The Counterrevolution
of 1861 and the Cause
of Conflict
Aubrey Gibson Period 6 Causes of the Civil War •  The North and South had differing views on poli?cal maBers such as slavery and government •  These differing views led to the Harper’s Ferry Raid, secession of Southern states from the Union, and Fort Sumter eventually leading to the start of the Civil War Raid on Harper’s Ferry JOHN BROWN •  John Brown was a white aboli?onist leader from Virginia –  Planned to strike against slavery –  Believed in violence –  Got 11 whites and 34 blacks to join him Raid on Harper’s Ferry PLANNING •  In 1858 a plan was made to invade the Appalacions in West Virginia –  Rented farm across from Harpers Ferry –  Wanted to seize armory and distribute among his army (100,000 muskets) –  Predicted to fail due to geography Raid on Harper’s Ferry WHEN IT OCCURRED •  On October 16, 1859 Brown’s army aBacked the armory –  More did not join as expected –  Over next two days they baBled West Virginia’s mili?a –  Most of Brown’s men were killed or captured, including Brown –  Ended within 36 hours Raid on Harper’s Ferry RESULTS •  Although the raid was unsuccessful, it led many to support the aboli?onist cause –  Inspired other states to start movements of their own •  Led to rumors and paranoia among slaveholders and their states Lincoln’s Elec?on PRIOR TO ELECTION •  James Buchanan was president –  Shared similar views with Lincoln but did not enforce or act upon them –  Wanted to prevent secession –  Told republicans not to cri?cize slavery and to obey slave law Lincoln’s Elec?on POLITICAL POSITIONS •  North was republican and had unity of party •  South was democra?c –  Democra?c party was split into three groups •  North was for aboli?on and south was against it Lincoln’s Elec?on HOW LINCOLN WAS ELECTED •  Lincoln won all of the votes in the Northern states •  Did not win any of the Southern states –  Did not get popular vote from the ci?zens but got majority in electoral college •  Elected November 6, 1860 –  Gave inaugural address March 4, 1861 Lincoln’s Elec?on SOUTH’S VIEWS •  South was threatened by the views of the North –  Feared they would lose their rights –  Feared their tradi?ons would be compromised •  CoBon and slavery –  Thought Lincoln elec?on would cause slaves to emigrate to the North Lincoln’s Elec?on RESULTS •  South formed their own “Confederate” States –  Elected Jefferson Davis and draaed a cons?tu?on –  Gave Lincoln an ul?matum to enforce the slave law, repeal the personal liberty law, and to not interfere with the slave trade •  Triggered secession Southern Secession CAUSES •  Lincoln’s elec?on triggered disunion in the south and they sought to become sovereign •  Wanted to avoid war •  Thought “freedom is not possible without slavery” •  South believed they had cons?tu?onal right to revolu?on Reasons for Southern Secession SLAVERY •  Southern states wanted to expand slavery –  Did not want free states •  Thought aboli?on would cause violence •  Thought aboli?on would bring whites down Reasons for Southern Secession STATES’ RIGHTS •  South was unhappy with governments one-­‐sided view –  South thought they didn’t receive enough from the government or other states –  Believed North states were favored –  Angered that the Fugi?ve Slave Law of 1850 was not enforced Reasons for Southern Secession ECONOMY •  The South had an agricultural based society –  Relied on slave labor –  Feared ending slavery would cause economic depression •  Thought becoming sovereign would boost economy and decrease expenses Reasons for Southern Secession OTHERS •  Wanted to act before the North changed any laws •  Dissa?sfied with the military •  Thought North manufacturing exploited the South •  Wanted to maintain southern iden?ty and culture States that Seceded from the union Fort Sumter
CAUSES
•  Symbol of sovereignty and secession
•  The North had gained control of Fort Moultrie
and wanted Sumter
–  Attempt to avoid bloodshed and prevent secession
Fort Sumter
WHAT HAPPENED
•  On December 26, 1860 Robert Anderson occupied
Sumter
–  Before long they were running out of supplies
–  Lincoln wanted to send in reinforcement without bloodshed
–  Informed Confederates of plan
–  Confederates attacked and Fort Sumter Surrendered
Fort Sumter
DAVIS’ VIEW
•  Believed Fort Sumter belonged to South Carolina
–  Viewed Lincoln as “dishonorable”
–  Blamed fighting on Lincoln
–  Believed Confederate soldiers acted out of defense
–  Believed South to be victorious
Fort Sumter
LINCOLN’S VIEW
•  Believed he coaxed South into firing first
– Lost fort but gained upper hand in war
– Thought South would be blamed for
“starting” the war
– North did not show aggression
Border States: Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri IMPORTANCE •  Provided important resources •  Had large white popula?ons •  Bordered important Confederate states •  Good military defense bases and communica?on networks Border States DELEWARE •  Already loyal to Union –  Only had 2% slave popula?on –  Did not need convincing –  Was of least use to North Border States KENTUCKY •  Ohio and Mississippi rivers flow through to Tennessee •  Mineral resources and important railways •  Livestock was plen?ful •  Declared neutrality –  Traded with Tennessee, but ceased aaer state elec?ons –  Allowed Unionists to use rivers for transport and defense –  Recrui?ng camps led to Union loyalty Border States MARYLAND •  Bordered Washington, D.C. on three sides •  Contained important telegraphs and rail lines for communica?on •  Maryland was split as well –  Lincoln had 31 secessionists arrested –  Released most with allegiance to Union Border States MISSOURI •  Major agricultural state –  Grain and livestock •  Controlled St. Louis •  Guarded western shore •  Difficult to procure –  Had to drive out mili?a and elect new officials Primary Source DOCUMENT #1: Excerpts from Lincoln's Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861. It follows from these views that no State, upon its own mere mo?on, can lawfully get out of the Union, -­‐-­‐ that resolves and ordinances to that effect are legally void, and that acts of violence, within any State or States, against the authority of the United States, are insurrec?onary or revolu?onary, according to circumstances. I therefore consider that in view of the Cons?tu?on and the laws, the Union is unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the Cons?tu?on itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States. Doing this I deem to be only a simple duty on my part; and I shall perform it, so far as prac?cable, unless my righoul masters, the American people, shall withhold the requisite means, or, in some authorita?ve manner, direct the contrary. I trust this will not be regarded as a menace, but only as the declared purpose of the Union that it will cons?tu?onally defend and maintain itself. In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless it be forced upon the na?onal authority. The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the du?es and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion -­‐-­‐ no using of force against or among the people anywhere. Where hos?lity to the United States, in any interior locality, shall be so great and so universal as to prevent competent resident ci?zens from holding the Federal offices, there will be no aBempt to force obnoxious strangers among the people for that object. While the strict legal right may exist in the government to enforce the exercise of these offices, the aBempt to do go would be so irrita?ng, and so nearly imprac?cable with all, that I deem it beBer to forego, for the ?me, the uses of such offices... I have no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with... slavery in the states where it exists... In your hands, my dissa?sfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I have the most, solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend" it... Primary Source Analysis •  Origin: Lincoln’s inaugural address given March 4, 1861 in Washington, D.C. States that states cannot legally secede from the Union but the north will not interfere with southern states or slave policies. Says the Union will not fight unless they are shown aggression towards first. •  Purpose: Directed at the South to convince them to stay in the Union and to avoid war. •  Value: States the North’s point of view at the ?me before the Civil War. Shows the aBempts of preven?ng war and demonstrates the Cita?ons •  McPherson, James M. "The Revolu?on of 1860, The Counterrevolu?on of 1861, Facing Both Ways: The Upper South's Dilemma." BaBle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. New York: Oxford UP, 1988. N. pag. Print. •  "Causes of the War." The Civil War in Art : Teaching & Learning Through Chicago Collec?ons. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014. <hBp://
www.civilwarinart.org/exhibits/show/causes/introduc?on/the-­‐
elec?on-­‐of-­‐1860-­‐and-­‐seces>. •  Pierce, John. "The Reasons for Secession." Council on Foreign Rela?ons. Council on Foreign Rela?ons, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014. <hBp://www.civilwar.org/educa?on/history/secession/>. •  "Lincoln Provoked the War." Stephens, Cons?tu?onal View, 2: 35-­‐41; Davis, Rise and Fall, 1: 289-­‐95; Ramsdell, "Lincoln and Fort Sumter,"pp. 259-­‐88.Lincoln Provoked the War. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014. <hBp://www.tulane.edu/~sumter/Reflec?ons/LinWar.html>. Cita?ons (con?nued) •  Gienapp, William E. "Abraham Lincoln and the Border States." Abraham Lincoln and the Border States. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014. <hBp://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/
jala/2629860.0013.104/-­‐-­‐abraham-­‐lincoln-­‐and-­‐the-­‐
border-­‐states?rgn=main;view=fulltext>. •  Briley, Ron. “Aboli?onism: American Civil War.” World at War: Understanding Conflicts and Society. ABC-­‐CLIO, 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2014 •  Marchand, Roland. "The History Project." At UC Davis. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2014. <hBp://
historyproject.ucdavis.edu/lessons/view_lesson.php?
id=13>