Effects of the Civil War Leading to Reconstruction

Surrender at Appomattox April 9, 1865

Civil War and Economics Overall, the Northern economy expanded while the Southern economy was shattered… Inflation 1861, average family spent $6.65/month on food Mid-1863, spending $68/month on food…IF they could find food to buy!

Inflation To raise revenue, both the Union and the Confederacy issued paper money Northern currency succeeded because the public maintained confidence in the Northern economy Currency issued by the Confederacy was backed by gold – individual states also used its own currency. Because the war weakened the Southern economy, the public lost faith in the Confederate currency Value went down, prices went up Inflation rates in the South: 7,000% (prices 70 times higher) Inflation rates in the North: 80%

Impact of the Civil War in Economics Union blockade also created shortages of salt, coffee, nails, needles, and medicines Decline of the plantation system Slaves leaving plantations Slave resistance Plantations being destroyed during battles New federal tax Congress decided to help pay for the war by tapping American citizens’ wealth. In 1863, Congress enacted the tax law that authorized the nation’s first income tax, which takes a percentage of an individual’s income

Casualties on both sides Problems other than Casualties: Poor living conditions Most soldiers failed to wash their hands/face once a day or take a bath once a week Body lice, dysentery, diarrhea Diet Beans, bacon, square biscuits OR “cush” (stew of beef, cornbread mixed in bacon grease) Medical Care

Gettysburg

Civil War Casualties in Comparison to other wars

Economic Costs Union war costs totaled $2.3 billion Confederate War costs ran to $1 billion Union war costs increased the national debt from $65 million in 1860 to $2.7 billion in 1865 Confederate debt ran over $1.8 billion in 1864 Union inflation peaked at 182% in 1864 Confederate inflation rose to 7,000%

Lincoln’s Assassination Ford’s Theater – April 15, 1865

The assassination John Wilkes Booth “Thus be it ever to tyrants” or “The South is avenged!”

Death & Execution

Road to Reconstruction The Civil War had ended – slavery and secession were gone – now the country faced 2 problems: How to restore the Southern states to the Union 2) How to integrate approximately 4 million newly freed African Americans into national life