Causes of the Civil War

1850-1861

Daniel Webster

Compromise of 1850

Components:California admitted freePopular sovereignty in New MexicoTougher fugitive slave lawAbolition of slave trade in DC

Compromise stirs debate

Clay, Calhoun, and Webster Calhoun: “If you (North) will not yield, let the

states agree to separate and part in peace. If you are unwilling, we should part in peace.”

Webster on secession: “Heaven forbid! Where is the flag of the republic to remain? Where is the eagle still to tower?”

Futures…

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

“to provide for the appointment of federal commissioners with authority to issue warrants, summon posses, and compel citizens under pain or fine or imprisonment to assist in the capture of fugitives.

Commissioners who decided an accused person was a fugitive slave received $10...$5 if they decided otherwise.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Told the story of Uncle Tom, a kind slave who

is physically and emotionally terrorized by sadistic overseer Simon Legree.

His death and the story shock Northern readers.

Election of 1852

Franklin Pierce (Democrat-New Hampshire)

Winfield Scott (Whig-Virginia) Why was each

selected? 2/3 caucus rule

Election Results

The Sad Legacy of Franklin Pierce

One of America’s worst…usually 39-40 on most rankings.

Sad tragedy prior to inauguration

Sad story of wife Jane Appleton Pierce

Strong leadership needed…not provided

Transcontinental Railroad

Franklin Pierces initiative… Gadsen Purchase designed to add remaining

continental territory as to build a southern route from coast to coast.

Gadsden Purchase

Kansas-Nebraska Act

To support a railroad, the remaining territories need to be “organized into statehood” for the purpose of having the railroad.

The “Terminus” Stephen A. Douglas emerges to

prominence… Principal of the act: If South is to accept the

Northern railroad route, they must get something…what do they get? Popular Sovereignty in Kansas/Nebraska

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Slavery in Kansas/Nebraska?

Douglas thought the idea absurd, it was geographically impossible for slavery to exist there? So his thought, we need a railroad, so who cares if they want to have slaves in a northern climate…it will die out?

Result: wrong. This became a fury!

The race is on…

Populate Kansas as quickly as possible with free soilers and pro slavery forces.

Congressional quotes! “There are 1,1000 coming over from Platte,

Co. to vote and if that ain’t enough we can send 5,000-enough to kill every #$%# abolitionist in the territory.”

Quotes:

“Come on Gentleman of the slave states, since there is no escaping your challenge,, I accept it on behalf of freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God give victory of the side which is stronger in numbers as it is in right”. Charles Sumner

Impacts of Kansas/Nebraska Act

The reopening of the slavery question in the territories with almost immediate tragic results in “Bleeding Kansas”

The president's hope for reelection dashed The complete realignment of the major political parties The Democrats lost influence in the North and were to become

the regional proslavery party of the South The Whig Party, which had opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act,

died in the South and was weakened in the North A new Republican Party emerged as an immediate political

force, drawing in anti-Nebraska Whigs and Democrats.

Bleeding Kansas

Bleeding Kansas Defined

The Raid on Lawrence, Kansas. In May 1856, a band of Border Ruffians crossed the border from Missouri and attacked the free-soil community of Lawrence, looting and burning a number of buildings. Only one person was killed (one of the Ruffians), but the door to violence had been breached.

The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre. A few days later, in retaliation for the Lawrence raid, abolitionist forces under the zealot John Brown attacked a small proslavery settlement on Pottawatomie Creek. On Brown’s orders, five men were executed with a scythe.

John Brown

John Brown

The most shocking event?

Charles Sumner is beaten to within an inch of his life for slandering a relative of Preston Brooks and his pro slavery views.

Problem…the beating occurred in the US Senate!

Sumner-Brooks

Dred Scott

Scott was transported from slave Missouri, to Wisconsin, sued for his freedom as he entered into free territory he must be free.

Language of the decision

Roger Taney the Chief Justice: “Negros had no rights which the white man was

bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it."

all men are created equal," Taney reasoned that "it is too clear for dispute, that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included, and formed no part of the people who framed and adopted this declaration. . . ."

Formation of the Republican Party

Impact of Dred Scott

North outraged Slavery rendered possible everywhere, Mo.

Compromise and Great compromise abolished.

Slaves now have constitutional protection thanks to a vile 7-2 decision led by Southerner Roger B. Taney

Dred Scott was labeled “property”.

Election of James Buchannan

Northern “doughface”. Northern (Penn) man able to move in Southern political circles…

Worst president in American History…by far.

LeCompton Constitution A proslavery constitution

that…was arrived at illegally. When passed by the pro-

slavery forces illegally it was backed by President Buchannan!

Even southern senators insisted on a more democratic process.

Result: the fraudulent constitution was defeated by a 6-1 margin by a full body of Congress!

Buchannan shamed and humiliated. He chose to do next to nothing for the next few years, opening the door for the civil war!

Excerpts

“The legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves without the consent of the owners”

“Free negroes shall not be permitted to live in or travel in this State under any circumstances.”

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Senate seat in Illinois, young representative and lawyer Abraham Lincoln v. Stephen A. Douglas.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Debate #2 at Freeport. Freeport Doctrine: responding to Lincoln’s

attacks on his being pro-slavery. Douglass stated that slavery could legally be

barred from the territories if the territorial legislatures simply refused to enact the type of police regulations necessary to make slavery work. Without a legal framework and enforcement officials, slavery would be excluded.

John Brown and Harpers Ferry

Importance of the event?

Impact of John Brown

Led to the creation of the Southern militia system—precursor to the confederate army.

Created the belief that Northern Abolitionists would kill for their cause.

Execution divided the country

Election of 1860

Election of 1860

“I will say then that, I am not nor have ever been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white race”.

Lincoln’s views on race

Why was Lincoln such a hated figure in South?

Lincoln

Denied to deal with Slavery.

Denied rights of South to secede.

Promised to protect union and federal institutions.

Words were conciliatory.

Secession

South Carolina – Dec. 20, 1860

Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas – Feb. 1, 1861

“Confederate States of America” President Jefferson

Davis

Secession

Order of secession

South Carolina (December 21, 1860), Mississippi (January 9, 1861), Florida (January 10, 1861), Alabama (January 11, 1861), Georgia (January 19, 1861), Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and Texas (February 1, 1861).

The Confederacy

Border States?

Lost Tennessee Virginia North Carolina Arkansas

Preserved Maryland Delaware Kentucky Missouri

Challenges

Missouri-Border Ruffians Maryland-suspension of Habeas Corpus Delaware-only 2% slave Kentucky-”losing Kentucky is like losing the

whole game” Abraham Lincoln.

Antebellum Review: 1848-1860

What are the primary causes of the Civil War?

What were the key events during the Antebellum that fostered the coming of war?

What could have been done during the Antebellum to stop the war?

Some have argued that the civil war had been coming since 1776…would you agree?

Theatres of War

1861-1865

Tale of the Tape

Northern Advantages Industry Executive Leadership Naval superiority Ability to supply

armaments. Number of fighting men European relations Stability of political

system

Southern Advantages Caliber of fighting men Military leadership Defensive war “King Cotton Diplomacy” Don’t have to win the

war?

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

Lincoln made two promises at his innauguration that are vital…

He would be “friends of the South” and not invade or pursue unprovoked military action.

He had a duty to protect Federal property.

Bull Run (Manassas)

Federals named things after geographic features, rivers, etc…Confederates after civic sites like railroads or cities (Manassas Junction Railroad)

All myths about the war dispelled

This is not the Mexican American War Lincoln’s initial call for 75,000 men seems

feeble. Issues a new call for 500,000 men. The war will be unlike any that we have seen.

It appears clear as Irving McDowell is routed by Pierre Gustave Toutant (PGT) Beauregard that the confederates will have a distinct advantage in military leadership.

Manassas

Casualties were light for a civil war battle, 2000 confederates, 1600 union.

Southerners lauded it as “one of the decisive battles of the world”.

McDowell replaced with young bravado George McClellan who despised Lincoln and will contest his leadership in the election of 1864.

Lessons of Manassas: Finance

Congress passed an income tax. 3% over incomes of $800.

Taxed states Took out loans amounting to $140,000,000

during that first year. Sold bonds Issued a national currency called

“Greenbacks”.

Lessons of Manassas: Politics

Republicans in factions Democrats in factions Emergence of Radical Republicans-Charles

Sumner. Uncompromising view of slaves and their

future. Benjamin Wade’s view on slavery…? Peace democrats-Copperheads. “Same

Constitution, Same Country, Same Slavery”.

Lincoln and Dissent

Lincoln didn’t care for dissent. Suspended Habeas Corpus, imprisoned

13,000. Rights of the imprisoned Ex Parte Merryman: failing to give a trial to

accused…Court ruled in favor of accused. Ex Parte Milligan: declared military couts

illegal in areas where regular courts were functioning…didn’t matter.

Clement Vallandingham

Congressman banished to Confederacy for his views…fled to Canada.

“A Rich Man’s War and a Poor Man’s Fight”Confederacy Exemptions for slave

owners (20 or more) Tax in Kind Southern currency: 2

cents on the dollar by 1865, hard on the poor.

Union Conscription could be

combated by buyin a sub for $300.

Income tax Failed greenback

currency

Shiloh

Consequences

Union coming off big wins at Fort Henry and Fort Donnellson.

Grant’s men surprised at Shiloh Church.

Staggering #’s. Death toll (13,000) in 2 days exceeded the combined total of the American Revolution, War of 1812, French and Indian War, and Mexican American War.

May 1862: Union Offensive

On to Richmond Peninsula Campaign May, 1862. McClellan

moves, hammered by Johnston and then Lee.

Lee/McClellan contrast. Battle of Seven Days: 30,000 lost. McClellan

replaced with John Pope.

McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign

Instead of advancing through northern Virginia, where he was sure huge rebel armies lurked, the Union commander proposed instead to ship his 121,500-man Army of the Potomac to the tip of the York-James Peninsula by sea, then fight his way west to Richmond. The Peninsular Campaign began in March 1862 - more than seven months after McClellan took command.

Lincoln and Emancipation

Believed in “gradual emancipation”

Had spoken of this “type” of plan as far back as 1849.

Offered south “compensated emancipation”

Emancipation: Summer of 1862

Lincoln’s unwavering goal: “my paramount objective is to save the Union.

It is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and I if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it”

July 1862 Correspondence with Horace Greeley

Contradiction

From the “London Times” “Where he has no power Mr. Lincoln will set

the negroes free, where he retains power he will consider them as slaves.” (referencing the border states.)

Emancipation Proclamation

Changed focus of war from restoration of union to slavery.

Many found it ironic that it only dealt with slaves in lands outside of union control?

Secretary of State: William Seward:

"We show our symapthy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free."

Antietam

Bloodiest Day in US History

McClellan’s big break. 23,000 casualties McClellan’s failure proves costly. Emergence of Ambrose Burnside.

“An act of justice”

Confiscation Act. Slaves were being confiscated by the union army.

July 1862 all “rebel slaveholders slaves were forever free of their servitude”

A bold national statement was needed. Lincoln viewed it a military, political, and

emotional necessity. Promised after Antietam Legal?

1/1/1863

Emancipation takes effect Democrats roared in anger Republicans were anything but united.

Fredericksburg

One of the worst union defeats. An attack on a Confederate stronghold. Several day totals: 13,000 Union, 5,000 Confederate.

US Grant emerges Failure from Galena,

Illinois. He had the

aggressiveness that Lincoln craved, he matched Lee in that regard.

Victories at Fort Donnellson and on the Tennessee River drove the confederates out of Kentucky.

His perseverance at Shiloh secured a Northern victory and facilitated a slow Southern defeat in the West.

Union Blockade

Severing Southern commerce was key for the Union.

King Cotton. “Shut the confederacy out

from the world, deprived it of supplies weakened its military and naval strength”.

Union victories and their contempt for slavery dashed any hope of intervention on behalf of the Confederacy.

1863-1865

5/1863: Chancellorsville 7/1863: Gettysburg 7/4/1863: Vicksburg 9/1863: Chickamauga 5/1864: Battle of the

Wilderness 5/1864: Spotsylvania

Court House

6/1864: Cold Harbor 9/1864: Fall of Atlanta 12/1864: Fall of

Savannah 4/2 1864: Fall of

Richmond 4/9: Appomattox

Surrender

US Grant

History Ideas of warfare

Chancellorsville

Despite doubling Confederate forces in Chancellorsville Virginia, the recently appointed Joseph Hooker is outwitted by Lee’s genius. A devastating Union defeat, a huge victory for Lee.

Key loss: Stonewall Jackson (friendly fire)

The Twin Disasters

Vicksburg and Gettysburg were the turning points of the Civil War. Southern forces endured cataclysmic defeats in both the North and the South, the tide had turned.

They occurred one day from each other and signaled the end of the war.

Vicksburg

Impregnable stronghold that was sieged with a brilliant move by Grant. The civil war’s most brutal reminder of Grant’s total war philosophy.

Vicksburg conclusions

Lee refused the call of the Eastern armies to save western Vicksburg. He felt an invasion of the North to be more important and that eventually the weather would hamper Grant’s efforts.

Grant and the Union controlled the Mississippi, the confederacy had been cut in two.

Emergence of US Grant No British involvement

Gettysburg

Lee’s miscalculation Chancellorsville gets to his head. Invades

North. Meade intercepts the force at Gettysburg, where

Northern forces occupied the high ground atop the field at Little Round Top.

Cemetery Ridge

Lee ordered George Pickett and his men to charge the union forces, fortified atop big and little round tops. The result 28,000 casualties.

The hopeless maneuver cost Lee 1/3 of his battle hardened force.

Last offensive in the North for Lee.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga

Grant’s reputation grows

Rescues victory from the jaws of defeat at Chattanooga and deals a devastating blow to the confederacy as the victory paved the way for Georgia and Sherman’s march to the sea.

Grant v. Lee

Total War v. Strategic War Astonishing casualty totals at:

Wilderness Spotsylvania Court House Cold Harbor

The Overland Campaign

Wilderness Lee negated Grant’s numbers in the trees.

18000 casualties. Usually considered a draw, set the stage for other bloodshed in Spotsylvania County Virginia.

Spotsylvania Court House

Grant moving to Richmond, Lee moves to stop him. 120,000-60,000. Lee inflicts staggering death tolls, but Grant’s total war is taking its toll on the smaller armies.

Cold Harbor

Overland Campain

Grant’s Union Army of the Potomac’s quest to get to Richmond.

Staggering Union defeat that left even Grant bewildered at a 3-1 death toll ratio.

He indicated: "I have always regretted that the last assault at

Cold Harbor was ever made. I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d of May, 1863, at Vicksburg. At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained."

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Grant’s apocalyptic march to Richmond distracted Confederate forces and after union Victories at Chattanooga and Vicksburg, Sherman had a clear path to the sea..

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain paved the way. Goal—”make Georgia howl”. Impact on election of 1864

Kennesaw Mountain

Sherman embraces Lee’s concept of Total War.

Atlanta left in ruin. Only Savannah spared.

The March to the Sea

Scorched Earth, Theft, Destruction, ruined Railroad transportation.

Appomattox Court House

Differing opinions April 7th, 1865 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the U. S. GENERAL: I have received your note of

this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.

R.E. LEE,

HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES OF THE U. S. 5 P. m., April 7th, 1865 GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A.:        

The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General

Generous Terms

Lee was surprised to learn that Grant allowed the men to return home immediately and plant a crop, using their horses to do so.

The Election of 1864

Republican and Democrats divided. Issues ranging from war handling, to emancipation, to finances, to character.

Copperheads Amazing it occurred

at all?

Assassination of Lincoln

Details Impact

Toll