Civil War (1861-1865)

Civil War

(1861-1865)

Background:

• USA are divided into North and South by different economical systems

• North: industry, banking, international trade, expanding railway network

• South: manly agriculture (cotton, little rice, sugar, tobacco), rather poor railway connections

A conflict rises: 41522eqq98zxc8n

1800 - 1840: cotton production rises by factor 18 (approx. 300 million kg per year)

• slaves are used as cheap workers

• expansion of state area necessary, because cotton monoculture exhausted the soil

• South: pro slavery attitude: "not responsible for it, cultural habit", "more humane under slavery system than under the northern wages system" qx522e1498zxxc

Northern antislavery movement:

1808: Congress abolishes slave trade with Africa

• afterwards antislavery-protest maintained by Quakers

1831: Garrison publishes "The Liberator"

• appeals for uncompromising and complete liberation

• radical, combative, uncompromising

• "Underground Railroad"(Northerners freed slaves from the South)

1820: Missouri Compromise (slavery was limited to states where it already existed)

1845: Texas annexed (always had slavery)

1846: USA expand westwards (California, Utah, New Mexico)

• conflict about slavery issue:

• extent Missouri Compromise to the West?

• let the new states decide ("popular sovereignty")

1848: gold rush in California

• slavery issue had to be solved, before new government could be established

1850: Compromise of 1850

• free soil constitution in California

• New Mexico and Utah organised without mention of slavery

• more effective machinery to catch runaways

• Northerners improve Underground Railroad

• no slave trade in D.C., but still slavery

• relieve of political situation, but no solution

1852: North influenced by "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"

1854: quarrel renewed, because Kansas and Nebraska were being settled

• it was permitted to bring slaves into these states, but they were free to decide about slavery issue

• Lincoln holds speech against slavery ("The slavery issue has to be decided by the whole USA, not by single states)

1858: Lincoln candidate for US Senate election

lost election, but became famous with speeches

1860: wins president election for the young Republican party

• South Carolina leaves Union

• 6 other southern states follow

1861 (8.2.): South forms Confederate States of America and vote Jefferson Davis as their

president

Civil War begins:

1861: (4.3.): Lincoln was sworn in as president

• refused to recognise secession of southern states (legally void)

• plea to restore the Union

• Confederates begin war against the Union on April 12

• 4 new states join Confederation

• Union: 23 industry states, population of 22 million; naval supremacy of east American coast (sea blockade); famous commander: Ulysses S. Grant

• Confederation: 11 agricultural states, population of 9 million; famous commander: Robert E. Lee

1863: (1.1.): Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation

• freeing slaves; inviting them to join northern army

• July: 3-day-battle in Gettysburg

• Lee’s army was defeated

• major turning point in war

• southern resources near by their end

• northern industry improved by war, agricultural export improved by sea blockade

1864: Lincoln is voted president again

1865: (2.4.) Lee surrenders

• terms of surrender not too strict as America is still one nation

After War Policy:

• March: 13^th amendment to US constitution (abolishes slavery and introduces Freedman’s bureau)

• 4.4.:Lincoln’s speech proclaiming a generous reconstruction policy

• 13.4.: Washington celebrates victory

• 14.4: Lincoln assassinated, died next morning

• Andrew Johnson new president

• Southern-states-issue: Lincoln: secession never was legal

• states never left union

• southern individuals made states disregard authority, only individuals should be punished

• Johnson appoints governors for southern states, then they elect their own governments

1866: 14^th Amendment (blacks gain citizenship)

• refused by the South

• Reconstruction act of March 1867

• southern governments are ignored and are divided into 5 districts placed under military rule

• states could avoid military rule by ratifying the 14^th amendment

1868: 14^th Amendment is ratified by all States

1870: 15^th Amendment (the right to vote for everyone)

• 
  Reconstruction:

• many southern States rejoined Union with new governments, mainly consisting of northern politicians

• Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi: mainly black politicians

• acts of violence by southern whites

• Enforcement Act: punishment for whites ignoring the blacks’ rights

1872 (May): Amnesty Act: restoring full political privileges (except radical confederates)

1877: President Rutherford Hayes removes troops and admits failure of reconstruction policy

Source material: "AN OUTLINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY"; photos and maps: U.S. Civil War Center ()

Research: Benedikt Volmer and

Layout:

Lecturer: Benedikt Volmer