WEEK 15- Civil War and Emancipation (1858-1865) PDF

WEEK 15- Civil War and Emancipation (1858-1865) Main focus on the final Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Major Issues As a Constitutional matter, both Lincoln and Douglas agree that the national government did not have the power to legislate on slavery in the states where it already existed. But Lincoln wan...

WEEK 15- Civil War and Emancipation (1858-1865) Main focus on the final Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Major Issues As a Constitutional matter, both Lincoln and Douglas agree that the national government did not have the power to legislate on slavery in the states where it already existed. But Lincoln wanted it prohibited in all the territories, while Douglas believed voters in those territories should decide the issue. Douglas says that it was fine if some territories had slavery and others did not. Lincoln responds with a historical argument: At the time of the founding, Americans including slave-holding founders like Washington, Jefferson, and Madison believed that if the expansion of slavery was arrested, and the import of slaves from abroad was stopped, that slavery would eventually die out. But slavery had expanded in the South and now Southerners and the Supreme Court looked to the “perpetuity and nationalization” of slavery. The way to restore the old hope of the founders was to arrest the expansion of slavery in all the territories, so that it might eventually go away. Lincoln sometimes speaks forcefully on the issue of Black rights “there is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence...” But the tune changes on the issue of Black equality “he is not my equal in many respects - certainly not in color, perhaps not in moral and intellectual endowment...” Historical question: to what extent is Lincoln’s position on racial equality reflect his personal beliefs, and to what extent is it shaped by political considerations? Election of 1860 Context I: Economic and population growth in the North. The North is larger in population and growing faster than the South Context II: Republican Party firm against slavery in territories Context III: rising Southern nationalism – “fire eaters” Want all of the territories open to slavery They fear pol subservience to the North Think S is better off outside union than within it They want to “purify” the Democratic Party, make it endorse a full extension of slavery Lincoln wins without any Southern support Northern population advantage If main issue in election is slavery, can South ever win another presidential contest? If slavery is most important issue to South, will it stay in the Union? Secession South Carolina secedes Dec 20, 1860 Begin blockade of Fort Sumter, a U.S. fort in Charleston harbor. This will become the first battle of the war in April, 1861. Failed Crittenden Compromise (South set on leaving, North insists on no slavery in territories) -Slavery was untouchable Lincoln’s position: Election of 1860 settles const question No slavery in territories Urges S to stay in union, assures slavery is safe in the Southern States Cannot guarantee the expansion of slavery, but is willing to leave alone the states that already have slavery. Texas Secession (Feb 1861) Governor Sam Houston owns slaves but opposes secession. Why leave when its already been guaranteed that slavery will continue in the south? Throwing a fit, and just being too damn greedy. Believes slavery was the natural order of things. On the other hand, wary that pushing to expand slavery would destroy the Union. In 1854, Senator Houston voted against Kansas-Nebraska Act. In 1861, argues that the North had not violated the rights of the Southern states, taking Lincoln at his word that the Republican Party only wanted to stop the spread of slavery. Believes North will prevail in a war; South cannot stand as an independent nation. In Texas, pro-slavery, pro-secession forces toss him out of office. Special convention drafts secession ordinance citing preservation of slavery as key reason for leaving the Union (Feb 1). Public then votes (votes that were located in places where slavery is prevalent) to secede (Feb 12). Slavery as the “Corner-Stone” of the Confederacy "The new [Confederate] constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution — African slavery as it exists amongst us — the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution... The prevailing ideas entertained by... most of the leading statesmen at the time of the formation of the old constitution, were that the enslavement of the African was violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally, and politically... Those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of... the equality of races. This was an error..." Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner–stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race — is his natural and normal condition. — Alexander H. Stephens, March 21, 1861, reported in the Savannah Republican, emphasis in the original Grand Slavery Southern strategy: Defensive; avoid defeat, Fabian strategy Opportunistic strikes Northward Northern strategy: The Anaconda blockade Split the South at the Mississippi Capture Richmond (not until 1865) Attack slavery (from 1863 onward) The Civil War: 1861 – 1865 Main themes: ◦ From a war to preserve the union to a war for emancipation ◦ From army vs army to society vs society ◦ Black self-emancipation The Civil War 1861 – 1863: towards emancipation Initially, Lincoln focuses on Union. Lincoln’s first concern: keeping border states in the Union. Avoids talk of ending slavery even with the states that were rebelling for slavery. Still consistent with his position in 1858: will leave slavery intact in the states where it already exists. Gives reassurance that slavery will be protected  The constitutional question about slavery will end if the south puts down their arms and keep the union. Self-Emancipation and “Contraband” Policy Enslaved people in the South aren’t waiting for Lincoln or Congress ◦ Enslaved people flee to Union Army lines ◦ The Union Army takes mixed positions: sometimes keep, sometimes return Military’s first uniform policy: Enslaved people are “contrabands” ◦ Legal justification: Union army can keep escaped slaves as enemy property, subject to confiscation under laws of war. ◦ Are the “contraband” free people? Not technically. Unknown what would happen if war ended. (U.S. Govt not yet ready to end slavery in S) ◦ Escaped slaves are given homes in the contraband camps in exchange for their labor. 1861 and 1862: Slavery crumbles in Louisiana and other areas where Union Army has control. The facts on the ground are ahead of government policy. Congress Moves Towards Emancipation Congress presses towards emancipation in 1862 “Radical” Republicans (slavery opponents) gain strength in Congress Congressional measures: Army prohibited from returning fugitive slaves Abolition in Washington D.C. (slaveowners are compensated) Emancipation in the territories (Republican position in 1860 is now achieved) Second Confiscation Act ▪ Slaves of disloyal slaveholders in border states are emancipated ▪ Slaves that make it to Union Army lines are forever free, not “contraband.” ▪ Congress has now moved to END slavery in some circumstances. ▪ Punished for treason so they take their "property" Lincoln’s Shifting Position in 1862 Peninsula Campaign Military stalemate on the Peninsula in summer 1862. Union fails to take Richmond. Lincoln realizes victory will not be quick Concludes that North must attack Southern slave system, not just Confederate Army. ◦ Freed people would strengthen Union army ◦ Would deprive Confederacy of manpower ◦ Can only win the war if they attack the economic system of the south. V.A.C-Union strategy victory Victory at Antietam (Sept 17, 1862 fought on pitomic river) provides occasion to announce the Preliminary Emancipation Proc (Sept 22, 1862), which says Lincoln will end slavery unless South lays down its army by Jan 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation (Jan. 1, 1863)  Lincoln announces the proclamation as a war measure under his authority as commander in chief Enslaved people in areas still in rebellion are “Forever free.” Slavery remains in border states that still in Union and in areas firmly under Union control (TN, parts of VA and LA) Functionally, this is now a war to end slavery. Total War: 1863 - 1865 A major shift in the war A full assault on Southern society and economy A new meaning of the war: from Union to freedom A change in Lincoln’s position on Black troops ◦ Free Black men in the north and escaped slaves from the south are now able to enlist in the union army ◦ 10% fighting in the union are blacks Black Troops and The Claim to Citizenship Louis Douglas About 10% of Union forces Black regiments form in the North, but many U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) muster up in South. Confederacy will execute Black troops as slave insurrectionists, rather than capture as enemy soldiers.  Rarely taken as prisoner, straight up executed, VERY high death rate with Black troops Service in war becomes argument for full citizenship after the war. Turning Points A crumbling Confederacy “a rich man’s war, a poor man’s fight” Bread riots Desertions Seize goods from farms for pay from confederate government. Vicksburg (July 1863): Union breaks confederacy rebellion. Union finally has full control over Mississippi River Gettysburg (July 1863): Robert E. Lee’s Army dealt massive defeat- low food rations, tries to strike union army, his army gets trapped by union and is defeated. Biggest & brutal war in the U.S. ever. Gettysburg Address Main point: Arguing Purpose of the war, and purpose of the nation at its founding. Acknowledges the cost of the whole war, and invokes ideas of democracy and liberty. "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this." "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Remembering the Declaration "WE hold these Truths to be self-­‐evident: that all Men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of Happiness: that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,-- That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." The first four clauses are premises Created equal Inalienable rights Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness  To secure these rights, governments are built deriving their power from the consent of the governed The last clause is a conclusion It is the job of the people to ensure government promotes their safety and happiness Democratic government requires an active citizenry Collective action and institutions are necessary to secure the “self-evident” and “inalienable” rights Gettysburg Address Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow - - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Job of the living to make the ideology of rights and liberty real through self governance and voting. Remembering the Declaration WE hold these Truths to be self-­‐evident: that all Men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of Happiness: that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,-- That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. The first four clauses are premises Created equal Inalienable rights Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness To secure these rights, governments are built deriving their power from the consent of the governed The last clause is a conclusion It is the job of the people to ensure government promotes their safety and happiness Democratic government requires an active citizenry Collective action and institutions are necessary to secure the “self-evident” and “inalienable” rights The end of the civil war Grant’s long campaign (1864 and 1865) A war of attrition North prevails with superior numbers Appomattox (April 9, 1865)- Lee surrenders His army loses so many troops The End of Lincoln Lincoln sees the war in biblical terms, apocalyptic now. Foundational suffering from war/slavery is being repaid with the blood of young soldiers. 31 million population 3% died in the war Lincoln and God’s judgment The Toll of the War Around 750,000 dead Lincoln assassinated April 14, 1865