|
Background:
. USA are divided into North and South by different economical systems
. North: industry, banking, international trade, expanding railway network
. South: manly agriculture (cotton, little rice, sugar, tobacco), rather poor railway connections
A conflict rises:
1800 - 1840: cotton production rises by factor 18 (approx. 300 million kg per year)
slaves are used as cheap workers
expansion of state area necessary, because cotton monoculture exhausted the soil
South: pro slavery attitude: \"not responsible for it, cultural habit\", \"more humane under slavery system than under the northern wages system\"
Northern antislavery movement:
1808: Congress abolishes slave trade with Africa
. afterwards antislavery-protest maintained by Quakers
1831: Garrison publishes \"The Liberator\"
. appeals for uncompromising and complete liberation
. radical, combative, uncompromising
. \"Underground Railroad\"(Northerners freed slaves from the South)
1820: Missouri Compromise (slavery was limited to states where it already existed)
1845: Texas annexed (always had slavery)
1846: USA expand westwards (California, Utah, New Mexico)
. conflict about slavery issue:
extent Missouri Compromise to the West?
let the new states decide (\"popular sovereignty\")
1848: gold rush in California
slavery issue had to be solved, before new government could be established
1850: Compromise of 1850
. free soil constitution in California
. New Mexico and Utah organised without mention of slavery
. more effective machinery to catch runaways
Northerners improve Underground Railroad
. no slave trade in D.C., but still slavery
. relieve of political situation, but no solution
1852: North influenced by \"Uncle Tom's Cabin\"
1854: quarrel renewed, because Kansas and Nebraska were being settled
it was permitted to bring slaves into these states, but they were free to decide about slavery issue
. Lincoln holds speech against slavery (\"The slavery issue has to be decided by the whole USA, not by single states)
1858: Lincoln candidate for US Senate election
lost election, but became famous with speeches
1860: wins president election for the young Republican party
South Carolina leaves Union
6 other southern states follow
1861 (8.2.): South forms Confederate States of America and vote Jefferson Davis as their
president
Civil War begins:
1861: (4.3.): Lincoln was sworn in as president
. refused to recognise secession of southern states (legally void)
. plea to restore the Union
Confederates begin war against the Union on April 12
4 new states join Confederation
. Union: 23 industry states, population of 22 million; naval supremacy of east American coast (sea blockade); famous commander: Ulysses S. Grant
. Confederation: 11 agricultural states, population of 9 million; famous commander: Robert E. Lee
1863: (1.1.): Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
freeing slaves; inviting them to join northern army
. July: 3-day-battle in Gettysburg
Lee's army was defeated
major turning point in war
southern resources near by their end
northern industry improved by war, agricultural export improved by sea blockade
1864: Lincoln is voted president again
1865: (2.4.) Lee surrenders
terms of surrender not too strict as America is still one nation
After War Policy:
. March: 13th amendment to US constitution (abolishes slavery and introduces Freedman's bureau)
. 4.4.:Lincoln's speech proclaiming a generous reconstruction policy
. 13.4.: Washington celebrates victory
. 14.4: Lincoln assassinated, died next morning
Andrew Johnson new president
. Southern-states-issue: Lincoln: secession never was legal
states never left union
southern individuals made states disregard authority, only individuals should be punished
. Johnson appoints governors for southern states, then they elect their own governments
1866: 14th Amendment (blacks gain citizenship)
refused by the South
. Reconstruction act of March 1867
southern governments are ignored and are divided into 5 districts placed under military rule
states could avoid military rule by ratifying the 14th amendment
1868: 14th Amendment is ratified by all States
1870: 15th Amendment (the right to vote for everyone)
. Reconstruction:
many southern States rejoined Union with new governments, mainly consisting of northern politicians
Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi: mainly black politicians
. acts of violence by southern whites
Enforcement Act: punishment for whites ignoring the blacks' rights
1872 (May): Amnesty Act: restoring full political privileges (except radical confederates)
1877: President Rutherford Hayes removes troops and admits failure of reconstruction policy
|
