The American Civil War, OUTSIDE THE BATTLES

• Succeded in mobilising about 900,000 men.
• War had a negative effect on women- wrote letters. Had to work longer hours and most lost loved ones. 
• Mid 1862, women reluctant to send loved ones off to war. 
• Most remained committed to rebel cause.
• Slaves fled their plantations. Slave owners had to negotiate with slaves to get them back to work. 
• Refugees flooded the South as whites fled contesting armies.

• Confederate Socialism: Richmond Government attempt to control the Confederate economy 
• Most of what was achieved due to private initiative. 
• Ordinance Bureau, led by Gorgas, government agency responsible for acquiring war materials. 
• Draft exemptions- ensure railway companies had skilled workers.
• Blockade running, remarkably successful (avoid Union's blockade). 
• More could have been done to supervise the railway system.
• Cotton could have been used to better effect. 
• More slaves could have been used for combat labour. 
• Lack of nationalisation. 
• Cotton production decrease, 4 million- 300,000 

• Always going to find it difficult to finance a long war. 
• Few gold reserves and Union blockade made it difficult to sell cotton. 
• Taxes on income, profits and property unpopular, levied in 1863. 
• Most state governments reluctant to send money to Richmond. States often borrowed money, worsen inflationary pressures. 
• 1863, Impressment Act was passed, allowed seizure of goods to support armies at the front line. 
• Taxation in kind Act, authroised governement agents collect 10% of produce. Supplied rebels in the last 2 years of war. 
• Only 8% of Confederacy's income derived from tax. 
• Feb 1861, Congress allowed Memminge raise $15million in bonds and stock certificates. 
• Raised inflation, Memminge had no option but to print more money. 
• Shortages on basic commodities meant inflation was inevitable. 

• Most working Northerners felt better off. Lots of money in circulation. 
• Immigration rose, exceeding 100,000 both 1863/64. 
• Almost 1/2 Union soldiers were farm boys from NE & Middle West. 
• Steadfast populations remained in their support for the war.
• Anti-war movement never threatedned to undermine Lincoln's authority.
• More job opportunities for women, didn't bring them closer to political or economic equality. 
• War led to an increase in racial tension. 

• Left to itself by the federal governement: flourished, producing high emplyment, wages.
• Coastal fortification was costly but by 1861 most of the systems were complete. 
• After 1861 most of systems were complete. 
• After 1861, Republicans able to pass economic legislation. Northern economy able to ensure Union armies were well equipped. 
• Railways made great profits, full carrying capicity was utilised. 
• Farmers benefitted, export in grain increased. 

• By end of 1861, Union's financial situation was becoming unsustainable.
• Only $250million in bullion in Northern states. 
• Immediate solution was to float a public loan. 
• Bond issue was an eventual success but didn't solve problem of liquidity. 
• Paper money had not corrupted the financial system but caused inflation. 
• Union were not ready for war financially. 
• Legal Tender Act authrosied issuing of $150million in paper currency. Provided the Treasury with resources to pay its bills and restored investors' confidence sufficiantly to make attempts to reform banking system.
• Inflation was at 80%

Davis quote- 'If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on its tombstone: DIED OF A THEORY'.  Trying to deflect blame:

• States Rights vs the Confed Government vs Federal Governemnt. 
• Civil liberties- individual rights.
• Davis' can't impose too heavily on civil liberties because then there's no reason to fight a war. Essence of the Confederacy. 

• Freedome for generals- refused Lee's resignation. 
• States Rights- force through tough measures (Conscrition act, Marshall Law and impressment).
• Davis commitment to the Court, toured the South. 
• Cabinet had lengthy meetings. Delegation and prudent style of government. 
• Economy- Memminger, 1/3 war material. 

• Diffcult to work with, 6x secretary of war, 16 in all cabine and 4x state. 
• VP Alex Stephens 'he was weak, timid, petulant, peevin and obsinate'. 
• State Rights, could have done more. 
• Lengthy cabinet meetings, indecisive. 
• Economy, 5000% inflation printing money. 
• Bragg not replaced, friends with Davis. 

• Food shortages- Taxation in Kind Act 1863. 10% of farmers food/produce taken for soldiers.
• Cotton farming, convert to something edible, takes time. 
• Shortage of labour, 8% southerners agricultural. 

Richmond Bread Riots

• Mostly women looking for food.
• Davis tried to deal with problem, chucks coin at the mob but doesn't disperse them. Threatened crowd, 1 minute to spare then left. 
• Cost $450 for a barrel of flour. 

• Taxes- Taxation in Kind, Conscritption, 20 ***** Law, Impressment and Cotton embargo. 
• All infringing of States Rights. 
• From 20 ***** Law 1862, division between rich and poor in the Confederate. 

• Soldiers knew about food shortages because of letters from wives. 
• This problem is going to increase as the war goes on. 
• James Seddon, Secretary of War, Nov 1863, 1/3rd of soldiers unencounted for. 
• June 1864 60,000 men desert Lee's army. 
• Loss of will/morale

• North Carolina, Raleigh newspaper 1863, 'we are for peace because there has been enough blood and carnage...' 
• Loss of will/morale
• Summer 1863, 100 meetings of people supporting peace in NC. 
• 63 state elections, secessionaists candidates lose seats. 
• Armed resistance, Union affiliated Heroes of America. Red strings. 

• State government- mostly controlled by Republicans 
• Supported Federal, provide men for Union. 
• Exception, NY Draft Riot. 
• Voluntary Organisations- fill in the gaps.
• Mostly women. 
• US sanitary Commission- Clara Barton 'Angel of the Battlefield'. 
• Death 1 vs Disease 2. 

• Man-management. Politically savy.
• Oratorical prowess. Craft words. 
• Determination (Fredericksburg). 
• Took responsibility and abuse thick skinned. 
• Sacked his generals but let them have freedom.
• Consistency and stabiltiy in the cabinet. 

• Little administrative experience pre 1861.
• Devious politician, dealt with political matters rather than war effort. 
• Little credit for FP, financial measuer and economic matters. 
• Can be accused of meddling and incompetent. 
• Accused of acting tyrannically. 
• Had an easier task than Davis.
• Military experience, Union should have won quicker. 

• Democrats who were determined to see the war fought to a successful conlcusion. 
• Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War throughout the war, fierce critic of Lincoln at first but Lincoln brings him in. Transformation of opinion. 
• Andrew Johnson. Only southern senate that doesn't secede. Lincoln makes him governor of Tennesse. 

• Named after poisinous snakes, sound dangerous. 
• Pro-Confederate sympathisers. 
• Mythical status. 
• Rumours of NW Confederacy. 
• Response- union leagues, republic clubs. 

• Democrat. 
• Encouraged soldiers to desert. 
• Burnside arrested him, gave a speech.
• Outrage not just from Democrats. 
• Sent tot he South and moves to Canada. 
• An example of federal intervention.
• Civil liberties crushed. 

• July 1863 just won Gettysburg/Vicksburg. 
• March 1863, Conscritption Act. 
• Communication Fee, $300 to buy yourself out of war. 
• 11th NY draw names, mob forms 2/3rd Irish. 
• Leads to lynching of black people, lasts four days, takes a while for the army to get there. 
• At least 105 died as army had to open fire. 

• Sherman stuck in Atlanta and Grant was in Petersburg. 
• Lincoln thought he was going to lose, 'I am going to be beaten'.
• Deomcrats- McCllen argued for negotiated peace. 
• Republican platform was unconditional surrender. 
• Andre Johnson was chosen as Lincoln's running mate. Only southern senator that didn't secede. More appealing to the border states. 

Impact 

• Soldier turnout 78%. 
• War department sneaky, deliberatley gave soldiers a leave to go home and vote. 
• Some could vote in the field. 
• This was the last best hope of the South. 
• Lincoln won 22 states, McClellan won 3. 

• Britain's immediate long-term self interest might be served by break up of USA. 
• Independant Confederates have strong economic links with Britain. 
• Many Brits sympathised with the Confederacy. States Rights. 
• Cotton was an immediate issue in order to prevent economic hardship at home. 
• Necessary for Britain to break the Union's blockade. 

• Conflict with the Union might result in loss of Canada.
• War would result in loss of valuable markets and investment in the North. 
• Crimean war indicated difficulties of fighting a war thousands of miles away from home.
• Damage trade with the Union. 

• Lincoln made it clear that the conflcit was a rebellion If Britain recognised Confederacy, declaration of war. Palmerston tried to stay neutral. 
• Confederacy didn't establish a formal embargo, halted export of cotton. 
• Nov 1861 Trent Affair- 2 Confed commissioners left for Europe is a British ship, blocked by US.
• Created wave of anger in Britain, stopped export of essential war materials to Union.
• Aut 1862 British Mediation- British recognition after Second Manassas. Didn't intervene due to Antietam and Emancipation.
• Summer 1863 Commerce Raiders and Laird Rams- Although denied British recognition, Confederates recieved valuable aid. Purchased ships. 
• The Alabama took 64 Union ships. Confederates purchased unarmed ships, equipped it.