Chapter 8: The Counterrevolution of 1861
The Confederate States of America organized itself, drafted a constitution, and made Montgomery, Alabama their center, and elected a provisional president three months after Lincoln was elected. This went by quickly because states seceded only if it was their wish, and it was not a collective "united" way in which they seceded. Secession was important in that it relieved the tension that had built up over the years. Southerners believed their unionism was conditional; they thought that the North had violated US unity when they elected Lincoln.
Most northerners didn't want disunity, and it was something Buchanan agreed on. In his final message to Congress, he surprised some of his southern allies with a firm denial of the right of secession. He blamed the North and Republicans for the problems over slavery and asked them to stop criticizing it, repeal their personal liberty laws, obey the fugitive slave law, and join the South to adopt a constitutional amendments protecting slavery in all territories.
Many people were afraid of a domino effect. They believed that the rebellion by the 7 Southern states could prompt other states to form confederacies.Some merchants and Democrats in New York wanted to set up a free city. It was talk like this that stirred up more problems and fear that United States unity was coming to an end.
No Northerner (or Lincoln) denied a revolution had just occurred. The Yankees especially believed they were similar to the Patriots in 1776. They thought revolutions were a moral right for a justifiable cause, but if used without a just cause then it was only a use of power, like what the South had done. Considering the president had been elected by a constitutional majority, the southern states had no right or just cause to secede.
The "lame-duck syndrome" also aided in this. Between Lincoln's election and inauguration, President Buchanan had power, but didn't really care about any of the issues. Lincoln inherited the problem at Fort Sumter. He learned that the garrison was running short of supplies; he could shoot his way to the garrison w/ goods, but that would divide the North while uniting the South. Secretary of State Seward aided him in his decision to open fire at Fort Sumter against the Confederates holding it. The war had started.
Key Terms:
Questions:
Citations
The Confederate States of America organized itself, drafted a constitution, and made Montgomery, Alabama their center, and elected a provisional president three months after Lincoln was elected. This went by quickly because states seceded only if it was their wish, and it was not a collective "united" way in which they seceded. Secession was important in that it relieved the tension that had built up over the years. Southerners believed their unionism was conditional; they thought that the North had violated US unity when they elected Lincoln.
Most northerners didn't want disunity, and it was something Buchanan agreed on. In his final message to Congress, he surprised some of his southern allies with a firm denial of the right of secession. He blamed the North and Republicans for the problems over slavery and asked them to stop criticizing it, repeal their personal liberty laws, obey the fugitive slave law, and join the South to adopt a constitutional amendments protecting slavery in all territories.Many people were afraid of a domino effect. They believed that the rebellion by the 7 Southern states could prompt other states to form confederacies.Some merchants and Democrats in New York wanted to set up a free city. It was talk like this that stirred up more problems and fear that United States unity was coming to an end.
No Northerner (or Lincoln) denied a revolution had just occurred. The Yankees especially believed they were similar to the Patriots in 1776. They thought revolutions were a moral right for a justifiable cause, but if used without a just cause then it was only a use of power, like what the South had done. Considering the president had been elected by a constitutional majority, the southern states had no right or just cause to secede.The "lame-duck syndrome" also aided in this. Between Lincoln's election and inauguration, President Buchanan had power, but didn't really care about any of the issues. Lincoln inherited the problem at Fort Sumter. He learned that the garrison was running short of supplies; he could shoot his way to the garrison w/ goods, but that would divide the North while uniting the South. Secretary of State Seward aided him in his decision to open fire at Fort Sumter against the Confederates holding it. The war had started.
Key Terms:
- southern secession: South Carolina secedes and 6 more follow --> they form the Confederate States of America, write their own constitution, and elect Senator Jefferson Davis as President and Judah Benjamin as Vice President
- Confederate States of America: confederation formed by 1861 after Lincoln's election (secession by Southern states from Union: South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi)
- President Buchanan: president before Lincoln takes office; he wanted to maintain a balance b/w pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, but his moderate views angered radicals everywhere; he was unable to stop South Carolina from seceding in Dec 1860
- William H. Seward: senator who was an antislavery activist and argued that God's moral law was higher than the constitution; he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln; he supported "higher law" and natural rights and opposed slavery expansion; (he'd buy Alaska later in 1867)
Questions:
- In what ways did African Americans shape the course and consequences of the Civil War? Once the book starts this chapter, mention of African American influence disappears and it seems more of a military history and political events that urged the Civil War into fruition.
- What were Border State opinions on the Fort Sumter situation?
- What were their opinions on President Lincoln's election? The book speaks solidly of the Northern states and the Southern states, but not of the border states.
Citations
- McPherson, James M. "8: The Counterrevolution of 1861." In Battle Cry of Freedom, 234-275. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
- Accessed March 11, 2015. http://flagdom.com/images/medium/confederate_flag_MED.gif.
- Accessed March 11, 2015. http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/1860-election.jpg.
- Accessed March 11, 2015. http://www.ndstudies.org/media/images/dterr-page-1.jpg.
No comments:
Post a Comment