Before the War
Many abolitionists came about in the North, which had caused them to wonder about the South's moral views about slavery. A way that many rising abolitionists fought was through an antislavery newspaper called The Liberator. It was first published by a reformer named William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison had triggered one of the first opening attacks of the Civil War. Through this newspaper he had strongly written out his opposition of the acts of slavery. This attracted attention of many dedicated abolitionists and together they had founded the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. While Garrison did not want to fight to end slavery in the political way, other abolitionists such as Fredrick Douglass felt that it was much needed to look into politics in order to end the madness. Although, both had followed the logic of their beliefs and felt that a war was the only way they could gained the emancipation that slaves had greatly wanted. Many Southerners especially pro-slavery whites had responded by defending slavery as a positive good and condemned abolitionist for going against their beliefs. Despite, being unpopular in the North in the beginning, they had eventually made a deep impact in the minds of Northern citizens as they showed that the South was the land of inequality. The abolitionist cause had ended up growing with the thought of slavery extending to western territories.
Before the war even occurred, there were already tensions between the North and the South. The issue with slavery was getting high and the North added more fuel to the fire, when Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had depicted the life of southern plantation owners and their vicious ways on handling their slaves. This caused mayhem in the South because it had showed their way of life in a negative light. Many Northerners, however, found this novel to be educating and had caused strong feelings upon them to end such an inhumane act.
Another event that caused mayhem between the two sections was Harpers Ferry. This event was started by John Brown, an overenthusiastic abolitionist, who had brutally killed 5 presumed pro-slavery men at Pottawatomie Creek. His plan was to secretly invade the South with many supporters behind his back and cause a rebellion among the slaves. He had planned to call upon them and give them weapons to fight in order to establish a black free state. He had seized a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, on October 1859, resulting in the killing of 7 innocent people and injuring 10 or more victims. When his backup failed to rise, he ended up getting caught and was sentenced to death by hanging because of murder and treason. When he had died, he lived on as a martyr to the North's abolitionist cause. Many Southerners were upset by this act, and had thought that the violent abolitionist view was shared by many in the North. While abolitionists were angered by Brown's execution, who they had thought was a reformer acting upon a strong cause; the South was angered with the North's abolitionist views and act. They had promptly labeled Brown as a murderer and apostle of treason.
The Southern states had greatly wanted their states' rights and be allowed to make their decisions based on what they had wanted. They felt that since they wanted slavery in their area, the federal government should not make any decisions that could affect that. With popular sovereignty going against the Compromises, it had developed into a major conflict on what areas were allowed to contain the act of slavery or not. The Federal government felt that popular sovereignty was best in deciding whether or not a territory could have slavery or not, but it ends up throwing the balance in the Senate which many citizens were angry about.
Before the war even occurred, there were already tensions between the North and the South. The issue with slavery was getting high and the North added more fuel to the fire, when Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had depicted the life of southern plantation owners and their vicious ways on handling their slaves. This caused mayhem in the South because it had showed their way of life in a negative light. Many Northerners, however, found this novel to be educating and had caused strong feelings upon them to end such an inhumane act.
Another event that caused mayhem between the two sections was Harpers Ferry. This event was started by John Brown, an overenthusiastic abolitionist, who had brutally killed 5 presumed pro-slavery men at Pottawatomie Creek. His plan was to secretly invade the South with many supporters behind his back and cause a rebellion among the slaves. He had planned to call upon them and give them weapons to fight in order to establish a black free state. He had seized a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, on October 1859, resulting in the killing of 7 innocent people and injuring 10 or more victims. When his backup failed to rise, he ended up getting caught and was sentenced to death by hanging because of murder and treason. When he had died, he lived on as a martyr to the North's abolitionist cause. Many Southerners were upset by this act, and had thought that the violent abolitionist view was shared by many in the North. While abolitionists were angered by Brown's execution, who they had thought was a reformer acting upon a strong cause; the South was angered with the North's abolitionist views and act. They had promptly labeled Brown as a murderer and apostle of treason.
The Southern states had greatly wanted their states' rights and be allowed to make their decisions based on what they had wanted. They felt that since they wanted slavery in their area, the federal government should not make any decisions that could affect that. With popular sovereignty going against the Compromises, it had developed into a major conflict on what areas were allowed to contain the act of slavery or not. The Federal government felt that popular sovereignty was best in deciding whether or not a territory could have slavery or not, but it ends up throwing the balance in the Senate which many citizens were angry about.
New Parties Emerged
Free Soil Party: Opposed the extension of slavery into the western territories. The party consisted of antislavery men from the North who had distrusted Zachary Taylor and Lewis Cass, who were candidates for presidency. They supported federal aid for internal improvements and encouraged free government homesteads for settlers. They condemned slavery not because it enslaved blacks but because it demolished any chances for white workers from rising up from their dependence on wages and onto the self-employment status. They competed with slave labor and wanted free soil in the West in order for the traditional American commitment to expand flourish.
Liberty Party: This platform emerged in the 1840s, where it had called for immediate abolition of slavery and for the political and moral grounds racial discriminatory legislation be repealed. Abolitionists saw this party in two ways, most condemned the political activity that was seen as an endorsement to the slavery's legality this was seen from the Garrison supporters point of view. However, Non-Garrisonian abolitionists supported the Liberty party because of its allegiance with the Whig party and its moral views. The party had nominated James G. Birney in the election of 1844 against the Whigs (Henry Clay) and the Democrats (James K. Polk). The Liberty Party had taken away enough votes from Clay that the election won in favor of the Democrats.
Republican Party: This party sprung up spontaneously in the Mid-West as a platform that went against slavery. It contained former Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, and other parties that went against the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Since most came from the North and were anti-slavery men, the Southerners greatly despised them. The great success that the party gained was when Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to be the president. They had successfully accomplished the major goal of getting rid of slavery in the Civil War, and had complete control in Congress.
Liberty Party: This platform emerged in the 1840s, where it had called for immediate abolition of slavery and for the political and moral grounds racial discriminatory legislation be repealed. Abolitionists saw this party in two ways, most condemned the political activity that was seen as an endorsement to the slavery's legality this was seen from the Garrison supporters point of view. However, Non-Garrisonian abolitionists supported the Liberty party because of its allegiance with the Whig party and its moral views. The party had nominated James G. Birney in the election of 1844 against the Whigs (Henry Clay) and the Democrats (James K. Polk). The Liberty Party had taken away enough votes from Clay that the election won in favor of the Democrats.
Republican Party: This party sprung up spontaneously in the Mid-West as a platform that went against slavery. It contained former Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, and other parties that went against the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Since most came from the North and were anti-slavery men, the Southerners greatly despised them. The great success that the party gained was when Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to be the president. They had successfully accomplished the major goal of getting rid of slavery in the Civil War, and had complete control in Congress.
Economic Resources
North: By 1860, 90% of the nation's manufacturing outputs came from the Northern states. The North was much more towards commercial and a manufacturing economy. It had produced more products than the South, even though the South's land was much better for cotton growing. Although they had a much more percentage of farmers, there were still a few in the North. The North's manufacturing was able to "produced 17 times more cotton and woolen textiles, 30 times more leather goods, 20 times more pig iron, and 32 times more firearms." This greatly impacted the war as it was able to produce much faster and more goods than the South.
South: During the 1860s, it was predominantly agricultural that was dependent on sales overseas. Cotton was the most valuable among the exports in the US, and the south produced 2/3s of the world's supply as it was much desired in the world market, it was also much needed in the US for the North's manufacturing. The most valuable workers were slaves as they were needed to pick the cotton from the fields. There was little manufacturing ability, the railroad tracks were only accounted for about 29%, while only 13% of the nation's banks. So the South was greatly dependent on their cotton plantations.
South: During the 1860s, it was predominantly agricultural that was dependent on sales overseas. Cotton was the most valuable among the exports in the US, and the south produced 2/3s of the world's supply as it was much desired in the world market, it was also much needed in the US for the North's manufacturing. The most valuable workers were slaves as they were needed to pick the cotton from the fields. There was little manufacturing ability, the railroad tracks were only accounted for about 29%, while only 13% of the nation's banks. So the South was greatly dependent on their cotton plantations.
Election of 1860 & Secession
In the election of 1860, many parties had nominated people that had fitted their needs. Such as the Democrats nominating Stephen Douglas, who many Southerners disliked because he was seen as a traitor because of his opposition to the Lecompton Constitution and his Freeport Doctrine reply. Disliking with the nominee decision, the Southern Democrats met again in Baltimore to elect another candidate, this time they nominated vice-president, John C. Breckenridge. This section favored the extension of slavery into the territories and the annexation of Cuba, which was populated with slaves. Another party had emerged in the election of 1860, this party was formed by former Whigs and the Know-Nothing Party, and they ended up nominating John Bell.
The Republican Party had nominated Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate. The Republicans had basically tried to appeal to every person and parties to get their votes, however the Southerners weren't buying anything from them and declared that if he was elected to be president, then the Union would be destroyed because they would secede. In the end, the Republican Party had won when Abraham Lincoln ending up being the president. South Carolina was extremely happy with this outcome because they now have a reason to secede.
In December 1860, South Carolina's legislature had met in Charleston and voted to secede. Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed with the secession. They later had met in 1861 and created their own government, the Confederate States of America. They had chosen Jefferson Davis, as their president, who was a recent member in the Senate. The South had seceded because they feared that the Republican Party would destroy their rights to own slaves. They had felt that the North didn't mind their secession and that they had depended on southern cotton and markets for their manufacturing and banking enough to not cut off the South.
The Republican Party had nominated Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate. The Republicans had basically tried to appeal to every person and parties to get their votes, however the Southerners weren't buying anything from them and declared that if he was elected to be president, then the Union would be destroyed because they would secede. In the end, the Republican Party had won when Abraham Lincoln ending up being the president. South Carolina was extremely happy with this outcome because they now have a reason to secede.
In December 1860, South Carolina's legislature had met in Charleston and voted to secede. Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas soon followed with the secession. They later had met in 1861 and created their own government, the Confederate States of America. They had chosen Jefferson Davis, as their president, who was a recent member in the Senate. The South had seceded because they feared that the Republican Party would destroy their rights to own slaves. They had felt that the North didn't mind their secession and that they had depended on southern cotton and markets for their manufacturing and banking enough to not cut off the South.
Emancipation Proclamation
In 1863, President Lincoln had passed a proclamation declaring slaves were free
in rebelling Confederate States, even though it did not actually call for or
formally freed all slaves. The Border States were not affected by this
proclamation because of Lincoln's fear of them seceding. This proclamation
essentially changed the course of the war because it removed any chance of
reconciliation between the North and the South. The goal of this proclamation
was not only for the slaves to gain their freedom but to strengthen the moral
cause of the Union and abroad. The impact of this proclamation was not only
getting rid of any negotiations between the two sections but also the future of
slavery. The North gained a stronger moral because of them not only trying to
preserve the Union but also the goal of freeing the slaves and ending slavery.
However, many Northerners were against an "abolition war" and many men deserted
because they had not volunteered to fight against slavery and instead
volunteered to fight for the Union. Many abolitionists felt that Lincoln had not
gone too far with the emancipation, but many felt that he had indeed gone too
far because he had promised he wasn't fighting to end slavery in the beginning.
It had definitely caused an outcry in the South and many aristocrats in Europe
sympathize with the South’s protest against this act, but the working class had
a much different feeling as they supported the end of slavery and had opposed
any intervention whatsoever. The North's diplomatic position improved, while the
South's moral position was destroyed.
in rebelling Confederate States, even though it did not actually call for or
formally freed all slaves. The Border States were not affected by this
proclamation because of Lincoln's fear of them seceding. This proclamation
essentially changed the course of the war because it removed any chance of
reconciliation between the North and the South. The goal of this proclamation
was not only for the slaves to gain their freedom but to strengthen the moral
cause of the Union and abroad. The impact of this proclamation was not only
getting rid of any negotiations between the two sections but also the future of
slavery. The North gained a stronger moral because of them not only trying to
preserve the Union but also the goal of freeing the slaves and ending slavery.
However, many Northerners were against an "abolition war" and many men deserted
because they had not volunteered to fight against slavery and instead
volunteered to fight for the Union. Many abolitionists felt that Lincoln had not
gone too far with the emancipation, but many felt that he had indeed gone too
far because he had promised he wasn't fighting to end slavery in the beginning.
It had definitely caused an outcry in the South and many aristocrats in Europe
sympathize with the South’s protest against this act, but the working class had
a much different feeling as they supported the end of slavery and had opposed
any intervention whatsoever. The North's diplomatic position improved, while the
South's moral position was destroyed.