Civil War Notes 1

Origins/Path to the U.S. Civil War

*Slavery was the main component that lead to the Civil War

Importance- fought on own land, against self, end of institution of slavery, cost in human life (630-650 thousand deaths associated with war)(pop. = 30 mill then)

*How did US territorial expansion contribute to the US Civil War?

  • Examples of Expansion (1845-1861)
  • Texas (1845)
  • Oregon (1846)- Oregon, Washington, Part of Idaho
  • Mexican Cession (1848)- New Mexico, Arizona, California *, parts of Nevada, Colorado and Utah
  • Gadsden Purchase (1853)- to construct a southern transcontinental railroad
  • Lead to tension between the north and South associated with the determination of slavery in the territories  who had the authority to determine the fate of slavery in the territories

*Manifest Destiny- divinely ordained, God has chosen the American people, to spread the US from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts

  • Assumptions: our way of life was better, superior
  • Form of government- republican democracy
  • Religion- Protestant is the truest form of Christianity
  • Economic system- Protestant work ethic would make good use of land; west had greater access to goods and services, capitalistic work system and maximization of resources
  • Even after we achieved a Pacific coast, we still expanded- Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti
  • Americans have larger population density than the French in Louisiana Purchase  why France sold it (justification)
  • Demographic

The Annexation of Texas (1845)

*Background

  • 1835-1836  Texas Independence Movement
  • American citizens/ former American citizens led the revolution in Texas: because Mexican government gave land grants to Americans
  • Issues with the form of government- dictator (Santa Ana)
  • Santa Ana attempting to crack down on control over Texas: pay taxes, make sure they practice Catholicism, Texas had previously become largely self-governed
  • Sam Houston- military brains; Stephen Austin- political brains of the Texas Independence Movement
  • Mexican government was very close to abolishing slavery throughout Mexico  unacceptable to the slaveholding Americans who inhabit Texas
  • Economy of east Texas largely cotton (also corn, indigo, rice)
  • Texans had no say in the Mexican government and the decision to abolish slavery

*The Alamo

  • Rallying call (200 Tejanos with fort, 10,000 Mexican troops) “Remember the Alamo” American heros present at the Alamo (James Bowie, Davey Crockett)

*San Jacinto- battle that led Texa to it’s independence (Texans were vastly outnumbered); large lunch/siesta was the downfall of Mexicans because Houston chose to attack during their siesta- Santa Ana was wounded in attack. Santa Ana signed treaty, though Mexican government denied the legitimacy of the treaty because Santa Ana was duress

  • 1836 (achieve independence)  1845 (annexed) were not immediately annexed
  • Treaties require a 2/3 majority approval of US Senate but there was dispute over slavery in Texas. (North did not approve)
  • Texans began serious negotiations with Britain (The Lone Star Republic) which was absurd because Britain had abolished slavery and fought against slavery in other countries but did so in order to put pressure on US (and more distant political center)
  • 1845 President Tyler annexed Texas through the use of a joint resolution which only requires a simple majority of votes in Congress to pass it (Tyler’s only legacy) – passed 3 days prior to Tyler’s leaving office

*Polk’s Presidency (1845-1849)-Southern, slaveholding democrat

  • “54’40 or Fight”- Polk’s campaign slogan of what he promised to set the boundary of our country or flight with the British for the land  Negotiated and compromised a 49° border and acquired Oregon Territory (perception is that Oregon Territory was halved in negotiations = no war  less “free” land; so that we could fight with Mexico over a slave state  “Slave Power”)
  • Polk was the architect of the “Slave Power”

*Causes of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

  1. When US annexed Texas, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations = tensions associated with the annexation of Texas. Claimed they still controlled Texas because the independence treaty was signed under duress. Stopped paying the over $3 million debt.
  2. * Polk wanted to fulfill Manifest Destiny by buying California (almost ½ of Mexico) but Mexico refused his offer (in San Francisco, there was a natural deporter port) and New Mexico to trade with Asia/China; Wouldn’t formally entertain the offer because angry with the US over Texas, thought California was worth more and it would be political suicide to sell half of national territory, issue of slavery.
  3. Pre-existing border dispute: Polk put troops in the disputed area of Texas, where Mexican territory and Texas territorial boundaries were…
  4. US/Texan position: Rio Grande
  5. Mexican position: Nueces River

In 19th century, Rio Grande was a large navigable river = movement of goods. Nueces River was not as nice of a river. There was arable land between the Rio Grande and Nueces River.

  1. Polk put troops in the disputed territory in order to instigate an offensive attack by the Mexicans so that we would have a justification to go to war – “American blood shed on American soil.”
  2. Lincoln was one of the few who questioned Polk’s motives
  • Fought most of the war in Northern Mexico but fought one major battle in Central Mexico at Vera Cruz (naval attack). Most Mexican soldiers were fighting in the North, so few experienced soldiers were available to fight against the Americans at Vera Cruz. They were mostly young adult and children (ages 13-18). Americans took over the capital, Mexico City. Many people suggested we annex all of Mexico because we had conquered the capital and had the ability to do so but we did not because most Mexicans lived in central/southern Mexico. Americans didn’t know what to do with the Mexicans if they had taken over the whole country, thought they were a mongrel race (though mestizo). American racism saved Mexico from losing its entire territory.

Effects

*Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)

  • Senate ratified the treaty (2/3)
  • US government paid Mexico $15 million and assumed the $3.25 million debt owed to US citizens by Mexican government- American people didn’t want to feel guilty
  • US got California, New Mexico*… which was over ½ of Mexican national territory
  • Polk oversaw the annexation of the most amount of territory in US history

*There were 13,000 American deaths and 50,000 Mexican deaths. (Most died from disease and unsanitary camp conditions.)

*Military experience of the military generals that prepared them for future Civil War officers (Lee, Grant) (the Civil War lasted longer = more deaths)

* More tense relations with U.S. and Mexico and U.S. and Latin America (before, U.S. was seen as a big brother to Latin America = looked up to U.S./wanted to emulate U.S. We were the protectors of Latin America because of the Monroe Doctrine.) Lead to the demise of this Big brother/protector image  increase in bad neighbor perception.

  • Monroe Doctrine (1823)- The Americans were closed to any future colonization (we were concerned Britain would take advantage of weak newly independent countries)(self-interested: protect U.S. from future European attacks and trade with Latin America)

*Debates over status of slavery in new territories  Civil War

*Wilmot Proviso- People thought that this war was fought to procure slave states. Amendment was added to a military appropriations bill (started in house because only ones elected directly by the people).

  • Slavery would be banned in all land acquired from Mexico.
  • This never became law but was important because it proves the existence of a “Slave Power.”
  • The issue in 1848 election was the Wilmot Proviso.

*Compromise of 1850

  • Background: Path to statehood of land acquired by Mexico was dramatically accelerated due to the discovery of gold in northern California. Probably the most lawless place during the Gold Rush (especially in respect to Native Americans – about 90% died within the first 5 years)  need to create law and order. Petition into Union as free state (because there were few slaves there) significant section of California below the 36°30’ line. Southern states discuss secession or disillusion “crisis”
  • North- California admitted as a free state, slave trade ended in Washington D.C.; New Mexico granted territory from Texas (NM, UT opened to slavery but as pop. sov.)
  • South- slavery was to remain legal in D.C.; *Stronger fugitive slave laws in 1850- grossly unfair (= more belief in a “slave power”)
  • Denied trial by jury – judges determined guilt or innocence
  • Marshalls/Judges paid $5 if bring in a “runaway slave”  $10 if found guilty. Free blacks should be entitled to due process but they weren’t = ABSURD!
  • Defendants had no ability to cross-examine prosecution witnesses
  • Defendants could not call witnesses on their behalf (or really present any tangible evidence)
  • Those who convicted of assisting runaway slaves had to do community service (assisting U.S. Marshalls/bounty hunters  becoming slave catchers/hunters)

Northern states ban together and say they won’t enforce it. South claimed Northerners were violating Constitution (but South violates Const. too.) Greater hostility from North to South.

  • $10 million to slave states
  • NM and UT possibly opened to slavery
  • Congress pledged they had no authority to regulate interstate slave trade (because they would/could blame possible secession on North.)

*Presidents of 1850’s- relatively unknown because they didn’t provide strong leadership

  1. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850) died
  2. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853) took Taylor’s place
  3. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)- from New Hampshire- appealed to Northerners but was a pro-slavery, pro-southerner and didn’t believe slavery was a significant issue. U.S. foreign policy/imperialism: Gadsden Purchase
  4. James Buchanan (1857-1861)- Southern Democrat (did not stand on divisive issues) president when secession began

*U.S. Foreign Policy under Pierce

  1. Matthew Perry’s expedition to Japan- ultimatum: open ports to American vessels/commerce or we will launch attacks on ports (use naval superiority and artillery)
  2. Aggressive foreign policy shocked them out of self-imposed isolation = very quick modernization (became VERY powerful)
  3. Ostend Manifesto- Cuba was the most lucrative island in Caribbean. Wanted to annex Cuba. Secret plan to acquire Cuba from Spain- Purchase! $120 million (Belgium). Also, a contingency plan to create the necessary military force if negotiations did not go well with Spain. Slavery was legal in Cuba = upset people in the North (secret, $, slave status, possible war could result)(end up going to war  later)
  4. William Walker’s Nicaraguan Campaign wanted Nicaragua annexed into U.S. (he had become President of Nicaragua) American Citizen. Deposed the legitimate Nicaraguan government and became president and wanted Nicaragua to be annexed as a slave state (no direct connection to U.S. government.)

*Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

  • Key provision: (Republican party was established by those who do not agree with it) Popular sovereignty would determine the status of slavery in Kansas and Nebraska territories (referendum).
  • Background:
  • Primary sponsor was Stephen Douglass (senior senator of Illinois- Democrat)
  • Wanted a federally funded transcontinental railroad (had to do something for the South so that they would vote for a Northern route through Illinois). Gain support of Southerners for a northern federally funded railroad.
  • He also aspired to be the President and wanted to gain the support of people in his state.
  • Bought a significant amount of land to the west = personal economic motives (land would appreciate)
  • By sponsoring Kansas-Nebraska Act, he would gain Southern Democrats but instead many Northern Democrats joined the Republican Party
  • Effects: invalidated the Missouri Compromise (superseded); had a referendum
  • Referendum  fraud, corruption (created many problems) those who weren’t entitled to vote who voted, or voted multiple times typically people from Missouri (moreso on proslavery side and seemed to indicate proslavery in Kansas but was called into question.  “Bleeding Kansas”
  • “Bleeding Kansas” – mini- Civil War: fighting over slavery
  • “Beecher’s Bibles”- Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin (antislavery book) dramatic impact on people in North. The south banned this book (makes south feel attacked). Henry Ward Stowe asked for donation so he could buy guns/weapons for abolitionists in Kansas – to be used.
  • Pottawatamie Creek- John Brown’s attack at – God told him he was chosen to lead a bloody attack against slavery and he was the one to initiate it. Attack carried out in a biblical fashion – attacked men in their tents with swords. (ardent abolitionist).
  • Congressional violence- senators claimed other senators were responsible  Sen. Sumner said something negative about South Carolina senator and his family member beat Sumner in his congressional office with a cane- causing life-threatening injuries. Abolitionists were like dogs- beat them into submission (100’s of people in South sent canes to the cane man.)
  • Political issues- 2 governments organizes themselves in Kansas. When both entities petitioned Congress for admission to the Union, neither were accepted= reason it was not annexed in 1850’s.
  • Political Realignment- lead to the demise of the Whigs, defection of Northern Democrats (became regional political party  Southern) Establishment of the Republican Party (six months after K-N Act) because of the outgrowth due to K-N Act. No expansion of slavery! Stop emancipation of slaves  ¾ must approve a Const. amendment = long term extinction of slavery. They adopted other stances to broaden their appeal.

*Immediate Caused of the Civil War

  1. Election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860
  2. Secession of South Carolina in December 1860  political debate: do states have the right to secede from the U.S.? (which started due to slavery- Republicans gained the presidency and control Congress) states from the lower South were more likely to secede because most fighting would take place in the Upper South  less likely to secede
  3. Northern/Republican position- NO! Generally opposed to secession.

-The people created the U.S. and only the people can dissolve it.

  • Confederate (South- YES!) States ratified that Constitution so states have the right to un-ratify the constitution- SECEDE (state conventions were called to ratify Const.)
  1. Failure to Compromise
  2. Crittenden Compromise- Kentucky senator didn’t want war in Kentucky/South and so passed a compromise calling for the extension of the 36°30’ line (via Const. amendment) to Pacific Ocean
  3. Republican leaders were vehemently opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories. (Southerners blames it on Lincoln)
  4. If Republicans had agreed to it- Southerners would have opposed- Dred Scott Case
  5. Attack at Fort Sumter

*1861-1865 (4 years)- surprising because of the South’s few advantages (surprising Confederacy lasted so long.)

  • Advantages of the Union
  • Population was MUCH greater

Exs. Union had 2.5 to 1 advantage

22 million; 9 million (1/3 of which were slaves)

Population disparity is greater.

(slaves continued growing cotton to purchase ships/artillery from England)

-1864: 44% of free, military aged men were enlisted in the Union military

90% in the Confederacy

(56% of Union men can help contribute by other means.) (Women had a greater role in the war because there were more men off fighting.)

-Women in the Confederacy- more likely to work outside of the home, head of households, nurses (though not a female dominated profession), factory workers

-1:4.4 Confederacy to Union free, military aged men

-2:1 men in Union army to Confederate army

  • Industrial Output: 10 to 1 factory output

-Iron production: 15 to 1 (ind. Input raw “ingredient” for weapons)

-Firearms: 32 to 1 (if this number remained constant, war would not have lasted so long) (Confederacy went on crash course to try to catchup making own weapons- new urban center of Confederacy= Atlanta. Industrial Capital of South of Confederacy, so when Atlanta fell to Union- burnt city to ground (Birmingham- steel capital).

-Textiles: 14 to 1 (for a white there was still commerce between North and South but began to produce own textiles)(uniforms-Union)

-Naval Ship Tonnage (carrying capacity) owned by government designed to wage war (union had established Navy, Confederacy did not) 25 to 1

-Merchant Ship Tonnage (Union sold wheat on international markets  imposed to 9 to 1.

-Coal production (energy source) factor input- 38 to 1.

-Railroads (mileage) 2.4 to 1 transport supplies to the troops (food, medical supplies, ammunition, artillery)

  • Agricultural Output

-Wheat (North) 4.2 to 1

-Corn (south) 2 to 1

-Wheat kept the British out of the war because they bought wheat from North  can’t support south in war. Union did not have major food shortages to the war – Confederacy had major food shortages because they couldn’t sufficiently produce staple good products.

-7000% inflation over 4 years. (hyperinflation)

-Significant amount of hoarding farmlands were destroyed = food shortage because fought on Southern land.

  • Livestock 1.8 to 1 domesticate- eat Union lost 500 horses/day (Kentucky-horse capital)

-Wealth 3 to 1

  • U.S. had existing government (80years) Confederacy had to plan out government (Const. laws, etc.)

-Nominate candidates for office

-Establish laws/determine tax collection

-U.S had established: Dept. of War/Defense, Treasury Dept., State Dept., U.S. Army (Westpoint), U.S. Navy (Anapolis)

-After Fort Sumter, there was a lull in fighting = able to establish a government

  • Union had a more sophisticated banking/finance system which when combined with far greater ability to finance a major war (banking center- New York City southerners did invest in Northern industry)
  • Methods of Financing the War
  1. Raise existing axes, levy new taxes
  2. Loans
  3. Print More money = inflation

*Confederate Advantages

  1. Economy- cotton production 24 to 1
  2. Confederates had a greater number of experienced, decorated and well-trained military leaders.
  3. Union’s goal was more difficult to achieve – had to conquer entire Confederacy where the Confederacy simply needed to make the cost of the war too high for the Union so that the Union would withdraw. (Confederates did not have to conquer/defeat the Union; rather, they sought to make the cost of the Union achieving its objective (reunification) greater than what the Union public would be willing to be
  4. Confederates were planning on fighting a primarily defensive war.

*Advantages Associated with Defensive Warfare