Civil War
PART 1: CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR
A. Attempts to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states
As the northern and western population grew, Southerners were losing their ability to protect their interests in the
House of Representatives, where representation was based on population. So, they sought to maintain balance in
the Senate, where representation was equal for each state.
1. Missouri Compromise of 1820
The issue was whether to allow Missouri to enter the Union as a slave states. Remember that the Missouri
territory was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Southern states wanted Missouri to enter as a slave state
but Northern states did not. Northerners feared that the admission of Missouri as a slave state would upset the
balance in the Senate. At that time, the Senate was balanced between 11 free states and 11 slave states. An
agreement was reached to allow Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state. It also
provided that no slavery would be allowed above the 36°30’ line (with the exception of Missouri, of course).
The agreement temporarily eased tensions between North and South. It kept the balance of power in the Senate
with 12 free states and 12 slave states.
2. Wilmot Proviso
Representative David Wilmot (Pennsylvania) proposed that slavery would never exist in any territory acquired
through war with Mexico. That is, he wanted it to be “free soil” where white workers would not have to compete
with slave labor. House of Reps approved this but the Senate rejected it. It increased the tensions between
North/South in Congress.
3. Compromise of 1850
Where the Wilmot Proviso failed, the Compromise of 1850 was the agreement finally reached to deal with the
issue of slavery in the territories acquired in the Mexican War. Under the Compromise of 1850:
a. California entered as a free state (thus upset balance of power in Senate as no slave state admitted)
b. Utah & New Mexico would decide the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty. That is, the people in
those areas would decide whether to allow slavery there.
c. Fugitive Slave Act: This is the big thing Southerners got. It required people in free states to help
capture/return escaped slaves. Northerners hated this law and many openly violated it. Southerners in
turn were angry about Northerners trying to violate the law.
Although the Compromise of 1850 temporarily resolved the issue of slavery in these areas, it increased animosity
between the North and South as disagreements became more bitter.
4. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Senator Stephen Douglas introduced this controversial bill, which created the Kansas and Nebraska territories (this
area had been acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase). The Kansas-Nebraska Act provided that the issue of
slavery would be decided by popular sovereignty in the Kansas and Nebraska territories. The bill passed and
angered many in the North because it effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise by allowing slavery north of
the 36°30’ line. This increased bitterness between North and South.
28
Civil War
5. Bleeding Kansas (1855-1856)
After the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, many pro-slavery and abolitionist forces rush into Kansas so that
they could vote for their side (popular sovereignty). Violence broke out between these forces. John Brown (an
abolitionist) was responsible for much of the violence. 200+ people killed.
B. Abolitionist Movement
Abolitionists were those who wanted to end all slavery in the United States. The abolitionist movement was very
active during the Antebellum Era (1820s-1860s). They wanted to end slavery everywhere but many of the key
battles were over whether slavery should be allowed to expand into the territories. The abolitionists had the
effect of increasing tensions between North and South. Their efforts were not immediately successful as slavery
was not ended until the end of the Civil War.
a. Underground Railroad
• Harriet Tubman was a key leader: She was escaped slave; abolitionist
• Returned to south many times. Led Underground Railroad. Not actual RR. It was network of people
helping slaves escape to North/Canada. Helped many fugitive slaves.
b. Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
• Harriet Beecher Stowe (author) wrote this novel, which told of the hardships of slavery. This made
slavery not just a political issue but also a moral one. It exposed many Northerners to the evils of the
slavery for the first time. Although most people in the North were not abolitionists, this book caused
many to start supporting abolition. Of course, the book angered Southerners, who saw it as an attack on
their way of life.
c. John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry, VA (1859)
•
•
•
John Brown & his men planned to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry & equip local slaves with weapons to
revolt with.
US Marines under the command of Col Robert. E Lee put down the rebellion. John Brown is tried for high
treason and hanged = becomes martyr for the abolitionist cause.
Struck fear in the hearts of Southerners, who feared that many Northerners supported Brown’s position.
C. States’ Rights vs. National Authority
In 1854, the Republican Party was established. It brought together a coalition of people from other parties. They
did not call for the immediate abolition of slavery. What they wanted was for the new territories to be “free soil,”
where slavery would not be allowed.
The 1857 decision Dred Scott v. Sanford reassured Southerners while angering Northerners. -Dred Scott, slave
from Missouri, was taken north of the 36º30’ line & lived in Illinois & Wisconsin (free territories). Returned with
master to Missouri. When master died; he filed lawsuit for his freedom; claiming he was free because he had lived
in free territories. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Roger Taney held that slaves were not citizens but instead
were property. Declared that it was unconstitutional for slave owners to be deprived of their property (slaves);
declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. Stated Congress could not ban spread of slavery because doing so
interfered with slaveholders’ property rights.
29
Civil War
30
Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln (Republican) won the election. Country was deeply divided. Northern and
Southern democrats supported different candidates. The division among democrats helped Lincoln win.
Lincoln and Republicans were NOT abolitionists. They supported “free soil”, i.e., not allowing slavery in the
territories. Southerners feared that Lincoln would not only attempt to stop slavery from spreading into the
territories but would also try to end slavery in the South. Thus, Southerners believed that the federal government
would interfere with their “states’ rights,” in particular their right to allow slavery. The Southern states felt that it
was their right to leave the Union. South Carolina was the first state to secede (leave the Union), and other states
followed. The Confederate States of America (CSA) was formed in Feb 1861.
PART 2: THE CIVIL WAR
A. Southern Secession
WHY: Southerners saw Lincoln’s election as a threat to slavery. They saw secession as their last chance to save
their way of life. Southerners viewed the issue of slavery as an issue of state’s rights. President Lincoln’s goal was
to preserve the Union.
WHAT: South Carolina seceded on Dec. 20, 1860. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas. Later
joined by VA, ARK, TN, NC
RESULT: These states formed the Confederate States of America
PRESIDENT: Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy
Union Advantages
-More manpower, factories, food production, and an
extensive railroad system
-Lincoln as a leader and an established
government/military. Lincoln more effective than
Jefferson Davis.
-Greater population
Confederate Advantages
-Cotton and trading relationship with Great Britain
-first rate generals (like Robert E. Lee) and strong
military tradition
-soldiers who were highly motivated because they were
defending their homeland, way of life, right to govern
selves (states’ rights)
-Soldiers were more familiar with the home terrain
where many battles were fought
Civil War
B. Key battles and their importance
EASTERN THEATER
BATTLE
(1) Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861).
Fort Sumter (SC) remained in Union hands. Confederacy
demanded that Lincoln surrender fort or face attack.
Lincoln sent supply ships in to the fort but no soldiers or
munitions. Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter.
(2) First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) (July 1861)
(2) Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)
(August 1862)
(3) Antietam (September 1862):
Lee moved towards Washington. A Union soldier found
Lee’s plans wrapped around a bunch of cigars. The
armies fought at a creek in Maryland called Antietam.
Bloodiest single-day battle in American history.
(4) Gettysburg: (July 1863) Lee pressed into North after
winning a key battle at Chancellorsville, VA.
31
IMPORTANCE AND RESULTS
Importance: First shots of war.
Winner: South.
Consequences: North and South mobilize for war.
Importance: First major land battle
Winner: South. Humiliating defeat for North. If better
organized, Confederates could have invaded
Washington, DC (30 miles)
Consequences: -Forced Lincoln to adopt the Anaconda
Plan (splitting the South at the Mississippi River and
taking the capital at Richmond; cutting off supply lines)
Importance: One of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s (South) first
major victories. Ended Union’s hopes of invading
Richmond.
Winner: South
Consequences: Lee decides to invade North.
Importance: Bloodiest single-day battle in US history.
South had to retreat-couldn’t advance into North.
Winner: Tie but South had to retreat
Consequences: Gave President Lincoln the opportunity
to issue Emancipation Proclamation.
Importance: Ended South’s hopes of invading North.
Winner: North
Consequences: 4 months later Lincoln gave Gettysburg
Address at cemetery on sight of battlefield. Address
showed Lincoln’s desire to see Union survive/country
reunited.
WESTERN THEATER
(5) Vicksburg: May-July 1863 Ulysses S. Grant laid siege
to Vicksburg for two months until town surrendered.
(6) Sherman’s March to the Sea: May-December 1864
William T. Sherman captured Atlanta in Battle of
Atlanta in Sept 1864. Burned city and continued march
to sea, destroying bridges, factories, and railroad lines.
Importance: Divided South at the Mississippi River.
Winner: North, led by Ulysses S. Grant.
Consequences: Gave new hope to the North that war
could be won.
Importance: Critical in ending the war and demoralizing
the South.
Winner: North.
Consequences: Gave people of the North hope that the
end of the war was in sight. This helped Lincoln be reelected.
C. Summary of war strategies:
North-Anaconda Plan. Split the South at the Mississippi River and take the Confederate Capital of Richmond.
Blockade southern ports-keep goods from coming in from Great Britain. After Ulysses S. Grant won at Vicksburg,
Lincoln named him as commander of the northern forces. He adopted a “total war” strategy—meaning that they
would fight not only the South’s armies but its civilian population as well. Civilians supplied the troops and the will
Civil War
of the people kept the war going. He sought to demoralize them. This can best be seen in Sherman’s March to the
Sea.
South-Seek support from Great Britain and defend the South until they received aid from Britain or the North got
tired of the war effort. Confederacy made two unsuccessful attempts to invade the North (Antietam and
Gettysburg).
D. Emancipation Proclamation
Became effective January 1, 1863- Freed slaves who were behind Confederate lines outside Union control.
Announced Emancipation as a military measure against the South. Had to be careful not to alienate border slave
states that had not left the Union. So, he only made it apply in areas that were still in rebellion against the Union
& not under Union control. It is important to remember that this did not free slaves that were in Union states.
Lincoln announced the EP in the fall of 1862, months before it took effect. This gave Southern states a chance to
make peace and keep their slaves. In reality, the Southern states were unlikely to listen to the listen to the
President of the United states and were not going to voluntarily surrender their slaves. Once word of the EP got
out, however, many slaves escaped to the Union lines and freedom. Freedom for all slaves was not realized until
after the war (13th Amendment).
EP allowed free blacks to enlist in Union army. Many welcomed the opportunity to fight to end slavery. (Example:
54th Massachusetts-made courageous assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston.) In general African American soldiers
were poorly supplied and paid less than white soldiers and served in segregated units.
By making the liberation of slaves a goal of the war, Lincoln made it impossible for British (who strongly opposed
slavery at this point) to continue to support Southern war effort
E. End of War
Lee and Grant met to arrange surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House.
F. Effect of war on democracy: Preserved Union while liberating slaves. Although secession failed, the states’
rights idea was never defeated and is still occasionally used in debating controversial political topics. It was raised
during the modern Civil Rights Era, for example.
32
Civil War
Part 3: Reconstruction Notes
Reconstruction (1865-1877) refers to
(1) the period during which the United States began to rebuild after the Civil War and
(2)the process used to readmit defeated Confederate states to Union. The readmission of Southern
states was the main goal. Northern Republicans did not see it as their job to rebuild the South. They
wanted Southern states to re-establish full participation in the South, including liberation of their slaves.
Northerners believed it was the job on local governments and individuals to rebuild the South.
*Republicans dominated southern governments in the Reconstruction years.
I. PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION
A. Lincoln: President Lincoln’s Plan =lenient on South “10% PLAN”


Pardon to all but the highest ranking military and civilian Confederate officers.
When 10% of the voting population in the 1860 election had taken an oath of loyalty and
established a government, it would be recognized.
B. Johnson


When Lincoln was assassinated, his successor, Andrew Johnson, announced his own
plan. Offered amnesty upon simple oath to all except Confederate civil and military
officers and those with property over $20,000 (they could apply directly to Johnson)
In new constitutions, they must accept minimum conditions rejecting slavery and
secession.
II. Congressional Reconstruction
A. 13th Amendment



Ratified in December, 1865. Outlawed slavery
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
B. Black Codes


Before Congress met to set up its Reconstruction plan, Southern states passed laws that
discriminated against blacks, “black codes,” which practically made them slaves again.
Southern citizens and vigilante groups engaged in violence against freedmen. They
elected former Confederate officers and officials to Congress.
33
Civil War
C. Congressional Reconstruction



In December 1865, the newly elected Southern legislators arrived in Washington to take
their seats. Congress refused to admit the new Southern legislators. Due to Southern
resistance to Reconstruction efforts, Republicans in Congress believed that more should
be required for Southern states to re-gain full participation in the Union. Many were
alarmed at the violence against freedmen in the South.
In 1866, Congress voted to enlarge the Freedman’s Bureau (agency designed to aid freed
slaves and others) and passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, that law gave African
Americans citizenship and forbade states from passing discriminatory laws (black
codes), that severely restricted African American lives.
President Johnson shocked everyone when he vetoed both the Freedman’s Bureau Act
and the Civil Rights Act. In Mid-1866, Congress overrode the president’s vetoes of the
Civil Rights Act and Freedman’s Bureau Act. Later, Congress would move to impeach
President Johnson so that he could not interfere with its Reconstruction plans.
D. The 14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment prevented states from denying rights and privileges to any U.S.
citizen, now defined as “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” This
protected the rights of African Americans (“equal protection under the law” for African
Americans) and granted them citizenship. This invalidated the Dred Scott decision.
E. “Radical” Reconstruction




The Radical Republicans (name given to them by those who disapproved their approach
to Reconstruction) gained control of Congress in the elections of 1866. Congress passed
the Reconstruction Act of 1867.
The Reconstruction Act divided the former Confederate states into five military districts.
The states were required to grant African American men the vote and to ratify the 14th
Amendment in order to reenter the Union.
Once again, Johnson vetoed the new plan, but Congress overrode the veto.
F. Introduction of 15th Amendment




In the 1868 presidential elections, Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant won.
After the election, the Radical Republicans introduced the Fifteenth Amendment, which
says that no one can be kept from voting because of “race, color, or previous condition of
servitude.” The amendment was ratified in 1870. Gave right to vote to African American
males.
With protection from Union troops, African Americans began voting and many were
elected to office. Hiram Revels was the first African American to serve in the US
Senate.
African Americans gained voting rights as a result of the 15th Amendment. During
Reconstruction, African American men registered to vote for the first time (9 out of 10 of
them supported the Republican Party.) In some state legislatures, the majority of
34
Civil War
legislators were African American. Republicans dominated the South during
Reconstruction.
G. Politics in the Postwar South
Scalawags= white Southerners who joined the Republican Party. This name was given by
democrats who opposed Republican reconstruction plans. Painted as using help of AfricanAmerican vote to enrich themselves. Opponents used the examples of this to unfairly classify
all Southern Republicans as having bad motives.
Carpetbaggers =Northerners who moved to the South after the war. Southerners believed that
carpetbaggers wanted to exploit turmoil in South for profit. However, some were Freedmen’s
Bureau agents, teachers, and ministers who tried to help slaves. Others wanted to start legit
businesses. But some were dishonest.
H. Ku Klux Klan
 Created during Reconstruction
 The Ku Klux Klan’s (KKK) goal was to prevent African Americans for exercising their
political rights. To achieve these goals, the Klan killed perhaps 20,000 men, women, and
children.
 To stop Klan violence, Congress passed the Enforcement Acts, to provide for the federal
supervision of elections in Southern states, and gave the president the power to use
federal troops in areas where the Klan was active.
III. Reconstruction Life
A. Economics during Reconstruction




The war had devastated the South economically. Southern planters returned home to find
that the value of their property had plummeted. Many small farms were ruined. The
region’s population was also devastated.
Some freedmen left the South, like the Exodusters who went to Kansas. Most freedmen,
however, stayed in the South.
Economic necessity forced many former slaves and poor whites to become
sharecroppers. In the system of sharecropping, landowners divided their land and
assigned each head of household a few acres, along with seed and tools.
Sharecroppers kept a small share of their crops and gave the rest to the landowners.
“Croppers” who saved a little might even rent land for cash and keep all their harvest in a
system known as tenant farming.
35
Civil War
B. Freedmen’s Bureau


Created by Congress to provide newly freed blacks with food, clothing, and shelter.
The Freedmen’s Bureau also began opening schools, granting many African Americans
their first opportunity to get an education.
 Some black colleges were established. Booker T. Washington established the Tuskeege
Institute (more on Washington later).
 Kept people from starving. In some places, helped more whites than blacks.
 Disbanded in 1869.
Part 4: End of Reconstruction and its effects on African Americans
A. Compromise of 1877 ends Reconstruction
 Corruption of the Grant administration, economic concerns, and interest in settlement of
the west replaced the nation’s interest in preserving gains made during Civil War. As
Northerners saw reports of continuing violence against freedmen in the South, they began
to believe that the South would never change.
 Following a controversial election (1876), Democrats allow Republican Rutherford B.
Hayes to be President.
 Republicans agreed to end Reconstruction.
 Southern states received federal money, more power to govern selves, withdrawal of
federal troops. This left African Americans to “fend for themselves” in the South.
 Begins era of “Solid South”—nearly a century where Southerners distrust Republicans
and solidly support Democrats. In the years following Reconstruction, African
Americans lost many of the political gains made during Reconstruction as white
democrats “redeemed” (re-established control of) their governments.
B. Was Reconstruction a Success?
Reconstruction ended with little progress against discrimination. However, the 13th, 14th, and
15th Amendments to the Constitution passed during this period.
C. Post-Reconstruction
Since federal troops were gone, no one was there to protect African Americans. Groups like the KKK
terrorized African Americans through widespread lynching and other tactics. During Reconstruction,
protection of federal troops helped many African Americans be involved in the political process and
helped protect their basic rights. Although there were never enough troops to protect African
Americans from lynching and beatings, African Americans were better off than in the period following
Reconstruction.
After Reconstruction, as Republican legislators were replaced, Southern states passed laws to repress
blacks.
36
Civil War



Jim Crow laws: blacks and whites must use separate public facilities. De jure (required
by law) segregation. Segregation = separation based on race
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): upholds “separate but equal” facilities. Homer Plessy, 1/8th
African American, jailed for sitting in white rail car. Court said de jure segregation ok if
facilities/services are equal.
Literacy tests/poll taxes for voting: this restricted blacks from voting because many were
poor and lacked education. “Grandfather clauses” allowed poor/uneducated whites to
avoid these restrictions. Under Grandfather Clauses, you could vote if your grandfather
had the right to vote.
Part 5: Different approaches to dealing with discrimination in the post-Reconstruction period
African American leaders emerged to face the challenges of Jim Crow laws and voting restrictions
following Reconstruction. The leaders all wanted to gain full citizenship for African Americans, but they
disagreed over the best strategies to use. We will examine three leaders of this era, Booker T.
Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
A. Booker T. Washington
-Born a slave in the South. Through determination, he received an education and founded the Tuskegee
Institute, a school which provided vocational training to African Americans. Among the people working
at Tuskeege, George Washington Carver worked there and helped develop new crops to aid farmers.
-Believed that it was more important for African Americans to secure vocational education so that they
could gain new employment opportunities. He believed that if African Americans were too assertive in
seeking political and social rights, they might fall victim to more lynchings.
-Wanted to avoid confrontation
CRITICISM OF WASHINGTON: Although Washington desired full equality for African Americans, some
(particularly northern African Americans) labeled his approach as “accommodation” because he
appeared willing to temporarily accept Jim Crow laws and voting restrictions in exchange for jobs. WEB
DuBois labeled a famous speech by Washington the “Atlanta Compromise” speech as Washington
pleaded with Southern businessmen to hire former slaves.
B. W.E.B. Du Bois
-Born free in the North
-Didn’t mind confrontation and wanted immediate equality
-Became the first African-American to receive a Ph. D. from Harvard in 1895
-Argued that all African Americans should have the opportunity for higher education.
-Believed that a “Talented Tenth” (well-educated leaders) of the black race would be the ones
to lead the race and save it from its problems
37
Civil War
-Opposed Washington’s strategy. Advocated for full social and political rights for African
Americans through the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),
which he helped found. He edited the organization’s publication, The Crisis.
-DuBois writing inspired his readers but angered many in the white community. Schools,
neighborhoods, and public facilities continued to be segregated in the North by practice (de
facto) and in the South by law (de jure). African Americans were often the last hired and the
first fired.
-It wasn’t until 1954 that the NAACP was successful in protecting the rights of African Americans
in court. (Brown v. Board of Education)
C. Ida Wells-Barnett
• Born a slave. Later worked as a newspaper writer.
• Experience Jim Crow first hand when she was forcibly removed from an all-white rail car.
•
After a friend was lynched in Memphis, she launched an investigation of lynching as a
newspaper editor. Devoted the rest of her life to an anti-lynching crusade. Campaign against
lynching was not successful in her lifetime, but raised awareness of the conditions of African
Americans.
• Opposed Washington’s strategy, which she called “accommodation.”
• Was a founding member of NAACP, but left the group because it was not militant enough.
• Fought with Jane Addams to keep the Chicago Public Schools from being segregated and
supported the cause for women’s suffrage.
38
Civil War
Reconstruction Study Guide 2014-2015
39
What to study:
-All notes and handouts
1. Describe the different Reconstruction plans we studied.
Lincoln
Presidential (Johnson)
Congressional
Radical Congressional
2. How did President Johnson react to much of the Congressional legislation during Reconstruction?
3. Describe the system of sharecropping. What effect did it have on Freedmen?
4. What was the Ku Klux Klan’s goal? What did Congress do to try to stop Klan violence?
5. Describe what these were and their purpose:
Black codes
Literacy tests
Poll taxes
Grandfather clauses
Jim Crow Laws
Segregation
6. What did the Freedmen’s Bureau do?
7. Describe what each did.
13th Amendment
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
8. Who were scalawags and carpetbaggers?
9. What was the Compromise of 1877? What was included? Who became president?
10. What does the term “Solid South” mean?
11. Who was Hiram Revels?
12. What did Ida Wells-Barnett do?
13. Compare and contrast the views of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois
14. What is the NAACP.