"I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular government is not an absurdity. We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose. If we fail it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves." - Abraham Lincoln, May 7, 1861
President of the Disunited States of America:
Lincoln took the presidential oath after entering Washington in disguise on March 4, 1861.
Seven states had seceded by this point.
In his speech, Lincoln said secession was impractical, and there would be no conflict unless the south provoked it.
The U.S., Lincoln pointed out, wasn't physically divided, making secession impractical.
Secession wasn't as simple as the south saw it. Problems: national debt, federal territories, fugitive-slave issue, Underground Railroad.
Battles would have resulted anyhow.
Dis united, the U.S. was susceptible to European mischief, and would be liable to play by the rules of Balance of Power.
The Monroe Doctrine would have less to stand behind it.
South Carolina Assails Fort Sumter:
The south took federal forts as it seceded. There were two owned by the government left in the south, one being Fort Sumter (blocking south's most important sea port). There were less than 100 men there.
Lincoln's problems:Only a few weeks of provisions - after that would have to surrender.
Couldn't send reinforcements - the south would fight back with the moral high ground.Lincoln told the south that he would send an expedition with provisions, but the south thought "reinforcement."
The provisions ship arrived on April 12, 1861, and the Carolinians fired on the fort.
After 34 hours of cannon fire, the garrison surrendered. The north now had the moral high ground.
Lincoln made the south hit first, and the north responded. They wanted the fight.
75,000 militia were called, and so many came some had to be turned away. Lincoln ordered a blockade on southern seaports.
Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina seceded, and Richmond, Virginia became the capital of the south.
Brothers' Blood and Border Blood:
Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia were slave states that didn't secede.
With Kentucky, The south (Confederacy) would have had full access to the grain, iron, and gunpowder accessible by the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.
Lincoln used legal methods to secure the loyalty of the Border States, including declaring martial law in Maryland.
Lincoln couldn't say he was fighting for the freedom of the blacks, or the border states would leave.
Lincoln's argument was that he had to save the Union at all costs. Slave holders lived everywhere.
Most of the Oklahoma Indians sided with the Union (north). After the war they were flushed onto reservations by it. Some reward.
People were split over the war. Brothers went in opposite directions, and even Lincoln's four sons fought for the Confederacy (south).
The Balance of Forces:
The north had to invade the south, a disadvantage that gave the south morale. The south defended their home, and didn't have to beat the north to win.
Robert E. Lee, who commanded the northern army until his state seceded, was very skilled.
His chief lieutenant, Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), was a tactical theorist, quick, and deceptive.
The southern soldiers were more suited to fight than the northerners because they worked outdoors and played with guns as children.
The rebel yell was an organized scream before battle designed to scare the Union soldiers.
The north had all the factories, which was an advantage, but the south stole, and eventually made, enough weapons to fight the war.
Clothing was a problem for the south. Food shortages were common as well. The north made its own food and controlled 3/4 of the railroads.
The northern blockade tightened up, causing the south to lose morale, and boosting northern/european trade and supplies.
Immigrants helped the north (1/5 all Union soldiers were foreign born). It contained 22 million people versus the south's 5.5 million (not counting 3.5 million slaves).
The north, though feeble fighters at first, hardened with experience. They were known for discipline and determination.
It took some time for Lincoln to find Ulysses Simpson Grant to be general. Most political officers weren't cut for the job.
The south had the better outlook to start, but the north's strength grew with their experience, and they had the numbers.
If Europe had aided the south, or if the Border States seceded, the south most likely would have won.
Dethroning King Cotton:
The south counted on European aid, but it didn't come. Europe aristocrats supported the south's causes, just not its war.
In contrast, the working people of Europe supported the north. Killing talk of helping the south in England and France, they indirectly aided the north.
The south thought Britain would support them because they depended on the cotton, but it didn't.
England had a 1 1/2 year surplus of cotton, so it didn't need the south. When they ran out, Lincoln was carrying out his slave-emancipation policy.
The north began sending food to England, and when they captured land, cotton. England soon stabilized, and they were no longer a threat to the north.
The north supplied grain to England, which kept them from breaking the blockade. They didn't want war with the north.
The Decisiveness of Diplomacy:
The south always wanted European help, and Europe planned to take advantage of America.
The Trent affair: A Union ship forcibly removed 2 Britain-bound confederates from a British ship. Britain was livid, but slow communication allowed Lincoln to release the prisoners before Britain would do anything brash.
England was the naval base for the Confederacy. Its ship, the Alabama, sank 64 Union ships before it was sunk by a stronger Union ship off of the coast of France.
No more raiding ships were given to the south by the British, but another 250 Union ships were captured by British "commerce-destroyers."
Foreign Flare-Ups:
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