The American The American Civil War (1861-Civil War (1861-65)65)Impact on Canadian Impact on Canadian ConfederationConfederation

Causes of American Causes of American Civil WarCivil War

By 1850: Southern states concerned over slavery's future

As U. S. expanded westward, "free" (non-slave) states would outnumber "slave" states

Once outnumbered, would the federal government to abolish slavery?

Causes of American Causes of American Civil WarCivil War

Post 1850: "States' rights" became the central issue

Southern "slave" states claimed that the federal government had no legal right to abolish slavery

It was a matter for individual states to decide

Causes of American Causes of American Civil WarCivil War

1850s: Tensions between North and South intensify as "free" states outnumber "slave" states in US Senate

November 1860: Republican Abraham Lincoln elected President

Lincoln opposed both slavery and states' rights

Southern states fear that Lincoln's government will abolish slavery

Causes of American Causes of American Civil WarCivil War

1860 Election - North vs. South

Outbreak of Civil WarOutbreak of Civil WarDecember 1860: South Carolina becomes first Southern state to secede (withdraw from the US)

Other Southern states follow

Southern state legislatures order American federal troops to leave their territory

Lincoln refuses to withdraw federal troops

April 1861: South Carolina militia attack federal garrison at Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor - American Civil War begins

Two Contrasting Two Contrasting FoesFoes

Larger Population

Strong Industrial Base

Control of Navy

Northern Strengths:

To win war, had to invade and defeat the South

Northern Obstacles:

General Winfield Scott, Commander of the Union Army

General Ulysses S. Grant (later US President)

Two Contrasting Two Contrasting FoesFoes

Majority of Army officers

Could fight a defensive war

Southern Strengths:

Smaller population

No industrial base

No navy

Southern Weaknesses:

General Robert E. Lee, Commander of Confederate Army

Jefferson Davis, President of Confederate States of America

British - American British - American RelationsRelations

Britain sympathized with the South but remained officially neutral

South was major supplier of cotton for British textile industry

Southern society, like Britain, contained distinct social classes

As war progressed, several incidents persuaded the North that Britain was actively supporting the South

The Trent Affair The Trent Affair (1861)(1861)

November 1861: Union warship stops British steamer Trent at gunpoint in neutral waters

Two Confederate delegates heading to London arrested

Britain outraged at "violation of their sovereignty"

North convinced that Britain is secretly supporting the South

Britain sends 14 000 troops to British North America to defend colonies against possible American attack

The The AlabamaAlabama Affair Affair

British shipyard builds warship Alabama for the Southern Confederacy

Alabama captured Northern commercial ships for two years before it was destroyed by Northern Navy in 1864

US claims that Britain owes them $4 billion as compensation for damage and losses ("Alabama claims")

St. Alban's RaidSt. Alban's Raid

1864: South losing warDesperate Confederate soldiers gather in Montreal

October 1864: Confederates cross border, rob banks in St. Alban's, Vermont and flee back to Canada

Soldiers arrested but later released and given back money from the robberies

North even more convinced of Britain's support for the South

American government now angry at Canada as well

The Struggle Over The Struggle Over SlaverySlavery

1850: Congress passes Fugitive Slave Act

Owners of runaway slaves permitted to recapture their "property" anywhere within the US, even states where slavery is not legal

Runaway slaves no longer "safe" anywhere in the US

Slave owners hire "bounty hunters" to bring back runaway slaves, dead or alive

Canada becomes only "safe haven" for slaves in North America

Abolitionists and religious groups (Quakers) organize network of "safe houses" to smuggle runaway slaves from Northern states into Canada

Canada West receives large number of runaway slaves (esp. Niagara Peninsula)

Harriet Tubman and other African Americans risk their lives to protect runaway slaves from capture

The Underground The Underground RailroadRailroad

The End of SlaveryThe End of Slavery

January 1, 1863: Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slavery abolished in states that had seceded from the Union

Many runaway slaves join Northern army, believing a Northern victory will result in end of slavery

The American Civil The American Civil War EndsWar Ends

April 9, 1865: General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox

Two days later, Lincoln makes speech suggesting voting rights for blacks

April 14, 1865: John Wilkes Booth assassinates Lincoln as he sits in the balcony of the Ford Theatre with his wife, watching a play

The Fenian The Fenian BrotherhoodBrotherhood

Fenian Brotherhood: Irish organization founded in New York in 1858 to win Irish independence from Britain

At close of American Civil War, hundreds of unemployed Civil War veterans join the Fenians

The Fenian The Fenian BrotherhoodBrotherhood

We are the Fenian Brotherhood

Trained in the arts of war

We're going to fight for Ireland

The land that we adore

Many a battle we have won

Along with the boys in blue

Now we're going to capture Canada

For we've nothing else to do!

The Fenian Raids The Fenian Raids (1866)(1866)

Fenians gather in Maine and northern New York state

Plan: capture British North America and hold it for ransom in exchange for Irish independence

One invasion at Ridgeway, CW is defeated (June 1866)

"Fenian threat" in particular pressures reluctant New Brunswick into Confederation in 1867

Pressure for UnionPressure for UnionBritish North American colonies increasingly concerned about American attack

Retaliation for British "support" of South during Civil War

Fenian threat along Canada West and New Brunswick borders

British North American union seen as means of strengthening ability to defend themselves against American aggression

End of Reciprocity End of Reciprocity (1866)(1866)

1864: American government announces end to Reciprocity in 1866

Reasons: A) Retaliation for British support of South during Civil War

B) Some Americans believe that BNA would have no choice but to join the US

Intercolonial Intercolonial RailroadRailroad

BNA union becomes alternative to Reciprocity

Increase intercolonial trade

Finance construction of Intercolonial Railroad to connect Canada to ice-free Atlantic ports

Increase competitiveness on world markets

British Pressure for British Pressure for UnionUnion

BNA union would make building of Intercolonial Railroad easier (one central government responsible for financing/construction)

United BNA could assume more responsibility for its own defense, reducing costs to Britain and problems in relations with the USA

British PM Disraeli: Colonies were "millstones" around the neck of the British Empire

Britain did all it could to advance the cause of BNA union in the mid-1860s