Chapter 11 – The Civil War 1861-1865 Section 2 – Life Behind the Lines

Politics in the South The Confederate Constitution was similar to the US Constitution, except that it also recognized states’ rights and slavery. Concern: that the South would not have enough soldiers to fight. Solution suggested by Gen. Robert E. Lee? People opposed to a strong central government (i.e. those for states’ rights) felt that this violated the principle of states’ rights they were fighting for. The South had been seeking volunteers to sign up in the military for 1 year. In April, 1862, Confederate Congress passed a law requiring 3 years of military service for all white men ages 18 – 35. What affect did this have on those who volunteered? Who did not have to serve? What 2 ways could people get out of serving? After the casualties at Antietam, the upper age became 45. Later in the war, it became 50. Confederate gov’t took control of the South’s economy: decided how much wool, cotton and leather should be produced and seized control of all Southern railroads. Farmers were required to give 1/10 of their produce to the government. Tax on personal incomes. Said the army could seize male slaves for military service, paying the owners a small monthly fee. HUH?!?

Politics in the South, continued Impact of States’ rights Local authorities sometimes refused to cooperate with draft officials Whole counties in some states controlled by draft dodgers and deserters ¼ of Confederate men eligible for the draft refused to cooperate Seeking help from Europe May, 1861, Confederate gov’t sent representatives to Britain and France Did not get recognition (?) Britain allowed its ports to be used to build Confederate privateers. 11 British-built Confederate privateers forced most Union shipping to stop for most of the war. 1862 – seemed like Britain and France MIGHT recognize Confederacy. France sent troops to Mexico but would not recognize Confederacy unless Britain did as well. British opinion was divided – Some thought an independent South would be a better market for goods. Others, however, did not want to come to the aid of a slave-owning nation. Gov’t decided to wait and see

Politics in the North After early losses, Lincoln had to convince the North that maintaining the Union was worth it. Also, it faced other crises. Great Britain – There were tensions between Britain and the North because of the friendly talks between Britain and the South. Late in 1861, Confederacy again sent two representatives to Europe. They evaded the Union blockade and then got on a British ship, Trent, and headed for Europe Union warship stopped the Trent in international waters, took the two Confederate representatives, and brought them to the US Britain was outraged and sent troops to Canada threatening war unless the North freed the two Confederates. Lincoln ordered their release stating, “One war at a time.” Lincoln demanded $19 million from Britain for the damages from the privateers built in British ports.

Politics in the North, continued Southern Democrats no longer in Congress. So what? Example: Southerners had blocked the building of a railroad across the Great Plains. July 1862, Congress passed the Pacific RR Act with little objection. Gov’t gave land and money to companies for them to build a RR from Nebraska to the Pacific. Homestead Act, also passed in 1862, gave free land to people willing to settle on it. Congress also raised tariff rates (?) . This was to protect Northern industries rather than to raise money. 1861 – Congress passed the first income tax in American history. 3% on $600 ($11,000) and 5% on amount over $10,000 ($180,000). 1862 – Congress passed taxes on liquor, tobacco, medicine, newspaper ads. These ended when the war ended. Also in 1862 – Congress created a currency called greenbacks, not backed by gold.

Politics in the North, continued Opposition to the war March 1863 – North institutes a draft. Like the South, there were two ways to get out of serving. Riots broke out in North after the draft became law. Mobs of whites rioted during July 1863 in NYC for 4 days. Over 100 people died. At least 11 of the dead were African Americans lynched by the mob. Why? Copperheads – Democrats still in Congress who said that if we follow the Republican policies, a flood of freed blacks will come North and take jobs away from whites. Radical Copperheads tried to get Union soldiers to desert the army and other Northerners to resist the draft.

Politics in the North, continued Emergency wartime actions Union gov’t also (in addition to the Confederacy) used extraordinary powers during the war. Lincoln used the army to shut down opposition newspapers September 1861 Lincoln ordered that all “disloyal” members of the Maryland state legislature be arrested. Why? Missouri – Lincoln supported a rebellion to overthrow the pro-Confederacy state government. Kentucky – Lincoln used martial law (emergency rule by the military). Only US President to ever impose martial law in the US. Suspension of habeas corpus. What is habeas corpus? Article I, Section 9, clause 2 of the Constitution: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public safety may require it.” When Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, was that constitutional? More than 13,000 Americans who objected to the Union government’s position were imprisoned without trial during the war. Included: newspaper editors, elected state officials, Southern sympathizers, as well as some who actually were trying to aid the Confederacy.

Emancipation and the War Copperheads attacked Lincoln for making war on the South. Abolitionists attacked Lincoln for not making it a war to end slavery. Many Northerners questioned whether the losses they were suffering were worth it just to restore the Union. Radical Republicans – a group in the Republican Party who thought that the South should be punished for their rebellion. What better way to punish them than freeing their “property”? Lincoln’s response was that he did not believe he had the legal authority to abolish slavery in the US. “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save the Union 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.” Lincoln realized the military importance – every slave working in the South freed a white man to serve in the military.

Emancipation and the War, continued The Emancipation Proclamation September, 1862 – as Lee was retreating South from Antietam, Lincoln announced that slaves in areas that were in rebellion against the US on January 1, 1863, would be free. Two reasons (?) January 1, 1863: I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion . . . do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are and henceforward shall be free. . .. Reaction to the Proclamation Condemned in the South, and debated in the North Some abolitionists said it did not go far enough (?) Some Northerners afraid of competition for jobs, criticized it as too much After Lincoln announced in 1862 what he was going to do, Democrats made gains in the Congressional elections that November. Black Northerners were happy because of “henceforward” (?) Most important result: Abolition movement was strong in England. The Proclamation, combined with Lee’s defeat at Antietam, ended any possibility of England helping the South.

African Americans Join the War Proclamation inspired Southern slaves who heard about it to escape to the protection of Union troops. Also, it encouraged African Americans in the North to join the army. At the beginning of the war, Union troops felt obligated to return escaped slaves to their owners. Why? Contraband – possessions owned by one side in a war. Generally accepted that contraband could be seized by the enemy. Union General Benjamin Butler reasoned that if slaves are property, then when Union soldiers find them, they are contraband now owned by the Union. The Union could then free them. These freed slaves often helped in non-combat jobs. After the Proclamation, many former slaves enlisted to fight. It wasn’t until July 1862 that African Americans were allowed to fight in the military. Why? By 1865, 180,000 African Americans had enlisted in the army. More than half were black Southerners freed from slavery by the war. On warships there was integration, but as troops, they were all-black commanded by white officers. July 1863 – attack on Ft. Wagner that protected the harbor at Charleston, S. Carolina by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, an all-black unit, commanded by Col. Robert Shaw. “Glory”.

The Hardships of War The Southern Economy Food shortage (war disrupted food-growing) Many planters made things worse by ignoring the Confederacy’s request that they stop growing cotton and start growing food. Cotton piled up in warehouses (northern blockade) while food riots occurred in Southern cities. April 1863, 1,000 women looted bakeries and other shops. Confederacy had new factories built to try to supply the military needs for the war. Women worked in many of these jobs. Labor shortage + lack of goods = (?) Think supply and demand. Profiteers would buy goods and hold them until prices went even higher and then sell them for huge profit. Bad economy increased desertions – men left army to go home and work their farms.

The Hardships of War, continued The Northern economy Industries that depended on Southern markets or Southern cotton were hurt. Most Northern industries did great. The North had farms and industries to supply everything the army and civilians needed. War-related industries did really well. Philip Armour made lots of money packaging pork to feed Union soldiers. (?) Samuel Colt ran his factory day and night producing guns for the army (?) Women did men’s jobs when they went to war. Business owners liked this because they could pay women less. Some manufacturers made profits by supplying bad products: rusty rifles, boots that leaked, hats that dissolved in the rain, uniforms that quickly fell apart, boots that had soles that fell off after a few miles of marching. Like the profiteers of the South, they took advantage of the needs of their countrymen.

The Hardships of War, continued Prison camps Both sides had prison camps for captured soldiers. Generally, officers treated better than regular soldiers. Exception of good treatment: Andersonville Prison in Georgia. It was built to hold 10,000 prisoners and eventually held 35,000 in a fenced, 26 acre open area. About 100 prisoners each day died from either starvation or exposure. The camp’s commander was the only Confederate tried for war crimes after the South lost. He was convicted and hanged.

The Hardships of War, continued Medical care Health and medical care on both sides was horrible. ¼ of Civil War soldiers did not survive the war – disease killed many. Bad nutrition and contaminated food led to dysentery and typhoid fever. Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, also killed many. Pneumonia also killed many. Union soldiers were 3x more likely to die in camp or in a hospital than he was to be killed on the battlefield! About 20% of wounded Union soldiers ended up dieing. Doctors did not know how to sterilize their medical equipment. Surgeons sometimes went days without even washing their instruments. Gov’t clerk Clara Barton quit her job to provide supplies and first aid to Union troops in camp and during battle. Nicknamed “angel of the battlefield”, she continued her service after the war by founding the American Red Cross. About 4,000 women volunteered as nurses during the war. Prior to the war, nursing was a man’s profession. By the end of the war it was not only a man’s profession. Sanitation was bad. Trash and rotting food littered most army camps. Human and animal waste polluted water supplies. Epidemics of contagious diseases like mumps and measles, swept through camps. Sometimes only ½ could fight. About 2x soldiers on each side died from disease as from gunfire.