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The Use of the Cotton Gin / Slavery (Cause of the War)
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in the year 1794 but by 1850 this invention had impacted the south in a major way. The cotton gin was built to help seperate the cotton seed from the short stable cotton fiber. This made everything much more efficient and lead to mass production of cotton which led to the need for more slaves to pick it. Slavery was simply an economical thing for the south. They needed slaves to keep picking cotton. This is why the south didnt want to give up slavery, -
Uncle Tom's Cabin (Causes of War)
Uncle Tom's Cabin was widely read not just by Americans, but also by Europeans. Written by northener Harriet Breecher Stowe (shown in the photo), her book impacted a lot of people by opening their eyes to the evils of slavery. Southerners were not too fond of the book. They claimed that the north was judging their lifestyle. Lincoln had even said to Stowe when he met her, "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war." -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (Causes of War)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Stephen Douglas on January of 1854. This act stated that the Nebraska Territory be divided into two territories. The two territories would be the Nebraska Territory and the Kansas Territory. In these terrotories popular sovereignty would be put into action. This act was a stepping stone towards the Civil War since it permitted the expansion of slavery which was what the north was trying to abolish. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln (Causes of War)
Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860 against Stephen Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. This election was the final event that led to the South's leaving of the Union. They believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of the Northern interests. Lincoln was willing to do anything to preserve the Union, even if it meant fighting. He felt that as his president it was his duty to do so. His first draft of the inaugural adress ended with, "Shall it be peace? Or the sword?" -
Hercules of 1861 (Political Cartoon)
The Union solider in this cartoon is supposed to resemble Abraham Lincoln who is going to beat the medusa serpent of secession. The club says Union which implies the victory of the Union in the future war. The secession serpent has the heads of the Southern secession movement leaders. On the necks of each of the heads the names of those leaders are present. This political cartoon portrays the union solider as a hero which was a lot of peoples exact thinking. -
Morrill Tarrif Act1861 (Economy)
At first the North was financing the war by borrowing $2.6 billion through the sale of government bonds but this wasn't enough. Congress was forced to raise tarriffs, add excise taxes, and instituting the first income tax. One of acts that raised tarrifs was the Morrill Tarrif Act proposed by Justin Morrill of Vermont with help from the economist Henry Carey. This act raised tarriff rates to increase revenue and protect American manufacturers. This act replaced the Tariff of 1857. -
Battle at Fort Sumter (Battle of the War)
The Battle at Fort Sumter was first battle of the Civil War. Two forts in the south were held by federal troops but claimed by seceded state. Fort Sumter was cut off from supplies and reinforcements by southern control. Lincoln announced to send provisions of food but the south claimed that to be reinforcements. They then bombarded Fort Sumter in response to Lincolns announcement and war broke out. Fort Sumter was captured by the Confederates. -
John M. Washington Refugee (Home Front)
During the Civil War, many slaves were fleeing their homes in the South in a subtle manner. For example there was John M. Washington intelligently planned to have him self closer to the Army of the Potomac when it came to Virginia. When they finally arrived Washington served as an army guide and then found freedom in Washington D.C. Many blacks escaped to the union. They found employment with the Union Army doing various jobs. -
Battle of Antietam (Battle of the War)
This battle was fought near Antietam creek and was the first major battle fought on union soil. Confederate commander Lee led his troops into Maryland hoping for a victory to get recognition and support from Britain. Union commander McClellan had the advantage of knowing Lee's battle plan since a copy was accidently dropped and left behind. Lee's army was defeated and retreated to Virginia. This was the bloodiest day of combat. -
The Man Who Won the Elephant at the Raffle (Political Cartoon)
This political cartoon describes the feelings of the emancipation of the slaves. The elephant resembles a black man wearing pants and the man standing up resembles Abe Lincoln. The caption reads: "The Man Who Won The Elephant At The Raffle-but the question is, what am I to do with the creature?” This was in reference to the emancipated slaves flooding the north. They were supportive of emancipation of slaves but were still prejuidice against the african-americans and reluctant in accepting them. -
Emancipation Proclamation (Politics)
The Emancipation Proclamation by the sixteenth president was supposed to free all of the slaves in the states that were in rebellion. The Union had no control of these states so slaves weren't freed. Plus, slavery in the border states was allowed to continue. Although the slaves weren't exactly emancipated, the proclamation was of major importance. It was official that the Union armies would fight to against slavery in the South and not just against secession and rebellion. -
Inflation in the South (Economy)
The Confederate states faced a shortage of money throughouth the war. Loans, income takes, and other revenues weren't enough to pay the costs. On March 1st, 1863, the photo as shown was the third issue of curreny Florida had authorized. The south had printed a huge amount of paper currency to help sustain the monetary needs of the war. All of this caused massive inflation and reduced the Confederate dollar to less than two cents by the end of the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg (Battle of the War)
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and is often described as the turning point of the war. By winning in Chancellorsville, Lee was in high spirits and led his army into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Lee hoped to either destroy the Union army or capture a major northern city so the North would call for peace. The battle lasted three days with over 50,000 casualties. A good part of Lee's army was destoryed and what was left retreated to Virginia. -
Sanitary Fair Chicago (Home Front)
Women also played an important role during the Civil War. They participated in war relief efforts like sanitary fairs. The United States Sanitary Commision was a private relief agency that inspired sanitary fairs. The first Sanitary Fair in 1893 raised almost $100,000 for the war effort. These fairs offered local communities to see themselves as part of a larger nation. -
Surrender at Appomattox
Confederate Commander Lee had tried to lead his troops into retreat from North Virgina to the west. They were cut off and forced to surrender. At the Appomattox Court House (photo of soliders standing in front of court house), Lee declared that they had been defeated. Union Commander Grant permitted Lee and his troops to return to their homes with their horses. The Civil War was now over.
