CH. 11-3 THE WAR BEHIND THE LINES

AMERICAN HISTORY

THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

January 1, 1863—Abraham Lincoln issues document freeing all slaves in areas that were in rebellion—EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

EMANCIPATON—the act of freeing someone from slavery

Slavery could continue in areas not in rebellion

Some northerners feared emancipation because there would be more competition for jobs in the north

Overseas, people in Great Britain had not gone for enough in free slaves

Lincoln’s action ended any hope of Great Britain helping the south in the war

The British government did not want to take the side of a slave power in a war that was now about ending slavery.

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE WAR

Enslaved African Americans made important contribution to the war effort

Before emancipation, thousands of slaves escaped with the help of Union Troops

FREEDMAN—emancipated slavesAfrican American soldiers served in segregated

units led by white officersNearly 180,000 African Americans served in the

Union armiesBlack troops took part in more than 200 battlesMore than 38,000 African Americans died

LIFE IN THE MILITARY

WARTIME MEDICINENo vaccinations or antibiotics for mumps,

measles, and smallpox.Soldiers who escapes infectious diseases often

contracted dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever

At times as many as 1/3 of the army was too sick to fight

European doctors were learning about bacteria but Union doctors didn’t have then information

Doctors often went days without washing their instruments, or their hands

“Minnie Ball” (heavy lead bullet) inflicted great damage to soldiers

Shots to the arm or leg resulted in shattered bones and infection

President Lincoln created The Sanitary Commission to provide nurses and ambulance drivers to help wounded

CAMP LIFESoldiers spent about 75% of their time in

campConditions were horribleIn wet weather, camps were a sea of mudIn dry weather, clouds of dust occurredDays in camp were long and boringSoldiers woke at 5 am in the summer and

6 am in the winter

After breakfast, the men took part in up to 5 daily drills

They learned and practiced battlefield maneuvers

Soldiers ate well in the beginning of the warRations included bread, fresh or salted pork

or beef, coffee, and beans.Soldiers often added whatever they could

find in the area

PRISON CAMPSBoth sides didn’t keep many prisonersGood treatment of prisoners was never a priorityPrisoner exchanges ended as the war progressed

ANDERSONVILLE AND ELMIRASouth erected a stockade in an open field near

Andersonville, GACapacity was 10,000 but by July 1864 there were over

30,000 union soldiersAbout 100 prisoners died in the hot sun dailyConditions in Elmira, NY were similar

LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT

THE SOUTHERN HOME FRONTShortages in materials made life difficult in

the SouthA pair of shoes that sold for $18 in 1862 sold

for $800 by 1865Bread sold for $25 per loaf in some placesInflation soared because the Confederate

Government printed large sums of money1863—women looted shops in Richmond, for

food, shoes, cloth, etc.

THE CONFEDERATE DRAFTOriginal enlistment in the south was one yearConfederate Congress created the first

military draft in April 1862--Volunteer enlistments extended for 2 years--required 3-year commitments from other

white males aged 18-35--1864—the year rule was changed to 17-50.CONSCRIPTION—forced service in the military

Governors in Georgia and North Carolina didn’t support the draft

COPPERHEADS AND THE UNION DRAFTMen could hire a substitute to fight for themDraft fueled antiwar movementsOpposition supporters were called Peace

DemocratsCritics called these people COPPERHEADS

(poisonous snake)

Government arrested and jailed without trial the most vocal critics of the war

This occurred because Lincoln suspended HABEAS CORPUS (constitutional right of an arrested person to appear in court charged with a crime)

WOMEN IN THE CIVIL WARSeveral hundred disguised themselves as

men to fight in the war

Women on both sides took over farming, stores, and other businesses

They also served as spies and worked as bankers and steamboat captains.

The need for clothes, shoes, and other supplies created about 100,000 jobs for women in northern factories

CLARA BARTON—founder of the American Red Cross

THE END