emancipation proclamation Flashcards
(19 cards)
contraband slaves
knowledge 1
just talk about butler ffs (may 1861)
contraband question
analysis 1
butlers actions gained republican support and emphasised the importance of slavery towards the confederate war effort
prompted calls for the enlistment and arming formerly enslaved individuals however these demands were not yet met as federal policy.
contraband question
knowledge 2
in august 1861 john fremont, in attempt to win republican anti slavery favour, released a proclamation that freed the enslaved individuals of confederate activists in missouri. he was trying to win the favour of anti slavery activists but did so at the cost of alienating lincoln
contraband question
analysis 2
the president warned fremont that freeing the enslaved individuals of rebels would “alarm our southern union friends and turn them against us — perhaps ruin our fair prospect for kentucky” lincoln was embarrassed by the constitutional implications of his actions and wanted to maintain positive relationship between the border states
contraband question
counter analysis
robert f engs argues that the slaves freed themselves, saw and took the opportunity as they saw the potential of the war for the abolition of slavery before lincoln ever did.
contraband question
evaluation
the large number of fugitives in union camps forced lincoln to confront slaverys role in the war.
in 1862 the second confiscation act declared enslaved people forever free, marking the unions shift in policy.
without the fugitives, the act might’ve not been necessary and helped lincoln realise the it wasn’t just a moral necessity but a military necessity, paving the way for the emancipation proclamation.
republicans
knowledge 1
Radical Republicans, such as Charles Sumner, believed that emancipation could be achieved through the belligerent power to confiscate enemy property and viewed fighting against slavery as essential to defeating the Confederacy.
republicans
analysis 1
This belief pressured Lincoln by highlighting the growing demand within his party to make emancipation a central war aim. While Lincoln initially prioritized preserving the Union over immediate abolition, the actions and advocacy of the Radical Republicans played a significant role as
The Radicals’ insistence on emancipation as both a moral and strategic necessity reflects their belief that abolishing slavery would not only resolve the root cause of the war but also weaken the Southern war effort and prevent foreign powers like Britain and France from supporting the Confederacy.
republicans
knowledge 2
In 1862, the Republican-controlled Congress passed major anti-slavery measures, including abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia, ending slavery in federal territories, and allowing African Americans to enlist in the Union Army through the Militia Act.
republicans
analysis 2
Abolitionists and figures like Frederick Douglass argued that slavery was central to the Confederate war effort, making emancipation a strategic necessity. They emphasised that the Confederate war effort relied heavily on slavery, with slaves labouring in munitions factories, constructing fortifications, and providing food.
republicans
counter analysis
However, while Radical Republicans and abolitionists did pressure Lincoln to support emancipation, he was cautious not to fully side with them. In his annual message to Congress, he made it clear that the war was about saving the Union, not ending slavery, warning that making emancipation a main goal could turn the war into a “violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle.”
republicans
evaluation
As Smith argues, “The political pressure for emancipation in the North had been rising throughout 1862.” This pressure made it increasingly difficult for Lincoln to avoid addressing slavery. However, Without the direct pressure created by contraband slaves, the legislative and ideological shifts in Congress may have lacked the urgency to compel Lincoln to act.
limited war aims
knowledge 1
At the start of the Civil War, the Union’s primary goal was simply the restoration of the Union, with little focus on slavery. Both the Union and the Confederacy expected a short “90-day war.”
limited war aims
analysis 1
By focusing only on restoring the Union, Lincoln unintentionally prolonged the war. He left slavery, which was the Confederacy’s main strength, untouched, allowing the rebellion to continue. This realisation highlighted the need for a broader objective to win the war and reduce the Confederacy’s ability to fight, making it clear that addressing slavery was essential.
limited war aims
knowledge 2
Significant defeats, such as the Seven Days Battles in June and July 1862, where General Robert E. Lee’s forces successfully pushed back Union General George McClellan’s troops near Richmond, Virginia, shattered the illusion of an easy victory. These setbacks forced a reassessment of the Union’s war aims.
limited war aims
analysis 2
The Union’s failure to end the war through limited aims revealed that emancipation was no longer just a moral choice, but a military necessity. It became apparent that weakening the Confederacy through the abolition of slavery would be essential to achieving Union victory. This shift in perspective directly led to the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, as Lincoln sought to strengthen the Union’s war effort.
limited war aims
counter analysis
However, it could be argued that the limited war aims were not the most significant reason for Lincoln’s decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. A more compelling factor was the growing recognition of slavery’s central role in the Confederate war effort. As the war dragged on, it became increasingly clear that slavery was vital to the South’s economy and military strength
limited war aims
evalaution
To evaluate, the limitations of the Union’s initial war aims became increasingly untenable as the realities of war set in.
As Edward Dicey observed, by the summer
of 1862, there was a “growing earnestness” in the North “to make the war for the restoration of the Union a war also for the abolition of slavery.”
However, while public opinion was shifting, it was the actions of contraband slaves - fleeing to Union lines and forcing the issue- that had a more immediate impact.
Their presence made it clear that preserving the Union without addressing slavery would not be possible.
These enslaved individuals not provided a reason for Lincoln to adopt a broader war aim.
republicans
knowledge 1
charles sumner believed that slavery was central to the confederate war effort
