Chapter 12 Life Behind enemy lines Section 2

Politics in the South The Constitution of the South was very similar to the United States except it recognized states’ rights and slavery. In early 1862 the South faced a crisis, many soldiers were nearing the end of their enlistments. Fearing the war would be lost if there were not enough soldiers, General Lee called for a draft, or required military service. With some disagreement the Confederate congress passed a draft requiring three more years of military service for white men ages 18-35. After major losses the age was changed to 45, then 50. Owners of 20 or more slaves were exempt and wealthy Southerners who could hire a substitute. States’ rights hurt this effort as local communities would refuse to cooperate. There were counties ruled by draft-dodgers. It’s estimated ½ of eligible men did not report.

Politics in the south The government determined the amount of wool, cotton and leather produced. They also required farmers to give 1/10 of their produce to the effort. The government taxed personal incomes and would seize male slaves for military labor. The owners were paid a monthly fee, they still disliked this practice. Even though the blockade prevented cotton from reaching GB and France, Southerners still hoped for help during the war. They even sent representatives to both nations. They were allowed by GB to use its ports to build Confederate privateers. 11 total were built and they stopped Union shipping for most of the war.

Politics in the north Southern talks with GB raised tensions between GB and the USA. Two Confederates snuck through the Union blockade and joined the British mail ship the Trent. A Union warship stopped the Trent and removed the two men. British officials sent troops to Canada and threatened war if they were not released. President Lincoln released the two men saying “One war at a time” Lincoln also demanded $19 billion in damages done by Confederate privateers and for other actions by GB on behalf of the South. With southern Democrats out of Congress many bills were passed with little to no opposition.

Politics of the north With southern Democrats out of Congress many bills were passed with little to no opposition. 1. Pacific Railroad Act- the gov’t could give land and money to companies for the construction of a railroad from Nebraska to the Pacific Ocean 2. The Homestead Act- gave free gov’t land to people willing to settle on it 3. Tariffs were raised to help protect northern industries In 1861 the first federal tax on income was passed in US history. It collected 3% of income of people earning more than $800 per year The Internal Revenue Act of 1862 created taxes on liquor, tobacco, medicine and newspaper ads. Nearly all of these taxes ended when the war was finished.

Politics of the north Congress also created paper money called greenbacks (because of their color) to pay public and private debts. It was not backed by gold. There were four slave states in the Union (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri) Delaware was considered to be secure Maryland had strong support for secession. Lincoln all “disloyal” members to be arrested. This prevented a vote and assured Washington DC would not be surrounded by Confederacy In Missouri, Lincoln supported an uprising to overthrow a pro-slavery gov’t In Kentucky he put the state under martial law. This is emergency rule by military authorities where some Bill of Rights guarantees are suspended.

Politics of the north The North also had a draft for men ages 25-45. To be exempt you could pay $300 or hire a substitute to take a position. After the draft more than 100 people died in four days of destruction. 11 of the dead were African Americans who were seemed to be targeted. Democrats in the Union, nicknamed Copperheads after the poisonous snake, warned that Republican policies would bring a flood of free slaves who would take jobs from whites. Lincoln forced the army to shut down opposition newspapers and denied the use of mail. In some cases he suspended writ of habeas corpus- this is legal protection requiring courts to determine if a person was being lawfully imprisoned. Without this people can be held for indefinite periods without charges. 13,000 people were imprisoned due to this.

Emancipation and the war While Copperheads attacked Lincoln for the war on the South, abolitionists attacked him for not making it a war to end slavery. At first Lincoln resisted pressure to make a war goal to end slavery. He explained under the Constitution he was bound to preserve the nation. He disagreed with slavery but did not think he had the legal power to end it. He was also worried about the boarder states.

Emancipation and the war On January 1, 1863, Lincoln proclaimed that slaves in areas of rebellion against the gov’t would be free. This was called the Emancipation Proclamation. This had little impact because it applied only to places that were under Confederate control. It was criticized by some abolitionists as not doing enough. It did nothing for people in boarder states, nor did it free people living in Confederate areas controlled by the Union. The Emancipation and Lee’s loss at Antietam ended any real chance of France and GB entering the war.

African Americans fight The Emancipation encouraged slaves to escape to Union areas and also for African Americans to join the Union army. Slaveholders usually fled when the Union army approached. However, many slaves remained behind or escaped to Union forces. Believing they had “property” the slaves were usually given back. Union General Butler argued that if slaves were “property” they were considered contraband, or captured items that become property of the enemy gov’t. With Emancipation these slaves were now allowed to fight. At the beginning of the war African Americans were not allowed to fight, after the passing of a law by Congress they were allowed. 180,000 enlisted, more than half were freed southerners from slavery. They were about 10% of troops in the war.

The hardships of war The Confederacy faced food shortages during the war. Due to the war being fought in the South many food and cotton growing regions suffered problems. Food production declined due to this. Many men were drafted leaving women to work the land, oversee slaves and keep farms and plantations running. Many farmers also resisted the gov’t’s pleas to shift from growing cotton to crops. This caused food riots. This created inflation- salt went from $2 a bag pre war to $60 during the war. The Confederacy built factories to create railroads, guns and ammunition plants. Women filled many of these positons.

The hardships of war The war hurt northern industry that depended heavily of the southern markets or cotton. Unlike the South, the North had the farms and factories to produce everything it needed during the war. Women also filled jobs in factories and farms in the North. Factory owners like this because women were paid less. Confederate soldiers who were captured during the war were sent to prison camps. Mostly prisoners were treated fairly except in Andersonville were 35,000 prisoners were held. Around 100 a day died of starvation. The commander was the only person tried of war crimes. He was convicted and hanged.

The hardships of war Battle hospitals had horrible conditions. 1 in 4 solders did not survive the war. 1 in 5 Union soldiers who was wounded in battle later died from the wounds. Doctors were aware of the relationship between cleanliness and infection, they were unsure how to keep their supplies sterile. Some used the same equipment for days without washing it. Many women volunteered to take care of the sick. Clara Barton the “angel of the battlefield” quit her job and provided supplies and first aid to Union troops. After the war she founded the American Red Cross.