Military Conscription (The Draft) Following massive losses at Shiloh in 1862, The Confederate (Southern) Gov. passes military conscription laws. (3 years of Service for all men 18-35 then later 45!) Their laws exempted most planters and their sons from serving The Governors of many Confederate States ignored the conscription laws.

Military Conscription The North has a draft as well by 1863, and many people are not happy about it. A man could pay $300 to hire a substitute and get out of service. Most people drafted are poor and/or immigrants. In July 1863, a riot breaks out in NYC. Thousands of mostly Irish and German immigrants riot for 5 days. Homes for “$300 men” are burned and looted, stores, newspaper offices, and draft offices are burned, the police are attacked, and over a dozen blacks are lynched in the streets.

Gangs of New York Draft Riots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJ_OOKQVrU Gangs of New York Draft Riots

Contrabands/Confiscation Act Seizing the opportunity of the chaos of the war, hundreds of slaves (called contrabands) run away from their owners and come into Union camps on a daily basis. Most Union Generals refuse to return them, and instead put them work a laborers and eventually as soldiers for the Union. As part of their strategy, the Union passes the Confiscation Act in 1861 which allows its military to seize all property, including slaves, used to aid the Confederates. Viewed as a step towards emancipation because many of the Contrabands end up free.

Emancipation Proclamation 1862 Emancipation will be used by Lincoln as a tool of war. Lincoln bases the legality of this proclamation on his duty as “Commander in Chief” to suppress the rebellion. It declares slaves in the States that remain in rebellion are now free. It is a very specific list down to specific counties where it applies. The border states that never left the Union will still have slavery intact. It does not technically free any slaves. (the 13th amendment will in 1865)

Emancipation Proclamation This is incredibly controversial in the North. Many Republicans lose their seats in Congress to Democrats in the 1862 mid term elections. Many Americans still do not see this as a war to free slaves or promote equality. They see it as a fight to preserve the Union This Proclamation will however be very symbolic and mark a significant point in history of the conflict