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the US by 1865
Already a growing world power. They had independence and a strong sense of national identity. Strong political system with a written constitution. Americans felt fortunate to live in the Land of the Free.
However, it was an unfinished nation. It took a civil war to save the nation from splitting apart - conflict between north and south, rural and urban, white and black, state and federal government
Impact of civil war on south
States of the Old South, with its plantation society and belief in segregation, were now reintegrated into a nation dominated by north’s economy
2/3 of livestock killed
Value of farm implements 1860- $81mil, reduced by 40% in 1870
Transportation was ruined so can’t move crops or animals
Economic costs €3.3bil
By 1865, confederate dollar was worthless - inflation
Impact of civil war on north
Rapid economic modernisation
East coast seaports boomed like New York
Growth of railroads and canals enabled rapid industrial development
Large immigration from Northern Europe, 10x of these went north than south
Abolitionist movement - want slavery to end
Why did civil war happen?
North and south clashed over things like tensions over economy, culture, government, slavery. South viewed slavery as a way of life and were rooted in whites supremacy and reliant on it for the agricultural economy. Lincoln was elected in 1860 and represented anti-slavery which annoyed south. 11 southern states seceded, forming the confederacy but the north didn’t see this as legitimate and formed the union.
How did the civil war end?
March 1865- north armies were closing in on the confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia
2 April 1865 - Davis, confederate leader, was told by General Lee that southern armies could not fight on, Davis and his government fled
9 April - Lee met Union commander Grant to negotiate surrender.
13 April - 26,000 southerners troops laid down their arms
Consequences of the civil war
625,000 dead
Agriculture, trade and overseas markets became dislocated
Economic impact reflected divided nation
About 1 in 5 soldiers died
3 million slaves now free and nobody knew what social, political and economic consequences this would have
Questions rose - should confederate leaders be put on trial, how would south be reintegrated, how should balance of power between states and fed gov be redefined.
Physically damaged the south e.g. in Atlanta, Georgia (440 mile march)
US economy in 1860
Lots of farmers. 4 out of 5 live in countryside
Lots of land and minerals
Population 31 mil
30,000 miles of railroad
Huge growing wealth inequalities
Differences between north and south
Population - north-18.65mil. South-10.5mil
Economy- south only produced 10% of manufactured goods. North-80% of factories
Culture- north- free labour, liberty. South- slavery, honour
Political- north want a president, south don’t
Slavery- north 19 states banned it from 1777-1858
