War and Society

Economic and Social Effects of the Civil War

Economic effects of the war Although both sides experienced difficulties

during the war, the South was the hardest hit: Food shortages hurt civilians and soldiers alike Inflation caused prices to rise by 9000 percent Slaves resisted by slowing the work pace or escaping,

hurting the economy further

Northerners have to sacrifice as well, but the Union has a few major advantages:

War production boosts Northern industry and strengthens the economy

The federal government also steps in to help pay for the war First income tax (1861) New paper currency, aka “greenbacks” (1862)

Opposition to the war rises…

SOUTH Southerners grew very weary

of the war and the sacrifices they had to make

By the end of 1863, nearly 40 percent of troops had left the army

In addition, the principle of states’ rights hurt the Confederate war effort

Disagreements between states made it more difficult to coordinate the war effort – no clear leader!

NORTH Not all Northerners supported

the war either! Think about the Election of

1864 (Lincoln vs. McClellan) Lincoln’s main opponents in

the North were “Copperheads” Copperhead = poisonous

snake that strikes without warning

Symbol for Northerners who sympathized with the South...seen as traitors!

“Copperheads” in the North

"Annihilation to Traitors," screams the American Eagle as it watches various creatures hatching in its nest enfolded in the American flag. Various southern secession leaders are named, while a copperhead snake, prepares to strike at the national symbol. The Union states are represented as healthy eggs, holding out promise for the future.

Draft laws!

In 1863, both North and South passed laws of conscription requiring men to serve in the armed forces Although the North had a larger overall population, they still

needed more soldiers as the war dragged on and the casualties piled up…

In addition, the North offered $300 “bounties” (cash rewards) to those who volunteered to fight instead As a result, fewer men were drafted

Both sides allowed for draftees to hire substitutes to take their place….why was this a problem?

What a riot…

Angered by the fact that rich men were virtually exempt form the draft, frightened by the prospect of job competition from freed southern slaves, and frustrated by the lack of resolution on the battlefield, working men took to the streets in New York City during the summer of 1863 to protest against the war. Well-dressed men, African Americans, and leading war advocates were the main targets of mob violence during three nights of uncontrolled rioting. As this illustration shows, federal troops finally put down the rioting in a series of battles around the city. (Collection of Picture Research Consultants & Archives)

Women and the warWomen played key roles in the war effort, serving as nurses, volunteer relief workers, and even spies….

Treating Civil War CasualtiesWounded at FredericksburgIn this photograph, taken outside an army hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia, one of the many women who served as nurses during the Civil War sits with some of her wounded charges. Medical facilities and treatment for the wounded were woefully inadequate; most of those who were not killed outright by the primitive surgical practices of the day either died from their wounds or from secondary infections. (Library of Congress)

Civil War Camps

Salisbury, North Carolina

Civil War prison camps were not all deprivation. This illustration shows

Union prisoners of war playing baseball. (Library of Congress)

Andersonville, Georgia

More than 13,000 soldiers died of starvation and disease at

Andersonville, the most infamous prison of the Civil War