Diplomacy and Wartime Reconstruction (1865-1877)
BY: ABBEY WILLISON Reconstruction (1865-1877)
The plan was to originally rebuild society by ending slavery, paying back land owners, and keeping order among the people.
Many people disagreed with the movement, especially the South who relied on slaves to work their farms. Reconstruction
Republicans took firm hold of reconstruction in the South. Congress passed the Reconstruction Act in 1867. Temporarily divided the South into five military districts and outlined how governments, based on universal, male suffrage were to be organized. Law also required southern states to ratify 14th amendment before they could rejoin the Union. 14th amendment broadened the definition of citizenship, granting “equal protection” of the Constitution to former slaves. February 1869, Congress approved 15th amendment- guaranteed a citizen’s right to vote no matter of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”- but not gender so women could still not vote. 87 years later….
The Civil Rights Act (1964) ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination, 87 years later. One year later Congress expanded the act and passed additional legislation aimed at equal voting. Voting Rights Act of 1965 King Cotton
Slogan summarizing the strategy used by the Confederacy to show that succession was feasible and there was no need to fear a war by the United States. Impact on Foreign affairs: control of cotton exports would make an independent confederacy economically prosperous.
Control the cotton-control the war
“The Cotton Kingdom”
cottonslavery.voices.wooster.edu King Cotton
Jefferson Davis wanted to secure an alliance with Britain and France for the Confederacy. However Abraham Lincoln did not want this because he wanted to keep Europe out.
Controlling the cotton meant having power, and was important in Southern diplomacy. Europe was in need of cotton and relied on the Americas to supply it.
King Cotton
The textile industry was important to the economy and over 75% of the cotton Europe used came from the confederate states.
Union blockades eventually decreased British cotton imports to 3%, and by 1863 throughout Europe there was a “cotton famine.”
This disrupted the European economy and put them on edge. So when the South needed fast ships to run the blockade, and were ready to spend more money on ship building, the British were happy to furnish and build the needed ships.
King Cotton and Europe
Napoleon III, recognized that his relationship with America was weak, and thought that if he got France involved with the cotton industry that France could reconnect with the U.S and potentially Mexico. Cotton wasn’t the only material that Europe relied on. In 1862 over half of the grain export came from the Union. There had been many crop failures early in the war, and so the North stepped up and resupplied the failing crop.
Trent Affair (1861-1865)
On November 8th, 1861 the USS San Jacinto, captained by Charles Wilkes, stopped the Trent and seized James Mason of Virginia and John Slidell of Louisiana, two Confederate diplomats. Their original destinations were Britain and France in hopes of seeking help for the Confederation. They were taken to Boston, where they were imprisoned in Fort Warren. Britain soon got word and immediately sent a message over that they wanted Mason and Slidell released. They started sending troops over to Canada to prepare for war with America. France also got involved and said that they would support Britain in the fight against America. Their mission was to remove the American fleet that was blockading the South. To avoid another war, Lord Lyons, and William Seward met and decided the fate of Mason and Slidell. In the end the two diplomats were released and further conflict with Great Britain was avoided. Abraham Lincoln quotes, “One war at a time.” Trent Affair
Jefferson Davis deployed the envoys in hopes of getting Britain and France’s full diplomatic recognition. Before this incident, Britain and France did not see the Confederate states as a sovereign nation, and thus far maintained their diplomatic relations with the U.S.
Since Captain Wilkes did not wait to receive orders from Washington, the British saw this act as a violation of their neutrality. It was a major diplomatic disagreement, but luckily did not end in war Trent Affair
The “Trent Affair” proved that the British were willing to defend their neutrality in the American Civil War, which was a position that both the Union and the Confederacy were hoping to change. This decision became a source of controversy, with the British claiming that the boarding of the San Jacinto had violated international law by removing persons from a ship without taking the ship to a prize court for adjudication. A prize court is a court that is authorized to consider whether or not a ship has been lawfully captured or seized in time of war. They can return the seized ship back to its owner if the capturing of the ship was un-lawful.
Fought in South, Wednesday September 17th, 1862 AKA: Battle of Sharpsburg Fought at Antietam Creek The single bloodiest day in American military history George McClellan led the Union army Robert E. Lee led the Confederate Army. This battle was anticipated to be the decisive Confederate victory over the Union. Union victory
Battle of Antietam-Fun Facts
Total of 131,000 soldiers engaged 87,000 Union soldiers 45,000 Confederate soldiers
22,717 Causalities Union- George B. McClellan 2,108 killed 753 missing and captured 9,540 wounded 12,401 total Confederacy- Robert E. Lee General George B. McClellan 1,546 killed 7,752 wounded 1,018 MIA 10,316 total Robert E. Lee
Antietam and the Effect on Europe
Europe did not want to get involved in war that was being fought to keep slavery alive, since they banned it themselves; thus, intervening in the war was neither economically or politically smart. However America made the argument that the fighting was to preserve and build the Union back up. It wasn’t until a few years later, during the Trent Affair that Britain and France would be interested in getting involved in the war in the U.S. With a Northern victory, Lincoln could issue the Emancipation Proclamation without looking desperate or forceful over the Confederate states.
Factors that kept Europe from recognizing South
Britain had banned slavery, so assisting in a war that fought for slavery was not favorable. The only reason Europe would have for getting into the war would be to put down a rebellion After 1862 chances of Great Britain favoring the Confederacy got slimmer and slimmer, and eventually vanished, giving Europe no reason to be interested in America and its problems.
Europe
During the 1860’s France was also busy with occupying Mexico, and in Great Britain Jews were allowed to vote. In 1861 Tsar Alexander II issued his Proclamation Emancipation towards Russian serfs. Prussia, 1862, Otto von Bismarck becomes minister- president, he declares that his government is to rule without a parliament. Germany, 1861, mirror workers have been losing all their teeth due to mercury poisoning. Lincoln’s 10% Plan
December 8th, 1863
Lincoln’s plan was to reunify the Northern and Southern states by offering pardons to Confederates who would swear to support the Constitution and the Union.
When he was elected President his goal was to re-build the Union and bring the country together. He did not like the pace of reconstruction and so wrote a letter to General Nathaniel Banks, about “what I would like Louisiana to do.” He had a wish list that included a new constitution, adoption of the emancipation proclamation, and a system to ease the transition from slavery to freedom. 10% Plan
Part I: A full pardon and restoration of property to all engaged in the war with the exception of all Confederate officials and military leaders.
Part II: New state governments could be formed for the Confederate states when at least 10% of the eligible voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Lincoln chose 10% because it was small enough to make it easy for states to rejoin the Union.
Part III: Southern states who were admitted through the second half of the 10% plan were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves only if the condition of their freedom was not compromised.
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (a piece)
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A PROCLAMATION.
I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, do proclaim, declare, and make known to all persons who have, directly or by implication,
participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby granted to them and each of them, with restoration
of all rights of property, except as to slaves, and in property cases where rights of third parties shall have intervened, and upon the condition that
every such person shall take and subscribe an oath, and thenceforward keep and maintain said oath inviolate; and which oath shall be registered for
permanent preservation, and shall be of the tenor and effect following, to wit:–
“I, , do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States there under; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully
support all acts of congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed,
modified, or held void by congress, or by decision of the supreme court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully
support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as
not modified or declared void by decision of the supreme court. So help me God.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
OPCVL
O- Proclamation given by Abraham Lincoln on December 8th, 1863.
P- The purpose was to get 10% of the southern states to swear the oath, so that they can become part of the Union. “…Participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby granted…” It was meant to be an easy task, and was one of Lincoln’s original goals as president.
V- This piece is highly valued because it is written from Abraham Lincoln himself and shows the faith he had in the southern states. He wanted to keep the Union strong and therefore put his faith within the people, even when they did not come through for him, he would try to come through for them. Although the people committed treason, confiscation of property, and liberation of slaves, participated in rebellion, and continue to resist alliance with the Union Lincoln still expresses a second chance. “I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, do proclaim, declare, and make known to all …”
L: The only issue with Lincoln’s proclamation is that he is from the Union and does not know the side of the confederation or the people in it. He has his goal in mind but does not know what the goal of the people is, and why they want to keep slavery. Even though slavery would seem to be against natural law, people will still have their opinions and extremities. ““I, ______, do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States there under…” Lincoln assumes that the people believe in god, and will up stand their promise to the U.S.
Radical Republicans
Radical Republicans were a faction of American politicians within the Republican party from 1854-1877. Their beliefs included same political rights and opportunities for blacks as whites. In 1886 they introduced the Civil Rights Bill. The Republicans wanted to punish the South whereas Lincoln just wanted to bring them back together. They thought the plan was too soft on the South. Radical Republicans introduced the Wade-Davis Bill. Showed that the United States government would not tolerate their behavior and to show the seriousness of introducing states back into the Union, they made it so that 50% of the states had to take the oath.
Wade-Davis Bill
Guaranteed certain states, whose governments had been used to usurp or overthrow the Union, a republican form of government. Had plan to restore the states in rebellion to their proper practical relations in the Union. 50% of the states’ white males were required to pronounce their loyalty by taking the oath in order to become part of the Union. Require that states extend the right to vote to African Americans. (This was unconstitutional at this time because the Congress had no power to deal with slavery within each state). Bill was passed in Congress, but killed when Lincoln vetoed it. Lincoln’s Veto
He feared the bill would destroy what he had been working for in states like Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He treated the Confederacy as if they were still part of the Union and wanted to keep that relationship with the people. He thought that the Wade-Davis bill treated the people as traitors, and if he was to pass it, the relationship he had fought so hard to get would be jeopardized. After he vetoed the bill, it was not resurrected. Davis was not happy with Lincoln and accused Lincoln of using reconstruction to secure electors in the South and that they would "be at the dictation of his personal ambition.” Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th, 1865. Bibliography
"Wartime Diplomacy." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, 4 July 1995. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Bibliography
"Trent Affair". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 20 Sep. 2015