THE SOCIAL AND THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL WARTHE CIVIL WAR

GAINING BRITISH GAINING BRITISH NEUTRALITYNEUTRALITY Britain initially declared neutrality Britain initially declared neutrality

because it had other sources of cotton because it had other sources of cotton and needed Northern wheat and cornand needed Northern wheat and corn

Trent Incident: fall 1861, Union ships Trent Incident: fall 1861, Union ships stopped the British ship (the Trent) stopped the British ship (the Trent) and took off two Confederate and took off two Confederate Diplomats that were going to Britain.Diplomats that were going to Britain.– Britain sent 8000 troops to Canada Britain sent 8000 troops to Canada – We released the prisonersWe released the prisoners

GAINING BRITISH GAINING BRITISH NEUTRALITY CONT’DNEUTRALITY CONT’D Alabama Claims: The Brits gave Alabama Claims: The Brits gave

the south ships to fight blockade. the south ships to fight blockade. One of them, the Alabama, sunk One of them, the Alabama, sunk 64 American vessels. We sent 64 American vessels. We sent Britain a bill after the war was Britain a bill after the war was over. Arbitration later settled the over. Arbitration later settled the price at 15.5 million.price at 15.5 million.

EMANCIPATION EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATIONPROCLAMATION

I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be the 'Union as it was.' 1 If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forebear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.

Lincoln’s Letter to Horace Lincoln’s Letter to Horace GreeleyGreeley

Emancipation Emancipation ProclamationProclamation Lincoln’s goal was to save the Lincoln’s goal was to save the

union, first and foremostunion, first and foremost However, he used his power to However, he used his power to

seize enemy supplies to justify an seize enemy supplies to justify an act emancipating the slaves in act emancipating the slaves in seceded territory only.seceded territory only.

Did not apply to border statesDid not apply to border states Encouraged British to stay neutralEncouraged British to stay neutral

Debate over Debate over ProclamationProclamation Pro:Pro:

– Abolitionists support and there were Abolitionists support and there were demonstrations throughout the northdemonstrations throughout the north

– Free blacks could now enlist in the regular Free blacks could now enlist in the regular armyarmy

Against: Against: -Democrats thought it would prolong war-Democrats thought it would prolong war- Some soldiers did not want to fight for Some soldiers did not want to fight for

freedom of slavesfreedom of slaves- Confederates were furious- compromise Confederates were furious- compromise

was no longer an optionwas no longer an option

African Americans in African Americans in the Warthe War 1862, African Americans allowed to 1862, African Americans allowed to

serve in military, only after serve in military, only after emancipation proclamation did mass emancipation proclamation did mass enlistment occurenlistment occur

Nearly 10% of union army was African Nearly 10% of union army was African American by end of war ( only 1% of American by end of war ( only 1% of pop in north)pop in north)

Many were former slaves Many were former slaves Participated in about 500 conflictsParticipated in about 500 conflicts

African Americans in African Americans in the Warthe War Suffer discrimination in the militarySuffer discrimination in the military Separate regiments with white officersSeparate regiments with white officers Less pay until 1864Less pay until 1864 Higher mortality rateHigher mortality rate Massacred at Fort Pillow, TN 1864 by Massacred at Fort Pillow, TN 1864 by

ConfederatesConfederates South did consider drafting free blacks, South did consider drafting free blacks,

and did arm some at the end of the warand did arm some at the end of the war

African Americans in African Americans in the Warthe War

Many slaves join Union armies as Many slaves join Union armies as they pass through the Souththey pass through the South

Many farms left to Women and Many farms left to Women and boys who have less control over boys who have less control over the slaves and plantation system the slaves and plantation system weakenedweakened

Topics to be DiscussedTopics to be Discussed

Dealing with political dissentDealing with political dissent Drafting/conscriptionDrafting/conscription Life as a soldierLife as a soldier Civil War medicineCivil War medicine Life at homeLife at home

Dealing with political Dealing with political dissentdissent Lincoln suspended the right of Habeas Corpus Lincoln suspended the right of Habeas Corpus

(right that you can not be held in jail without (right that you can not be held in jail without cause) to stop rioters and Confederate cause) to stop rioters and Confederate sympathizerssympathizers

Lincoln seized telegraph offices . Taney said Lincoln seized telegraph offices . Taney said Lincoln had gone too far- he ignored itLincoln had gone too far- he ignored it

Among those Lincoln arrested were Among those Lincoln arrested were Copperheads, Northern Democrats that were Copperheads, Northern Democrats that were sympathetic with the southsympathetic with the south

Jefferson Davis also suspended Habeas Corpus in Jefferson Davis also suspended Habeas Corpus in 1862.1862.

Lincoln set the precedent of expanding Lincoln set the precedent of expanding presidential powers during times of war and presidential powers during times of war and national crisis.national crisis.

Conscription IssuesConscription Issues

ConfederacyConfederacy– Draft law in 1862Draft law in 1862– All able-bodied white All able-bodied white

men between 18-35 men between 18-35 (later changed to 17-50)(later changed to 17-50)

– Wealthy people could Wealthy people could hire people to go in their hire people to go in their place and planters who place and planters who owned more than 20 owned more than 20 slaves were exemptslaves were exempt

– Some southern states Some southern states refused to follow this refused to follow this law, however, 80 % of law, however, 80 % of eligible men servedeligible men served

NorthNorth– Draft law in 1863Draft law in 1863– Men 20-25Men 20-25– Could hire substitutesCould hire substitutes– Could pay $300 to Could pay $300 to

avoid being draftedavoid being drafted– Would get a Bounty Would get a Bounty

for joining. Some for joining. Some men became bounty men became bounty huntershunters

– 92% of 2 million men 92% of 2 million men in northern army in northern army volunteeredvolunteered

Draft RiotsDraft Riots

July 13-16, NYC a mostly Irish mob July 13-16, NYC a mostly Irish mob wrecked draft offices and those of the wrecked draft offices and those of the Republican newspapers, homes of Republican newspapers, homes of antislave leaders and beat up black antislave leaders and beat up black men and wealthy looking whitesmen and wealthy looking whites

11 lynchings, destroyed hundreds of 11 lynchings, destroyed hundreds of homes and burned a black orphanagehomes and burned a black orphanage

More than 100 deadMore than 100 dead

New York City Draft RiotsNew York City Draft RiotsJuly 11-13, 1863July 11-13, 1863

Life as a soldierLife as a soldier

Cleanliness not a priority- few bathe as Cleanliness not a priority- few bathe as required so lice, dysentery and diarrhea required so lice, dysentery and diarrhea were common- lots of garbage and waste were common- lots of garbage and waste

Food was sparse- beans, bacon, pickled Food was sparse- beans, bacon, pickled beef and hardtack were common.beef and hardtack were common.

Southerners usually ate “Cush”- cubes of Southerners usually ate “Cush”- cubes of beef and cornbread mixed with bacon beef and cornbread mixed with bacon grease and had coffee from peanuts , grease and had coffee from peanuts , apples or corn.apples or corn.

Soldier brings goods Soldier brings goods from home to make life from home to make life more comfortablemore comfortable

Confederate UniformConfederate Uniform

"Soldiering is 99% "Soldiering is 99% boredom and 1% sheer boredom and 1% sheer terror" terror"

[Cumberland Landing, Va. Federal encampment on [Cumberland Landing, Va. Federal encampment on Pamunkey River, Va.]. Pamunkey River, Va.]. CREATED/PUBLISHEDCREATED/PUBLISHED1862 May.1862 May.

Rappahannock Station, Va. Federal encampment near Rappahannock Station, Va. Federal encampment near railroad]. railroad]. O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882,O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882, photographer.photographer.

CREATED/PUBLISHEDCREATED/PUBLISHED1862 August.1862 August.

Life as a Soldier: POW Life as a Soldier: POW CampsCamps South- Andersonville, South- Andersonville,

GeorgiaGeorgia Crowded, 34 feet per Crowded, 34 feet per

personperson Little shelter or food Little shelter or food

and drank sewer waterand drank sewer water 15% of Union prisoners 15% of Union prisoners

died in Southern died in Southern CampsCamps

NorthNorth– Some Northern Camps Some Northern Camps

were at Elmira, NY and were at Elmira, NY and Camp Douglas, ILCamp Douglas, IL

– More spacious, better More spacious, better sleeping and decent foodsleeping and decent food

– Cold conditions killed Cold conditions killed many southernersmany southerners

– Many died from dysentery Many died from dysentery or malnutritionor malnutrition

– 10% of Southern Soldiers 10% of Southern Soldiers died in Union campsdied in Union camps

– North stopped prisoner North stopped prisoner exchange after South exchange after South would not return African would not return African Americans to the northAmericans to the north

[Chattanooga, Tenn. Confederate prisoners at railroad [Chattanooga, Tenn. Confederate prisoners at railroad depot]. depot]. CREATED/PUBLISHEDCREATED/PUBLISHED1864.1864.

Washington, D.C. Adjusting the rope for the execution of Washington, D.C. Adjusting the rope for the execution of Wirz]. Wirz]. CREATED/PUBLISHEDCREATED/PUBLISHED[1865 November 10][1865 November 10]

MedicineMedicine

The North set up the “Sanitary The North set up the “Sanitary Commission”Commission”– Recruit and train nursesRecruit and train nurses– Improve conditions at army campsImprove conditions at army camps

Set up hospitals and taught hygieneSet up hospitals and taught hygiene Dorthea Dix was superintendent of Dorthea Dix was superintendent of

Union nursesUnion nurses Clara Barton set up the American Clara Barton set up the American

version of the International Red Crossversion of the International Red Cross

Medicine Cont’dMedicine Cont’d

Despite strides taken, there was still Despite strides taken, there was still no knowledge of germ theory or no knowledge of germ theory or antiseptic practicesantiseptic practices

2/3 of the 620,000 deaths during the 2/3 of the 620,000 deaths during the war were from diseasewar were from disease

Most surgeries were amputations and Most surgeries were amputations and 95% of those were done with 95% of those were done with anesthesia (usually chloroform or anesthesia (usually chloroform or ether)ether)

75% of amputation patients survived75% of amputation patients survived

Amputation KitAmputation Kit

[Fredericksburg, Va. Nurses and officers of the U.S. [Fredericksburg, Va. Nurses and officers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission]. Sanitary Commission]. Gardner, James, b. 1832,Gardner, James, b. 1832, photographer.photographer.

CREATED/PUBLISHEDCREATED/PUBLISHED1864 May.1864 May.

Civil War AmbulancesCivil War AmbulancesWashington D.C. 1863Washington D.C. 1863

New Hospital DesignNew Hospital Design

Patients in D.C.Patients in D.C.Harewood HospitalHarewood Hospital

Life at homeLife at home

SouthSouth– Food shortages in Food shortages in

part due to Union part due to Union blockadeblockade

– Prices skyrocketPrices skyrocket– Food riotsFood riots

NorthNorth– Most industries Most industries

boomedboomed– Army needed Army needed

manufactured manufactured goodsgoods

– Wages did not Wages did not keep up with keep up with pricesprices

Appomattox Court Appomattox Court HouseHouse

THE ENDTHE END