5.9 - Government Policies During the Civil War

Lincoln's Early Stance on Slavery

• Initial Hesitation: Although Abraham Lincoln personally opposed slavery, as president, he was initially cautious about acting against it due to concerns about the loyalty of border states, constitutional protections, and potential political repercussions.

Confiscation Acts

• First Steps Toward Emancipation: The first Confiscation Act (1861) allowed the Union to seize property used in support of the Confederacy, including enslaved people. The second act (1862) freed all enslaved individuals owned by Confederate rebels. These laws laid the groundwork for broader emancipatory actions by legally undermining the institution of slavery where it supported the rebellion.

Emancipation Proclamation

• Strategic Timing and Scope: Following the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. It declared freedom for slaves within Confederate-held territories, strategically exempting the border states and areas under Union control to maintain their allegiance and not alienate those with moderate views on slavery.

• Shift in War Aims: The proclamation significantly shifted the Civil War's focus from merely preserving the Union to also abolishing slavery, transforming it into a moral crusade against the institution of slavery.

• Prevention of Foreign Intervention: By redefining the war as a fight against slavery, the proclamation helped prevent foreign powers, particularly Britain and France, from intervening. Recognizing the moral imperative behind the Union's cause, these nations realized that supporting the Confederacy would be politically and ethically problematic, as it would be seen as endorsing slavery.

African Americans in the Civil War

• Contributions to the Union Effort: Nearly 200,000 African Americans, many of whom had escaped slavery, joined the Union army and navy. Units like the Massachusetts 54th Regiment played critical roles and demonstrated exceptional valor, significantly contributing to the Union victory and reshaping perceptions of African Americans.

Civil Liberties During the War

• Suspension of Habeas Corpus: Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus during the war, allowing for the arrest and detention without trial of suspected Confederate sympathizers. This controversial measure, meant to suppress dissent and maintain public safety, led to accusations of tyranny, though it was deemed necessary under the extraordinary circumstances of war.

• Supreme Court Rulings: Post-war, the Supreme Court ruled in Ex Parte Milligan that civilians could not be subjected to military trials when civilian courts were available, marking a significant check on executive power.

The Draft:

• Conscription Laws: As volunteer numbers dwindled, both the Union and Confederacy enacted draft laws. The Union's 1863 Conscription Act allowed men to avoid service by paying a fee or finding a substitute, which led to significant resentment and violent riots, notably the New York Draft Riots against Black residents and the draft law itself.

Election of 1864

• Lincoln's Re-election: Amidst a war-weary populace, Lincoln faced significant opposition within his own party and from the Democrats, who nominated George McClellan advocating for peace. Lincoln's victory was aided by recent Union military successes, which bolstered public support for continuing the war under his leadership.

Gettysburg Address

• Defining the War’s Purpose: Delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Lincoln's address redefined the war as a struggle not only for the Union but also for the principle of human equality. His reference to a "new birth of freedom" linked the war directly to the abolition of slavery and the expansion of American democratic ideals.

Financing the War:

• Funding Methods: The Union funded the Civil War through a combination of borrowing, raising tariffs, instituting the first income tax, and issuing $430 million in paper currency known as "greenbacks." This new currency, not backed by gold, contributed to inflation but was crucial for meeting the immense financial demands of the war.

Modernizing Northern Society

• Economic and Industrial Advancement: The war accelerated the North's transition to an industrial economy by emphasizing mass production and efficient organization. Key legislative acts passed during this period include:

  • Homestead Act (1862): Offered 160 acres of free public land to settlers in the West, provided they farmed the land for at least five years, encouraging westward expansion.

  • Morrill Land Grant Act (1862): Allocated federal land for states to establish agricultural and technical colleges, supporting education in practical disciplines.

  • Pacific Railway Act (1862): Authorized the construction of the transcontinental railroad, facilitating the economic integration of California and the Western territories with the Eastern states.

Assassination of Lincoln

• Tragic End to Leadership: Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, on April 14, 1865, shortly after his second inaugural address and the end of the Civil War. His death marked a profound loss for a nation still grappling with the aftermath of the war and transitioning into reconstruction.