Civil War and Reconstruction Notes

Conscription and Its Impact on the War's Length

Conscription (the draft) forced people to join the war effort, significantly impacting the war's duration.
The Civil War was a war of attrition, requiring a large number of soldiers.
The South initially recruited around 250,000 people, but the draft increased this number to approximately 900,000 by the war's end.
The Union drafted over a million people.
Without the draft, the South's initial 250,000 soldiers would have been depleted much faster due to high casualty rates in battles (e.g., losses of 8,000-10,000 in single battles).
The draft allowed both sides to replenish their forces despite heavy losses, extending the war.
Over 700,000 people died during the Civil War, highlighting the need for continuous recruitment/drafting to sustain the war effort.

The Union possessed significant advantages, including federal money, resources, and a larger population.
While President Lincoln initially desired a fast war, most Union generals understood that time was on their side.
The Union strategy aimed to prolong the war, increasing the likelihood of Confederate surrender.
These advantages allowed the Union to drag out the war, as they were less likely to run out of resources compared to the Confederacy.

The Confederacy had advantages such as familiarity with the terrain, well-trained generals and soldiers, and a clear cause (state rights & slavery).
However, the Confederacy faced significant resource limitations.
They were essentially building their military from scratch, delaying the start of the war.
Limited resources prevented the Confederacy from fighting a fast war or sustaining a prolonged conflict.
As resources dwindled, the Confederacy attempted to expedite their efforts, but it was too late.
The combination of Union advantages and Confederate disadvantages resulted in a slow, drawn-out war.

Foreign influence, particularly from Great Britain and France, could have significantly altered the war's outcome.
Great Britain and France provided limited funding, uniforms, and ammunition to the Confederacy but stopped short of fully committing due to concerns about their relationship with the United States and potential loss of territories like Canada.
Full-scale intervention by these nations, including naval and military support, might have led to a different and quicker outcome.
The limited foreign assistance helped the Confederacy initiate the war but was insufficient to secure victory, ultimately prolonging the conflict.

President Lincoln suspended civil liberties, including the writ of Habeas Corpus (due process), during the war.
Individuals suspected of treasonous acts were arrested and detained without trial.
While specific cases aren't crucial, knowledge of the writ of Habeas Corpus is essential.
The suspension of civil liberties was controversial, with even Lincoln's supporters questioning the extent of presidential power.
Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, initially criticized Lincoln's actions but later implemented similar measures.
Davis enacted martial law and suspended Habeas Corpus for draft dodgers, subjecting them to military trials.
He also confiscated land from citizens to provide resources for the Confederate army.
Both Lincoln and Davis curtailed civil liberties during the war, citing threats to their respective governments.

The Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery as a federal law. The 13th Amendment did this.
It changed the war's purpose by framing it as a moral issue of ending slavery.
The Gettysburg Address tried to provide justification for why so many people were dying and to unite the nation.
The Confiscation Act allowed the Union to confiscate property, including slaves (labeled as "contraband of war"), in conquered territories.
As Union troops advanced into the South, they freed slaves in captured areas, effectively ending slavery in those territories.
However, if the South had won the war, these freed slaves could have been re-enslaved, as there was no federal law (yet) prohibiting slavery.

Whether Lincoln was the "grand emancipator" is debatable.
Some argue he wasn't because the war still occurred, and he didn't take a firm stance on slavery.
Others argue he was because he tried to compromise and ultimately issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
His Gettysburg Address was to unite the nation.
Lincoln's pragmatic approach and political skills were crucial to the Union's war effort.

Life in the Confederacy during the war was difficult.
Land and property were destroyed due to constant battles.
Poverty was widespread.
The Confederate government took control of most factories for war production.
Taxes were raised, and inflation increased due to disruptions in trade.
Loss of faith in the Confederate cause grew as casualties mounted and economic conditions deteriorated.

Lincoln wanted to restore the South without harsh punishment, aiming to reunite the nation.
His 10% Plan required only 10% of loyal voters to pledge allegiance to the Union for a state to regain representation in Congress.
Radical Republicans opposed Lincoln's leniency, advocating for harsher treatment of Confederate leaders and greater protection for freed slaves.
They wanted 50% of loyal voters to sign an oath to be readmitted into the union.
Radical Republicans supported education and voting rights for African Americans, recognizing the importance of political power.
The South was divided into five military districts to ensure order and enforce new amendments.
Andrew Johnson, who became president after Lincoln's assassination, largely continued Lincoln's Reconstruction policies.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were ratified during Reconstruction, formally abolishing slavery, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law, and guaranteeing voting rights regardless of race.

Reconstruction had some successes like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
African Americans could seek jobs in the North and pursue education.
Radical Republicans were supportive from politicians.
Reconstruction was also unsuccessful due to.
Black codes and Jim Crow laws were implemented, leading to discrimination and segregation.
Sharecropping created debt peonage, trapping many African Americans in a cycle of poverty.
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) formed to intimidate African Americans and suppress their voting rights.
Life improved for African Americans but not significantly.
Whether Reconstruction would have been more successful under Lincoln is uncertain.