THE CIVIL WAR

This war was a defining event in the US history. It was faught between the North Unionists
and the South Separatists. The main issue was slavery, and additionally, women obtained a
significant role during this time.

ELECTION OF 1860 AND SUCESSION OF THE SOUTH

The Election of 1860 caused a split in the Democratic Party due to disputes about slavery.
They gave two possible candidates. The Republican gave Abraham Lincoln, agreeing that the leader
would carry all free states for them to have a chance at winning. The fourth nominee was from the
Constitutional Union Party, comprised of former Whigs and southern Democrats who were against
secession. Lincoln came in first, unfavoured by future Confederate states (except for Virginia),
because of the prohibition of slavery expansion in future western states. Starting with South Carolina
and followed by other southern states, pro-slavery states started to declare secession from the
United States. Confederate nationalism was based on ideas of slavery (for the negro is not equal to
the white man) and religion (for they believed to be fulfilling God’s will). Southern Unionists and
black southerners joined the Union army against the Confederacy. Congress’ ‘Committee of
Thirteen’ came up with ‘Crittenden’s Compromise’ which promised to guarantee slavery in the South
and create similar Constitutional Amendments, but this was soon voted down. The seven seceding
states selected Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as president and established a capital in Montgomery
(then Richmond in May). Their main objective was reinforcing slavery, which left the states with
fewer rights than during the union.

THE BEGINNING

Lincoln intended to maintain possession of federal property within the seceded states.
Dispite this, South Carolina called US soldiers to evacuate Fort Sumter in 1861 and fired when the
commanding officer refused. Lincoln called for volunteers to surpress the rebellion and the Amercian
Civil War had begun. More states joined the Confederacy which then comprised 11 states. The Union
adopted Scott’s Anaconda Plan to surpress rebellion. The strategry intended to cut off access to
coastal ports and enter the interior, surrounding and strangling the Confederacy. The four bordering
states, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky and Delaware, were crutial at this point, and all remained loyal
to the Union. Black Americans wanted to serve in the army and navy, but Lincoln was concerned
with the outcome of this because of the bordering slave-holding states. General Butler started
accepting fugitive slaves. Congress affirmed his policy in the First Confiscation Act that stated that all
runaways, called ‘contrabands’, were no longer in possession of their masters, but this didn’t
actually give them freedom. Soldiers and commanders accepted fugitive slaves and found their
assistance useful. The Battle of Bull Run proved to both sides that the war was not going to be over
quickly or easily. The Confederacy won. Lincoln appointed a new General to the newly formed Army
of the Potomac, though the military remained quiet for a whole year after the defeat. The absence
of southerners in Congress allowed the Republicans to finally pass 3 Whig Acts concerning economy.
Homestead Act, the Land-Grant College Act (a.k.a. Morrill Act), and the Pacific Railroad Act. The
Democratic Party divided into War Democrats, who stood behind Lincoln, and Peace Democrats
(Copperheads) who disputed with War Democrats and Republicans.

MAJOR BATTLES AND EMANCIPATION

The Union had success in the Western Theater. It won the Battle of Shiloh with more
casualties than ever before. Meanwhile, black Americans were pushing the Union towards a full
emancipation. In 1862, Congress abolished slavery in Columbia, then passed the Second Confiscation
Act, emancipating slaves under Union control. Lincoln proposed an Emancipation Proclamation to his
Cabinet, but Seward told him to wait for a decisive Union victory. The Confederacy decided to end
the war on Union territory, expecting a final victory. The Battle of Antietam resulted in over 20000
deaths or injuries in just 12 hours. The Confederacy withdrew , and although this wasn’t a decisive
Union victory, Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and freed slaves under
Confederate control. This showed that the war was never about simple unity, but about
emancipation. This would reduce the Confederacy’s labour and moral, Lincoln hoped. The next win
went to the Confederacy at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Omg, enemy soldiers traded newspaper and coffee for tobacco cause of supply shortages.
Fucking America.

Europian countries were also concerned about the outcome of the war. Democratic activists
were worried about the fate of democracy, and others were concerned about the cotton supply
during the war.

BLACKS IN THE ARMY

More black Americans were enlisted in the US army and navy as the USCT (United States
Colored Troops). However, they mostly stayed behind laboring and performing non-combate roles.
They were rampantly discriminated and Gooding, a black corporal, wrote to Lincton about this issue.
Black men faught bravely and fifteen of them earned the Medal of Honor. With this they laid their
claims for citizenship. The Confederates did not see black men as soldiers, they were slaves who
accompanied them and performed labor during the war. They did, in fact, allow enlistment of black
soldiers once, in an act of great desperation.

MORE BATTLES
 The Battle of Chancellorsville was won by Confederates, but again with many casualties,
including Major General ‘’Stonewall’’ Jackson. The Battle of Gettysburg followed in the East. The
assult on the Union center, known as Pickett’s Charge, caused Lee (Confederate) to retreat . This was
the bloodiest battle of the war with 51000 casualties. The Union’s win at Vicksburg in the West led
them freely along the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two. Despite this success, there
were disturbances in the North concerning the Enrollment Act because the poor white man who
would be paid to go into war instead of a rich white man feared that the freed black man would take
his job. The New York City Draft Riots followed and many citizens were killed.

WOMEN IN THE WAR

Other than that, women took pivotal leadership roles in the sanitary fairs that raised money
for US soldiers. First in the Confederacy in 1862, then in the Union, the first conscription acts were
passed. Women led mobs in the streets demanding their husbands be released from the service and
protesting the food shortages. Women also served as spes (like Rose Greenhow) for the
Confederacy and Elizabeth ‘’Crazy Bet’’ Van Lew for the Union). Other women dumped pots onto
heads of Federal soldiers from their balconies, which led to Butler’s General Order Number 28,
which arrested all rebellious women as prostitutes.’

HARD WAR

In 1864, the ‘hard war’ tactics began to evolve – they meant demoralizing southern civilians
and destroying the southern economy. Grant was promoted to general-in-chief and this led to very
bloody battles in the East. In the west, hard war tactics were implemented under the command of
Sherman. Disease spread through the armies. Medicine was focused on curing patients and not on
preventing disease. When surgery was needed, amputation was the bast chance of survival. They
used anesthetics, but these were often limited to the regular federal army and didn’t include the
volunteers. In the North conditions were somewhat superior. Women working here were very
skilled. Notably, Kate Cumming was one of the volunteer nurses who travelled with the army, but
the majority quit within a week. Deaths of many husbands kinda gave women an important and
independent role. Widowhood permeated American society.

THE END

The candidates for the Election of 1864 were Lincoln again for the National Union Party and
McClellan for the Democratic Party. Lincoln won again.
 Sherman and Grant went on with the hard war and really kicked some ass. Lee surrendered
to Grant in 1865 at Appomattox Court House.

Republicans drafted the Thirteenth Amendment during the war to ensure the legal end of
slavery. This, however, did not ensure the end of racial injustice.