Strengths and Weaknesses of the Union and Confederacy

North and South Differences and Strongholds

                                        Source: www.civilwar.org

At the time of the Civil war, the North had the largest population and an industrial economy, which attributed to a much higher GDP than the South. The North had the power to manufacture arms and ammunition, and the navy to block the South's trade routes. On the other hand, the North had the difficult military objective of invading the unfamiliar South. All the Confederacy had to do was sufficiently defend their land. Additionally, they lacked an espirit de corps until after the Emancipation Proclamation when abolishing slavery became a common goal. Moreover, the North was fighting for a more selfless purpose, whereas the South was fighting for their home and "property." Almost 80% of the railroads were in Union territory.The South could produce enough food to sustain their army, but lacked the railroad system to transport it. In the North, President Lincoln managed to weaponize the vast railroad system by using it as an effective military transport and a telegraph communication network. At the beginning of the war the Confederacy lacked the industry to arm their military, but by the end of the war the were many armories were established and this problem was resolved.

American/Confederate Flag
Source:www.socialstudieswithasmile.com

Georgia's Secession and the Role of Alexander Stephens

Soon after Lincoln's election, South Carolina seceded from the Union. South Carolina was sequentially followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas (these were the states that were quick to secede). Georgia, a very powerful, railroad driven state at the time, was unique because it did not unanimously vote for succession. The pro-union movement was led by Alexander Stephens who was very aware war would be the consequence of secession. His quote below demonstrates his weariness towards war with the Union.

"This step (the secession of Georgia,) once taken can never be recalled; and all the baleful and withering consequences that must follow will rest on the Convention for all coming time. When we and our posterity shall see our lovely South desolated by the demon of war which this act of yours will inevitably invite and call forth; when our green fields of waving harvests shall be trodden down by the murderous soldiery and fiery car of war sweeping over our land; our temples of justice laid in ashes; all the horrors and desolation of war upon us--who but this Convention will be held responsible for it?" (Alexander Stephens, State Convention of Georgia, 1861)

Portrait of Alexander Stephens
Source: history.furman.edu

In the end, Georgia voted in favor of succession on January 19th, 1861. The Civil War officially began three months later with the Battle of Fort Sumner on April 12th, 1961.

Map of Succession
Source: http://www.nps.gov/kemo/historyculture/wardeclared.htm

Dred Scott Descision and The Election of 1860

The Dred Scott Case was case brought to the Supreme Court in 1857. Dred Scott was an African slave who sued for his and his families freedom. He believed that since he had traveled to free states with his master, Dr. John Emerson, a military medical officer, he too should be set free. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled against Scott on the notion that "All men are created equal"
(Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776) did not apply to African descendants. Moreover, he decided that blacks were not citizens, and therefore, could not sue. This catalyzed the Abolitionist movement, and provided the pro-slavery South a legal endorsement., which only caused more tension between the two opposing factions.

Dred Scott
Source: http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-86875/Dred-Scott-was-a-slave-who-sued-for-his-freedom

The Presidential Election of 1860 is significant because it is popularly believed to be the tipping point leading to the Civil War. The democrats of the North and South were engaged in such conflict of interests over their nomination that Southern party members stormed out of the convention. The Republican party was quick to realize they could rise from the ashes of the democrats and win the election. The Republicans  nominated Abraham Lincoln to run for president with the hope that he could win the key, undecided states: Illinois, Missouri, Pensylvania, and New Jersey. Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes, which was barley enough to win the election. Lincoln was an abolitionist, so therefore he would aim to stop proliferation of slavery to new states. This caused mass uproar among the Southern states, which began discussions over secession from the Union.

"Dividing the National Map"- Artist Unknown
Satirical political cartoon on the Election of 1860
Source/Read More At: http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evm00001319mets.xml

Map of the Election of 1860
(Notice how Lincoln had less than half of the popular vote)
Source:faculty.umf.maine.edu

Antebellum Period:Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) and the Republican Party

Both the Kansas and the Nebraska Territories were North of the 36 30 line. When they asked for statehood, Congress repealed the 36 30 parallel, and determined that their slavery/free status would be determined by popular sovereignty (vote) in the two states. A small civil war, Bleeding Kansas, broke out in Kansas between the pro- and anti-slavery factions. Both Kansas and Nebraska ended up admitting as free states

Around this time, the Republican party was forming. Its goals were to stop the spread of slavery and to modernize the economy. They were looked upon as radicals and very left wing. The Kansas-Nebraska act propelled the Republican Party forward. The country was divided politically by region: the Democrats were largely Southern while the Republicans sided with the North.

Political Map of the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Source: www.pbs.org

Antebellum Period: Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act, and theGeorgia Platform.

Henry Clay Drafting the Missouri Compromise
Source:MPI/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

          When California asked for statehood, they wanted to be admitted as a  free state. However, according to the Missouri Compromise, California would have to be split in half. To avoid this, Congress came up with an entirely new compromise which was drawn up by Henry Clay. Slavery was abolished in Washington D.C. . Texas gave up its land for $10 million which would be used to pay off its debt to Mexico.California was to be admitted as a free state so long as the Fugitive Slave Act -  a law that stated all escaped slaves must be returned to their owners, and that anyone caught assisting runaway slaves would be incarcerated without trial - was passed (It was becoming common for slaves to flee North). The Georgia Platform agreed to the Compromise of 1850 under the condition that the Fugitive Slave Act was enforced in the North.  

Map of the Missouri Compromise
Source: www.pbs.org

Antebellum Period: The Missouri Compromise of 1820

          Slave and free states maintained balanced power in the Senate in order to prevent congressional favor for the opposing side. This equilibrium was threatened when the Missouri territory declared they wanted to become a slave state. Massachusetts split in to two states, admitting Maine as a free state. Western territories were declaring statehood relatively frequently, so to prevent future tensions, Henry Clay compromised and drew a line across the 36 30 parallel thus, dividing America in half. Any new state above the line was to be admitted as free,and any new state South of the line as slave.

Above: Map of  the Missouri Compromise
Source:julieoverby.pbworks.com

Antebellum Period: Sectionalism, The Abolition Movement, States Rights, and Nullification

          Due to disputes over slavery and cultural differences, sectionalism - tensions among regions of a country - was abundant before the war, particularly between the North and the South. The North was diversifying and progressing economically, while the South was sticking to its quaint, agrarian based economy. Cotton was a staple source of income in the South,and the large plantations that manufactured cotton required an abundance of free labor i.e. slaves.The wealthy plantation owners invested tens of thousands of dollars in their slaves, so naturally when the pro-abolition North asked them to free their slaves, the plantation owners responded with an absolute no. It's important to note that these wealthy plantation owners controlled much of the congressional power. Abolitionist groups were erupting throughout the North. They argued it was immoral and against God to hold slaves,and wanted slave owners to free slaves without compensation. Opposed to this was the pro-slavery South. They argued slaves were provided by God in order to manage plantations, and freeing slaves would be "injurious to society'' and ''scatter discontent." (Cincinnati Post, 1842)

          Since the North and South had such different economies, it was quite possible that the North could go through a depression without the South. This hypothetical became a reality after the War of 1812. The United States government was in major debt,and the North went through economic depression. The United States Government imposed a tariff on the South in order to maintain the Northern economy and industry. South Carolina declared the tax unconstitutional and nullified,or invalidated, it.This is was called the "Nullification Crisis.'' South Carolina believed that the states' rights should be prioritized above the federal government's. President Andrew Jackson responded by sending troops to South Carolina, which almost lead to war.

Above: An Anti-Abolitionist handbill that helped to instigate the
Boston Riot of 1835, in which a riot invaded the hall 
where the Boston-Female-Anti-Slavery-Society was gathered.
Source:http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam005.html

Above: Cartoon on Andrew Jackson's response

to South Carolina's nullification

 link: potus-geeks.livejournal.com