© Mark Batik Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

Rationale behind secession State Compact View (Radical View) Delay till larger agreement (Cooperation View) United by need to maintain slavery against a fear that Lincoln meant the end of the institution

Confederate Political Thought Secession a “Constitutional” right Compact theory of federal union (recall VA/KY resolutions and SC Nullification) Confederate Constitution “fixes” interpretation problems of the Constitution “If South Carolina goes, I go with her”

Crittenden Compromise Constitutional amendments that would recognize slavery in territories and a lack of federal power to restrict it Ironically would have made the 13 th Amendment recognize slavery Lincoln opposes Fails: House 113 to 80, Senate 20 to 19

Waves of Secession 1 st wave: SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX 2 nd wave: VA, NC, TN, AR, leave after Ft. Sumter and Lincoln’s declaration of insurrection Border states: MO, KY, MD, DE remain in the Union

Fort Sumter Reinforce? Surrender? Means South Shot First South is in “insurrection” Unites North in opposition to Southern aggression

Advantages for the North Manpower Industry Railroads Naval Power Resources Lincoln

Advantages for the South Defensive fighting Terrain Supplies Choice of battles Motivation Friendly population Homeland patriotism Better soldiers “farm boys” Experienced US Army officers

Disadvantages North South Military leadership Defining the reason for war Political leadership Lacked war materials/supplies “States Rights” Financing

North’s Three Prong Strategy “Anaconda” Pressure Virginia Advance on the Mississippi Blockade South

Turning Point 1: Border States Remain in Union Delaware Maryland Kentucky Missouri Why does it matter that the border states remained in the Union? Harpers Weekly, Jan 17, 1863, pp

Turning Point 2—Bull Run July 21, 1861 Fought outside of Washington DC Public demand pushed General-in-Chief Winfield Scott before troops were trained Confederate reinforcements resulted in a Southern victory North performs a chaotic retreat toward Washington Why is this a turning point?

Turning Point 3—Trent Affair USS San Jacinto halted and boarded the British vessel Trent Found Confederate Commissioners Slidell and Mason Diplomatic complication with Britain bringing nations close to war Confederates released Held off diplomatic recognition Demonstrated northern resolve Encouraged European neutrality

Turning Point 4—Antietam

The battle convinced the British and French to reserve recognition of the Confederacy Lincoln announced Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (September 22), which would free all slaves in areas rebelling against the United States, effective January 1, 1863

Turning Point 5—Emancipation Proclamation In 1861, Congress passed an act stating that all slaves employed against the Union were to be considered free In response partly to increased desire for abolition, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 Declaring all slaves in areas still in rebellion were, in the eyes of the federal government, free Makes the war explicitly about slavery Prevents European involvement

Turning Point 6— Vicksburg/Gettysburg Vicksburg cuts the confederacy in two Gettysburg ended Confederate hopes of formal recognition by foreign governments On November 19, President Lincoln dedicated a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield as a national cemetery, and delivered the “Gettysburg Address”

Turning Point 7—Reelection of Lincoln Lincoln senses political doom because he can’t win the war McClellan supports ending the war sooner Series of 1864 victories seal Lincoln’s victory April 14 (a month and 10 days after inauguration) assassinated by Booth