Civil War: Lincoln's Goals and Strategies

Lincoln's Goals and the Start of the Civil War

• Lincoln aimed to preserve the Union, assuring Southerners he wouldn't interfere with slavery.
• The Confederacy still seceded.
• Fort Sumter marked the first shots of the Civil War when Lincoln attempted to resupply the fort.
• Lincoln acted without Congressional approval, sending troops, authorizing war spending, and suspending habeas corpus.

Border States

• Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, and Kentucky were slave states that remained in the Union.
• These states were strategically important, situated near vital locations like Washington D.C. and the Missouri River.

Northern Advantages

• The North boasted a larger population, more railroads and farmland, a stronger navy, and a more stable economy.
• A well-established government and robust industrial base for arms manufacturing further strengthened its position.

Southern Advantages

• Confederate generals enjoyed a reputation for military skill.
• The defensive nature of the war minimized troop mobilization requirements.
• The difficult coastline proved challenging for blockades.
• Strong Southern morale and belief in their cause contributed to their advantage.
• The South's "King Cotton" strategy, relying on British support, though never fully achieved.
• The Confederacy's inherent economic and political weaknesses.

Major Battles and Union Strategy

• The Battle of Bull Run dispelled the notion of a short war and solidified Confederate confidence.
• Subsequent Confederate successes were often attributed to poor Union military management, specifically by General McClellan, a problematic Union General.
• The Anaconda Plan, proposed by Winfield Scott, aimed to strangle the Confederacy by blocking its ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and conquering Richmond.
• Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle, resulted in a tactical "Union Victory" due to Lee's retreat, though McClellan's failure to pursue him ultimately led to his dismissal.
• Shiloh and Vicksburg were key battles that shifted control of the Mississippi River and significantly aided the Union war effort.
• Gettysburg marked a decisive Union victory, ending Confederate advances north.
• Sherman's March employed total war tactics, destroying Confederate infrastructure from Atlanta to Savannah, weakening Southern resources.

Foreign Affairs

• The Trent Affair almost led to war with Britain, averted when Lincoln released the captured British diplomats.
• King Cotton diplomacy failed to secure significant foreign aid for the Confederacy.

End of Slavery

• Confiscation acts empowered Union forces to free slaves who aided the war effort.
• The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in Confederate territories, a critical turning point of the war.
• The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

End of the War

• Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865.
• Lincoln's assassination led to Andrew Johnson taking office.

Effects of the War

• Political changes included a Republican majority in Congress.
• The suspension of habeas corpus and its related legal implications (Ex Parte Milligan) raised significant constitutional issues.
• The Civil War draft spurred social unrest, particularly over the system of wealth-based exemptions.
• Economic shifts included new tariffs (Morrill Tariff Act), the creation of paper currency (greenbacks), and the development of a unified banking system.
• The war spurred considerable industrialization in the North.
• Women took on men's roles, gaining some independence and impacting future feminist movements.

Reconstruction Era - Lincoln's Plans

• Lincoln believed the Southern states had never legally seceded.
• Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863) offered a lenient path to readmission.
• The 10% plan required a loyalty oath from 10% of voters in a region.
• The Wade-Davis Bill proposed stricter terms, emphasizing political loyalty over leniency.

Freedmen's Bureau

• The Freedmen's Bureau was an early welfare agency aimed at supporting recently freed slaves.
• Its roles included providing essential services like aid with food, shelter, medical attention, and education.

Andrew Johnson's Plans and Policy

• Johnson, a white supremacist, took a significantly pro-Southern stance.
• He frequently vetoed Congressional reconstruction bills, leading to increased political tensions.
• His policies embraced leniency for Southern secessionists

Southern Governments' Return

• All Southern states eventually rejoined the Union.
• Black Codes were restrictive state laws limiting African American rights.

Congressional Reconstruction

• Republican-controlled Congress took an increasingly active role in Reconstruction.
• Radical Republicans championed political and social equality for freedmen.

Radical Republicans and Civil Rights

• Key Radical Republicans included Charles Sumner and Benjamin Wade.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1866 extended citizenship to African Americans.
• This directly contradicted the logic of the infamous Dred Scott Supreme Court ruling.

Constitutional Amendments and Impeachment

• The 14th Amendment, guaranteeing citizenship to all regardless of race, and the need for equal protection under the law further set the stage for a reconstruction of society from the ground-up The 15th Amendment granted voting rights to African American males.
• Johnson's impeachment attempt stemmed from his violation of the Tenure of Office Act.

Grant's Presidency and Reconstruction's End

• Grant's presidency was marked by significant corruption.
• Events such as Credit Mobilier and the Whiskey Ring highlighted this issue.
• The Panic of 1873 complicated matters for the newly united nation, but mostly affected the economy of the North
• The rise of the Redeemers, Southern Democrats who sought to regain political control, marked a shift towards a more restrictive Southern regime.

Rise of the KKK

• The Ku Klux Klan used terror tactics against African Americans, demanding that the Reconstruction go into effect in order to stop the violence from their acts
• Congressional Force Acts were subsequently passed to curb the Klan's activities.

Compromise of 1877

• The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction through a political bargain that removed federal troops from the Southern states, paving the way for the subsequent rise of Jim Crow.

Explore the pivotal decisions made by President Lincoln during the early stages of the Civil War. This quiz delves into the strategic advantages of both the North and South, as well as the significance of border states. Test your knowledge on these critical historical events and figures.