Politics and Economics of the Civil War

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was one of the primary concerns regarding the treatment of the Confederate states after the Civil War?

How to reintegrate the Southern economy.

Whether to re-establish trade relations quickly.

How the defeated states would be treated. (correct)

When to schedule future elections in the South.

What was Lincoln’s approach towards the emancipation of slaves early in the Civil War?

He immediately freed all slaves in the border states.

He supported the enactment of the Confiscation Act without hesitation.

He sought to empower military leaders to dictate emancipation.

He resisted demands for immediate emancipation to maintain border state loyalty. (correct)

Which military action taken by General John C. Frémont was countermanded by Lincoln?

Confiscating property and emancipating slaves. (correct)

Supporting the Fugitive Slave Act.

Allowing runaway slaves to join the Union army.

Declaring martial law in Missouri.

What significant act allowed captured or runaway slaves to support the Union effort?

The Confiscation Act of 1861. Signup and view all the answers

What did Lincoln's proposed plan for gradual emancipation aim to achieve?

Long-term resolution to the slavery problem while placating border slave states. Signup and view all the answers

What major problem did the Confederacy face in securing loans during the Civil War?

Inability to secure loans from overseas Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of inflation on the Confederate dollar by the end of the Civil War?

It dropped to just over one and a half cents in gold Signup and view all the answers

How did Lincoln's actions during the Civil War affect civil liberties?

He suspended the writ of habeas corpus for suspected disloyalty Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the South's wartime revenue came from taxes during the Civil War?

Less than five percent Signup and view all the answers

What was 'shoddy' used for during the Civil War?

Making low-quality uniforms Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus?

Detention of individuals without formal charges Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the Union at the outset of the Civil War?

Restoration of the Union Signup and view all the answers

What was a key characteristic of the 'greenbacks' used during the war?

Signup and view all the answers

What did the Supreme Court declare unconstitutional in Ex parte Milligan in 1866?

The reliance on military courts for trying civilians Signup and view all the answers

How much did prices rise in the South during the Civil War compared to the Union?

More than nine thousand percent Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary strategy employed by Sherman during his campaign?

Total war Signup and view all the answers

Which candidate did the Democrats nominate in the 1864 election?

George McClellan Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Lincoln win reelection?

1864 Signup and view all the answers

What significant battle victory bolstered Lincoln's campaign in 1864?

Farragut's victory in Mobile Signup and view all the answers

Where did the formal surrender of Lee's troops take place?

Appomattox Court House Signup and view all the answers

What action did Jefferson Davis take as the Confederate capital fell?

He fled Richmond Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of soldiers cast their ballots for Lincoln in the 1864 election?

80% Signup and view all the answers

Which general was in charge of the remaining Confederate troops in North Carolina?

Joseph E. Johnston Signup and view all the answers

How did Lincoln die?

Assassination Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment was part of Lincoln's campaign platform in 1864?

Amendment abolishing slavery Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary objective of General Lee's army during the campaign that led to the Battle of Gettysburg?

To bring the war to Northern territory Signup and view all the answers

Which battle is considered the turning point that marked the Confederacy's significant defeat?

Battle of Gettysburg Signup and view all the answers

What was the main consequence of the surrender at Vicksburg?

The Union secured total control of the Mississippi River Signup and view all the answers

What strategy did Ulysses S. Grant employ during his command of Union forces in 1864?

A war of attrition with continuous attacks Signup and view all the answers

What major action did William T. Sherman take during the Atlanta campaign?

To collect and burn war materials in Atlanta Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Union forces' engagement during the battles against General Lee?

Extremely heavy casualties with continuous attacks Signup and view all the answers

What did President Lincoln ultimately find in Ulysses S. Grant as his commander?

A decisive and aggressive general Signup and view all the answers

During which engagement did General Pickett's charge occur?

Battle of Gettysburg Signup and view all the answers

Which two theaters of operation were primary for Grant in 1864?

Virginia and Georgia Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the battles at Gettysburg and Vicksburg?

The Confederacy was effectively split and weakened Signup and view all the answers

Which act granted 160 acres of land free of charge to any farmer who worked it for five years?

The Homestead Act Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant source of revenue for the Union's war effort that also increased the national debt?

Greenbacks Signup and view all the answers

Which piece of legislation established a framework for the construction of the first transcontinental railroad?

The Pacific Railroad Act Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Morrill Land Grant Act?

To establish agricultural colleges Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the mechanisms used by the Union to finance the Civil War?

Higher tariffs and excise taxes Signup and view all the answers

What were 'greenbacks' during the Civil War?

Paper money printed as legal tender Signup and view all the answers

Which outcome resulted from the Union's financing strategy during the Civil War?

Profiteering opportunities emerged Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Politics and Economics of the War

Republican-controlled Congress implemented domestic policies, including the Pacific Railroad Act (1862) authorizing a transcontinental railroad line.
Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads received over 60 million acres of land and $20 million in loans.
Completion of the transcontinental line in 1869.
Homestead Act (1862): granted 160 acres of land free to farmers who worked it for five years, minus a small fee.
Morrill Land Grant Act (1862): provided public lands to states for establishing colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts, leading to modern state university systems.
Financing the war was expensive for both sides; the Union raised funds through higher tariffs, excise taxes, and the first federal income tax.
Congress established the Bureau of Internal Revenue to collect taxes and authorized paper money ("greenbacks").
Wartime contracts led to profiteering, with examples like shoddy, a low-quality material used to make uniforms.

Financing the War

Financing the war required high expenses for both sides.
Union raised money through higher tariffs, excise taxes on goods/services and an imposed federal income tax.
Internal Revenue Bureau was established to collect taxes.
Congress authorized paper money (greenbacks).

Civil Liberties and the War

Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, allowing arrests without charges for suspected disloyalty.
Many arrested were never tried; courts were held by military personnel.
Supreme Court ruled military courts unconstitutional for civilians in Ex parte Milligan (1866).

Balance of Forces

North's goal: restore the Union; initially, not explicitly against slavery.
South's fighting rationale: state's rights and preservation of their way of life; widespread support for slavery.
North had advantages: larger population (~22 million) and stronger industrial base, which provided resources and manpower for equipping/arming the army.
North's initial difficulties: Lincoln's presidency was not overwhelmingly popular, and the Union forces initially faced challenges in invading the Confederacy's territory.

Fighting the War

Initial plans involved the Anaconda Plan, a naval blockade to isolate the Confederacy, and an invasion from various points.
Confederacy's strategy emphasized defense in the early stages; the initial battles were mostly in the Eastern theater.
Union army was initially less daring, making use of their numerical advantages less efficient in the initial stages.
Significant battles like Antietam and Gettysburg (1863) showed that military victory was not achievable easily by the Southern forces.

Triumph of the Union

Despite some early setbacks, the Union ultimately prevailed.
The South's hopes of victory were effectively diminished by the outcome of major battles like Gettysburg and Vicksburg.
Grant took command of Union forces in 1864, implementing a strategy of attrition that ultimately led to the surrender of the Confederate Army in 1865.
The Confederacy was effectively split; subsequent actions further weakened the Southern forces, ultimately preventing the army from penetrating the North.

Emancipation

Initially Lincoln avoided addressing the slavery issue, fearing to lose support in the border states.
Incidents during the war forced a shift in Union policy, as enslaved people fled to Union lines, and military leaders began to disregard the owners’ rights to their slaves.
Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (1862): declared slaves in rebellious states free as of January 1, 1863, although it didn't apply to border states or areas already under Union control.
This shift in policy redefined the meaning of the war, leading other initiatives aimed at gradually abolishing slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation and subsequent actions changed the course of the war with lasting effects beyond the end of the war.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the interplay of politics and economics during the Civil War era. This quiz covers significant legislation, economic strategies, and the impact on American infrastructure and land policies. Test your knowledge on the Republican-controlled Congress and their domestic initiatives.