Transcript Domestic Policies of the North and the South

Domestic Policies of the
North and the South
Some notes on domestic affairs
1860-1865
A note on context
 Remember- all the elements of the
narrative weave together. It is
impossible to consider domestic
politics without also looking at what
was happening internationally and
(especially) on the battlefield.
 All the decisions of both North and
South would have been affected by
these other factors.
You will have already compared
Lincoln and Davis.
 Lincoln
 Known as “honest
Abe”.
 Little or no military
experience.
 A surprise
Presidential
Candidate and
winner.
 Early in the war,
seen as a
figurehead.
 Disrespected by
many of his
subordinates.
 Davis
 Not chosen in an
election.
 Military experience.
 Started off with
good support from
the Confederate
States.
 Supported/promote
d friends and
supporters.
Domestic aims for the North
 Win the war outright. Bring the “rebel”
states back into the Union. (All other
policies were really secondary to this.)
 Carry out democratic, domestic
government; with voting, able to carry out
e.g. economic development (such as
opening up the west, new railroad lines,
opportunities for “free soil”.
 Reconstruction- repairing the damage of
the Civil War.
Challenges to the North’s aims
 The South!
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Raising money for war
Equipping an army
Military success
Conscription
Keeping the border States loyal.
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Keeping law and order during wartime.
Developing the economy.
(Lincoln) getting re-elected.
Dealing with “Copperheads”/Peace Democrats
 Domestic policies;
The scale of the challenge.
 “We were entirely unprepared for
such a conflict, and for the moment,
at least absolutely without even the
simplest instruments with which to
engage in war.”
 Simon Cameron
 “Not only were weapons in short supply,
but uniforms, blankets, horses, medical
supplies, food…” ToR, pg 366
How the north met these
challenges
 Positives;
 Capable ministers,
e.g. Chase as
Secretary of the
Treasury.
 Lincoln was reelected in 1864, so
could pursue the war
to its conclusion.
 Without Southern
politicians to oppose
them, Republicans
were able to pursue
“free soil” policies.
 Lincoln dealt with
Copperheads, e.g.
deported
Vallandigham. Carried
out free and fair
 Criticisms;
 Early in the war,
Simon Cameron was
an unsuccessful
Secretary of war“shoddy”, poor
equipment etc.
 Lincoln has been
criticized for
assuming almost
dictatorial powers,
e.g. suspension of
habeas corpus,
military rule of e.g.
New Orleans.
 Conscription- until
mid-1864 one could
avoid service by
paying commutation
money
Salmon P. Chase ( a quick study)
 Secretary of the
Treasury in President
Lincoln's cabinet from
1861 to 1864
 established a national
banking system
 began the issue of
paper currency, and
government War
Bonds
 Did not work well with,
e.g. Seward.
 Tried to undermine
Lincoln, especially in
1864.
 Put his own personal
ambition before that of
the country.
 Lincoln tolerated him
as he recognised his
talent.
Other Domestic Policies
 Homestead Act, 1862, making millions of
acres of government-held land in the West
available for purchase at very low cost.
 The Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act,
1862, provided government grants for
agricultural colleges in each state.
 The Pacific Railway Acts, 1862, 1864;
granted federal support for the construction
of the United States' First Transcontinental
Railroad, completed in 1869.
Reconstruction
 Lincoln favoured moderate reconstruction;
e.g.
 emancipation.
 Allowing the vote for Confederate sympathisers
who swore loyalty.
 10% Union loyalists, for a state to be allowed
back into the Union.
 Radical Reconstruction (e.g. Wade and
Davis)
 No vote for Confederate sympathisers.
 Lawyers and teachers who supported the
Confederacy should not be allowed back to their
professions.
 No compensated Emancipation.
The Personality of Abraham Lincoln
 It is impossible to consider Union domestic policy
without focusing on Lincoln;
 He took many important decisions personally,
consulting his subordinates often after he had
decided things.
 He made controversial decisions, like suspending
Habeas Corpus for Confederate sympathisers, early in
the war.
 He was able to take important decisions without
resorting to immediate popularity or public opinion;
e.g. Trent affair, Reconstruction, Emancipation.
 He was able to work with people who were difficult
but talented; Chase, McClennan, Stanton.
 His speeches were inspiring- e.g. 1st, 2nd Inaugural,
Gettysburg Address.
 He worked tirelessly to win the war, despite his wife
Mary (possibly) being bipolar and the death of his son
Willie.
 He got lucky in 1864!