The Civil War, 1861-1865

Why did the Union win?

Why did they fight at all?

The War and American History

The War and American Civilization+600,000 deaths

+ 1 million casualties

Revealed/accelerated changes in society

American Liberalism (“progressive” war) democratization, equality before the law, redemption of humanity, sacred mission of nationEnlightenment + Romanticism

I. Why did the Union win?

The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitor and up with the star.

While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,

Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

Hancock’s Charge at Williamsburg

A. Material advantage

1. Manpower- demographics; immigration

2. Industrial power

B. Southern strategy

1. Defensive war

2. King Cotton

3. Confederate politics- revolutionary, Lockian- caste system (Myth of the “Solid South”)

II. Why did the North fight?

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.

- Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley, Aug. 22, 1862

Initially, not a war to free the slaves

A. The meaning of “nation”

1. Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural address - majority will (elec. of 1860) - compare w/ Madison (minority rights)

2. “No government could acquiesce in its owndestruction”- compare w/ Jefferson: govt. has no life of its own

- Power flows from the barrel of a gun - Mao Tse-tung

3. Secession deadly to democracy- will of majority meaningless- Confederacy/slavery inherently un-democratic- Gettysburg Address, 1863: Government “of, by and for the people”

4. “We cannot separate” – romantic nationalism- a nation is a sacred institution with a holy mission

Supremacy of Fed Govt. = HamiltonWill of majority = JacksonDivine mission = Puritans