Civil War Union Recruitment and Funding

The process of raising money from citizens through the sale of bonds; occurred during the Civil War, marking the first instance of widespread public financial support for a war in American history.

Financial institutions and wealthy individuals who provided substantial loans to the Union government during the Civil War.

The recruitment of soldiers for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Individuals who volunteered to serve in the Union Army for three years, a significant departure from the traditional three-month enlistment.

A system of forced military service implemented by the Union government during the Civil War, where eligible men were required to serve in the army.

Violent protests against the national draft law during the Civil War, primarily driven by working-class individuals, immigrants, and Democrats.

Democrats who opposed the Civil War and advocated for peace.

A derogatory term used by Union supporters to describe Peace Democrats, implying a lack of patriotism and even potential sympathy for the Confederacy.

Lincoln's approach to suppressing opposition during the Civil War, where he disregarded legal challenges, including a Supreme Court writ demanding the release of a secessionist leader.

A Supreme Court ruling in 1866 that military trials in areas with functioning civil courts were unconstitutional, highlighting the tension between wartime authority and civilian liberties.

The use of photographs as a powerful tool for influencing public opinion during the Civil War. It helped show the grim realities of the conflict and inspired the North to sacrifice for the Union cause.

The widespread use of propaganda during the Civil War, including pamphlets, posters, speeches, and songs, to mobilize public support. The North utilized this to build support for the war effort.

A broad coalition formed by the Republican Party in 1864 to unite all supporters of the war during the Civil War.

A War Democrat from Tennessee who ran for vice president with Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election. His support for the Union cause despite his state's secession helped unify the party.

The heavy losses faced by the Republican Party in the 1862 Congressional elections, prompting them to seek a broader base of support for the war effort.

The presidential election of 1864, held amidst political divisions and the ongoing war, significantly impacted the course of the Civil War.

The American Civil War was a significant turning point in warfare, marking the first modern war with its use of new technologies and tactics.

Repeating rifles, like the Winchester, allowed soldiers to fire multiple shots quickly, increasing firepower and changing battle tactics.

Improved cannons and artillery, fueled by advancements in iron and steel, made battles more devastating and required new fighting strategies.

The deadly effectiveness of repeating weapons and artillery forced soldiers to abandon traditional fighting methods for more defensive strategies.

Hot-air balloons were used sparingly to provide a temporary view of enemy formations, highlighting an early use of aerial reconnaissance.

Ironclad ships, torpedoes, and submarine technology were emerging but didn't play a major role in the Civil War, foreshadowing the future of naval warfare.

The railroad network greatly improved communication and transportation for both sides, allowing for faster troop movement and supply lines.

The telegraph provided near-instantaneous communication over long distances, significantly impacting military operations and decision-making.

The capture of New Orleans in April 1862 was a major turning point in the Civil War, allowing the Union to control the mouth of the Mississippi River and close a crucial trade route for the Confederacy.

The Union's strategy was to seize control of the Mississippi River, aiming to split the Confederacy in two and provide the North with a key transportation route into the South.

The Confederate Army's defensive line was stretched thin, leading to weaknesses that Union forces recognized and exploited.

The Battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862, was a major clash between Union forces under Grant and Confederate forces under Johnston and Beauregard. It was a bloody battle with heavy losses on both sides.

The Union's victory at Fort Henry led to their success at Fort Donelson, putting the Confederacy back on its heels and giving the Union control of critical river communications.

Grant's forces were caught by surprise by the Confederates at Shiloh, but after two days of heavy fighting, the Union ultimately emerged victorious.

After the victory at Fort Donelson, Grant advanced south to secure railroad lines crucial to the Confederacy's supply network.

The Confederates under Johnston and Beauregard were able to catch Grant's forces unexpectedly at Shiloh, resulting in a fierce and bloody battle.

During the Civil War, women in the South took on roles traditionally held by men, managing farms, working in government, and providing nursing care due to the large number of men absent at war.

The Civil War challenged the traditional Southern belief that women were unfit for public roles, as many women took on crucial responsibilities during the conflict.

The Civil War resulted in a significant gender imbalance in the South, with many more women than men due to the war's heavy casualties. This led to a larger number of unmarried or widowed women.

The heightened fear of slave revolts during the Civil War led Confederate leaders to enforce stricter slave codes and regulations.

Many enslaved people, particularly those near the front lines, took advantage of the Civil War to escape their slaveholders and seek freedom in Union-controlled territories.

The absence of slaveholders and overseers at war led to increased resistance to authority from enslaved people, who found it easier to resist the women and boys left behind to manage plantations.

In the Civil War, the North's military strategy focused on destroying the Confederacy, while the South's primary goal was to avoid defeat.

The North held the military initiative in the Civil War, meaning they had the ability to choose when and where to engage in battle, while the South was largely reactive.

The Confederacy, unlike the Union, did not establish a consistent currency system. This resulted in various entities, including the national government, states, cities, and private banks, all issuing their own money, leading to significant confusion in the South.

The massive inflation experienced in the South was drastically worse than what the North faced. Prices in the Confederacy rose by a staggering 9,000 percent, compared to an 80 percent increase in the North, having a devastating impact on the South's morale.

The Confederate government, like the Union, initially relied on volunteers to build their army. However, as the war progressed, enlistments decreased, forcing the Confederacy to implement a draft in 1862, compelling all white men aged 18-35 into service.

The Conscription Act in the Confederacy allowed individuals to avoid military service if they provided a substitute. The high cost of substitutes made things difficult for poorer Southerners, leading to the repeal of the substitute provision in 1863.

The Confederate Conscription Act exempted one white man from each plantation with at least 20 enslaved people, creating controversy. This fueled resentment among smaller farmers, who argued that it was a conflict fueled by wealth, but fought by the ordinary people.

Despite the implementation of conscription, Confederate manpower began to dwindle after 1862. This was partly because Union forces had taken control of significant parts of the Confederacy, isolating many from recruitment efforts.

As the Confederacy faced a severe manpower shortage in early 1864, drastic measures were taken, including extending the draft to include men as young as 17 and as old as 50. This, however, proved ineffective, as exhaustion and a sense of inevitability prevailed in the South, hindering recruitment and retention attempts.

The Confederacy's financial situation, hampered by excessive printing of paper money and lack of a uniform currency system, resulted in uncontrollable inflation, a drastic drop in the value of Confederate currency, causing widespread economic hardship and contributing to the South's defeat.