Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Lincoln-Douglas Debates • Senate race of 1858 between Dem. Douglas and Rep. Lincoln • Lincoln challenges Douglas to 7 open-air debates • Douglas believes in popular sovereignty and Lincoln believes slavery is immoral • Douglas hoped that slavery would pass cease on its own

The Debate • Lincoln attempts to make Douglas look like a pro-slavery person who liked the Dred Scott decision • Douglas accused Lincoln of being an abolitionist and advocate of racial equality • “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races” • Slavery was a “moral, social, and political wrong that should not be allowed to spread”

Freeport Doctrine • 2nd Debate held in Freeport, IL • Lincoln asks Douglas “Could the settlers of a territory vote to exclude slavery before the territory became a state?” • Dred Scott decision says no • Popular sovereignty was an “empty phrase” • Douglas responds (becomes known as Freeport Doctrine) • “Slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations” • Douglas won the Senate seat but Lincoln gets NATIONAL attention

More Crucial Events • Raid on Harpers Ferry • John Brown studies slave revolts that happened in ancient Rome • Brown obtains financial backing from Northern abolitionists • Oct. 16, 1859 -> led 29 men (white and black) into Harpers Ferry • Wanted to seize the federal arsenal, distribute them arms to the slaves, and start an uprising • No slaves step forward, local troops kill 8 of Brown’s men, and Robert E. Lee leads U.S. marines there • Brown captured, tried for treason, and hung (caused outrage)

Ole’ Abe • John Brown’s raid causes hostility between North and South • Republicans await their convention to nominate their rep. for president in 1860 • William H. Seward thought to be the obvious choice • Lincoln didn’t have much opportunity to offend anyone (was nominated) • 4 total candidates for President • Dem. Party supported Stephen Douglas or John C. Breckinridge • Know-Nothings and Whigs supported John Bell • Lincoln becomes the victor

Southern Secession • South views the election of Lincoln as if they had lost their political voice in gov’t • South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union • Followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas • Met in Montgomery, AL to form the Confederate States of America • Jefferson Davis was elected president • Before Lincoln’s inauguration, Buchanan declares secession illegal (still 8 slave states in the Union) • Question now becomes Let the South leave the North without a fight?

The Civil War Begins

Stars and Stripes vs. Stars and Bars • 7 southernmost states form the Confederate States of America • Began to take over federal institutions (courthouses, posts offices, forts, etc.) • Only 2 Southern forts remain in Union hands at the time of Lincoln’s inauguration -> most important was South Carolina’s Fort Sumter • Day after inauguration Lincoln gets report that Confederacy asking the troops at Fort Sumter to surrender or they will attack • Troops stationed there already low on supplies and food

Lincoln’s Dilemma • If he ordered Navy to reinforce the fort he would be the one who started the fighting • Could prompt remaining slave states to secede • If he ordered a retreat he would be treating the Confederacy as an actual nation • Weaken the Rep. Party and endanger the Union

It Begins • Lincoln decides not to retreat but also does not send reinforcements. • Jefferson Davis now faces the same dilemma • Confederates open fire on Fort Sumter • As a result thousands of Northern men unite to enlist in the Union army • Virginia secedes -> does not want to fight the South • Followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina (now 11 states) • Western counties of Virginia anti-slavery • Secede from Virginia and admitted as West Virginia in 1863

Short War? • Both sides expected a short war • Union has advantages • Resources, more fighting power, more factories, more food, and better RxR system • Confederate advantages • Cotton profits, first-rate generals, strong military tradition, motivated soldiers defending their homeland

Different Strategies • Union -> 3 part plan (Anaconda Plan) • Navy would blockade Southern ports • Riverboats and armies would move down Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two • Armies would capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, VA • Confederacy -> very defensive strategy with survival of the nation as it’s goal

Bull Run • First major bloodshed of the Civil War • 30,000 Union soldiers make its way toward Richmond • Came across Confederate Army at Bull Run • General Irvin McDowell vs General Thomas Jackson • Jackson and the confederates hold strong giving the nickname Stonewall Jackson • South wins first major battle

Union Armies in the West • Lincoln responds to defeat by calling for the enlistment of 500k men • Same thing days later (500k more) • Appoints General George McClellan to lead • Trains his men who become known as Army of the Potomac • Western Union forces began fight for Miss. Rvr. • 1862 Union army invades Western Tennessee under General Ulysses S. Grant • Capture Fort Henry and Donelson

Shiloh • Grant gathers his troops at Church in Shiloh • Union forces surprised by Confederate attack • Grant calls for reinforcements the next day and pushes the Confederates to retreat • South realizes Union control of the Miss. Rvr. might actually happen • Grant pushes toward Miss. Rvr. • Met by David Farragut and 40 Union ships • Want to capture Louisiana -> largest city and busiest port • Hopes to cut Western South off from rest of South

Warfare Evolves • Ironclad • Ship that was very strong and agile • Monitor (North) vs. Merrimack (South) • Battle became a draw • New Weapons • Rifle and minie ball • Primitive hand grenades and land mines

War for the Capitals • North tightens blockade on Southern ports • Gen. McClellan becomes problem (too cautious) • Would not attack Richmond until he had 120k men • McClellan finally marches on Richmond in the spring of 1862 • Met Confederate troops, killed their general, passed reigns to Robert E. Lee • Lee was opposed to secession but turned down Northern offer and pledged allegiance to VA • Seven Days’ Battles • Lee vs. McClellan to stop him from reaching Richmond • Lee ends up winning and forcing Union troops to retreat

Antietam • Lee moves on Union Capital • Won second battle of Bull Run • Crossed into Marlyand • Union finds plans from Gen. Lee • Lee and Jackson’s armies would be seperated • McClellan acts agresively • Meet at Antietam and becomes the bloodiest single day battle in American history

Politics of War

Britain’s Stance • South hoped Britain would help them during the war • They were no longer dependent on Southern cotton • Found new cotton in Egypt and India • Shortage of wheat -> relied on North for this • Britain decides to remain neutral • The Trent Affair • Confederates send James Mason and John Slidell to gain British and French support in the war • Union ship captures the two men • Britain threatens war – sends 8k troops to Canada • Lincoln frees the two men (1 war at a time)

Emancipation • Was winning the war enough if slavery was not ended? • Lincoln does not feel that government has power to end slavery • “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery” • Confederates used slave labor for food and building of forts • Lincoln realized that slaves were technically Confederate “supplies” • Emancipation would gain Britain’s support

The Proclamation • Jan. 1, 1863 -> Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation • Quote pg. 347 • Applied to areas behind Confederate lines • Did not free any slaves immediately • Aimed solely at states in rebellion (not Union slave states or areas in South under Union control) • Proclamation makes war moral – Fight over slavery • Slaves could now fight in the Union army • Northerners want to preserve the Union • Democrats say this will only prolong the war • Confederates now know that a loss would result in no more slaves and their way of life

Political Problems • Divided loyalty – Northerners for the South and Southerners for the North • How should the respective governments handle their critics? • How could they ensure a steady supply of fighting men for their armies? • Lincoln responds with punishment • Sending federal troops and suspending Habeas Corpus (bringing a person to court) • Seized communication buildings • Northern Democrats who advocate peace with South also arrested (Copperheads) • Jefferson Davis does the same in the South

Conscription • A draft that would force members into the army • Both sides enact a draft • Confederates – all able-bodied white men between ages of 18 – 35 • Could hire substitutes • Exempted planters of 20 or more slaves • Union – white men 20 – 45 • Could hire substitutes • Pay $300 to become exempt

Draft Response • Poor Union people thought it was unfair to fight a war to free slaves • Why? • Mobs begin to form • Destroyed draft offices, newspaper offices, and homes of anti-slavery leaders • Attacked well dressed men and African Americans • Results in 100+ dead

The North Takes Charge

A Sticky Situation for the South • South defeat the North at Chancellorsville, VA • Union gains an advantage • Stonewall Jackson shot upon his return (mistake) and dies from pneumonia • Gen. Lee decides to invade the North anyway • Hope to drive Union troops away from Vicksburg so he could get well-needed supplies • Also wanted to win a battle on Union soil

Gettysburg • Gettysburg, PA • Shoeless troops hear there is footwear in Gettysburg • Go to find it and meet up with Gen. Lee’s forces • Rebels run into Union troops led by John Buford • Ordered his men to take defense on the hills and ridges surrounding the town • Fighting attracts more soldiers from both sides • South forces the Union troops to retreat and takes control of the town itself

South now had to take high ground of Gettysburg from North at Cemetery Ridge • Lee orders Rebel forces towards the ridge on July 2nd • Colonel Joshua Chamberlain helps push back Rebel forces • Run out of ammo and men so he orders a bayonet charge • Rebels surrender and held their lines • Lee still optimistic • Orders artillery attack on July 3rd • Sends Gen. Pickett to charge the high ground (Pickett’s Charge) • Rebel troops then move forward and met by Union artillery • Union troops hold off the high ground attack • Lee sends troops to flank but they also were stalled • North goes on the counterattack • Rebels retreat and Lee gives up attacking the North on their own soil

The Result • 30% casualties • Union losses were 23,000 killed or wounded • South losses were 28,000 Killed or wounded

Vicksburg • Gen. Ulysses S. Grant continues fighting in the West • Vicksburg, Mississippi was one of only 2 Confederate holdout preventing the Union from taking control of the Miss. Rvr. • Grant sends troops to attack RxR’s and draw attention away from the city • Sends troops into city and take over Jackson, Miss. • Troops move from Jackson to Vicksburg and are held 2 different times • Finally send artillery attack and force all people in the city into caves • “If you can’t feed us, you’d better surrender” • Rebels surrender and days later Hudson, LA falls -> finally cuts the Confederacy into 2 parts

Gettysburg Address • Nov. 1863 -> ceremony held to dedicate a cemetery in Gettysburg • Abraham Lincoln speaks for a little over 2 minutes • Pg. 361

Confederacy Becomes Tired • South running very low on supplies and men after Vicksburg and Gettysburg • Know they cannot continue to attack • Hope for armistice (cease-fire) rather than surrender • South begins to call for an end to the war • Lincoln finds 2 generals to continue to fight • Worsens to moral of the South • Southern soldiers begin to go home (have to) • In every Southern state but S.C. soldiers beginning to fight for the Union army • Peace rallies begin to pop up in almost all Southern states

Ulysses S. Grant at His Best • Appointed commander of all troops by Lincoln • Appoints William Tecumseh Sherman as commander of troops in Mississippi • Both believe in total war (on civilians as well) • Civilians made the weapons, grew the food, and transported the goods • Grant wants to attack Lee’s army in VA while Sherman does so in GA • Grant able to lose men and Lee not able to • Many battles fought -> Grant becomes known in the South as a butcher • “Whatever happens, there will be no turning back”

Sherman’s March • Sherman's troops occupy the transportation center of Atlanta • South decides to flank him and cut of supply lines • Sherman decides to abandon his supplies and marches southeast through GA • Take out Savannah, GA and turn North to help Grant “wipe out Lee” • Added 25k slaves looking for freedom • March into S.C. • “Here is where treason began and, by God, here is where it shall end” • By the time they get to N.C. they anticipate the end of war and begin to hand out food and other supplies to the civilians

Election of 1864 • Lincoln vs. George McClellan • Democrats upset with the war’s length and high casualty rates • Confederate South chooses John Fremont • Andrew Johnson becomes Lincoln’s running mate • Fremont withdrawals after hearing that Atlanta was under Union control • Lincoln wins second term

Surrender at Appomattox • Grant and other troops approaching Richmond from the west • Sherman from the south • News of Lee’s troops falling at Petersburg, VA • Jefferson Davis leaves capital and burns it • Lee and Grant meet to arrange surrender on April 9, 1865 in Appomattox Court House (VA) • The terms: • Grant paroled Lee’s soldiers and sent them home with their possessions and food • Officers were permitted to keep their side arms

Lincoln-Douglas Debates