired up Fort Sumter; after a 34-hour bombardment, Union garrison surrendered.

    • Northern reaction was electrified; Lincoln framed the defeat as a strategic victory.

  • Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 militiamen on April 15, prompting a surge of volunteers.

  • By April 19-27, Lincoln imposed a blockade on Southern seaports. Southern states responded by joining the Confederacy.

Brothers’ Blood and Border States

  • Border States:

    • Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware were the last slave states in the Union.

    • If these states had joined the Confederacy, it would have doubled the South's manufacturing strength.

    • Important strategic positioning via the Ohio River and key tributaries.

  • Lincoln’s Strategy:

    • Declared the war was not about freeing slaves to maintain support from Border States.

    • Acknowledged divisions in Northern sentiment, particularly in regions with pro-Southern sympathies.

The Balance of Forces

  • Southern Advantages:

    • Defensive warfare on familiar territory.

    • Talented military leaders like Robert E. Lee.

    • High morale and a united cause.

  • Southern Weaknesses:

    • Lack of industrial capacity:

    • Scarcity in shoes, uniforms, and blankets.

  • Northern Advantages:

    • Economic superiority with three-quarters of the nation's wealth and railroads.

    • Superior navy allowing control of seas and trade routes.

    • A population of 22 million compared to 9 million in the South, including 3.5 million slaves.

    • Immigrants bolstered manpower in the North.

De-throning King Cotton

  • Foreign Intervention:

    • That was crucial for the Confederacy; Europe favored the Southern way of life.

  • King Cotton Diplomacy:

    • Failed as Britain found alternative cotton sources and relied more on Northern wheat.

    • Union victories allowed for cotton exports despite blockades.

The Decisiveness of Diplomacy

  • Trent Affair (1861):

    • Union ship stopped British vessel, causing diplomatic tension that Lincoln diffused by releasing prisoners.

  • Alabama Crisis:

    • A Confederate ship built in Britain wreaked havoc on Union shipping before being destroyed in 1864.

  • Laird Rams:

    • British-built warships that brought tensions close to war between the U.S. and Britain.

    • Ultimately, Britain opted for neutrality.

President Davis vs. President Lincoln

  • Confederate Challenges:

    • Jefferson Davis struggled against state rights advocates in enforcing a strong central government.

    • Internal dissent and lack of popularity hampered his effectiveness.

  • Lincoln’s Leadership:

    • Despite inexperience, he demonstrated adaptability and prowess in navigating public sentiment.

    • Utilized a more centralized approach in governance, particularly under wartime conditions.

Limitations on Wartime Liberties

  • Lincoln exceeded constitutional powers during the war. Notable actions:

    • Blockade implementation without Congressional approval.

    • Suspension of habeas corpus.

Volunteers and Drafts

  • Recruitment Strategies:

    • Volunteers were the initial manpower sources; by 1863, conscription laws were enacted, leading to resentment over inequality in enforcement.

  • Desertion Rates:

    • Both sides faced significant desertion numbers due to conscription grievances and poor conditions.

The Economics Stresses of War

  • Northern Economy:

    • Effort to fund the war included increased taxes and the issuance of greenbacks leading to inflation.

    • Bonds became a primary method of funding, showcasing the North's financial adaptability.

  • Southern Financial Crises:

    • Encountered severe economic strain with high inflation rates and reliance on printing money, leading to economic collapse.

The North’s Economic Boom

  • Industrial growth during the war fundamentally transformed the Northern economy:

    • Manufacturers thrived, creating a millionaire class and innovating production methods.

    • Significant contributions from women as they filled roles left by men enrolled in the military.

  • Post-war prospects saw the North prosper with industrial capitalism replacing the Southern cotton economy.