Advanced Higher History - Source Question Notes

Question	Answer
Debate over Slave Conditions - Benign or Harsh? (Overlaps with some essay notes)	Benign - Southerners argued slaves did not work harder than most 19th century free Americans. Little work on weekends and the opportunity for regular holidays. - Importance of religion in the South led to days off, but at discretion of slave owner and this varied across the South and plantation to plantation. - No major slave revolt - slave conditions not too bad, BUT John Brown attacks... - Few floggings or brutal owners and most Whites were constrained by Christian morality.
Debate over Slave Conditions - Benign or Harsh? (Overlaps with some essay notes)	Harsh - Slaves could be sold, punished or even killed by owners. - Worked longer hours than free Americans. - Limited potential for successful escape, as there were severe punishments for slaves who attempted to. - Families could be broken up due to slave trading - 25% broken by forced separation.
Debate over Slave Conditions - Benign or Harsh? (Overlaps with some essay notes)	Historians - Phillips - Apologist for slavery. Argued slavery protected Blacks from savagery in Africa and believed slaves were content. Said relationship between a slave and an owner marked by friendship and loyalty. - Stampp - Cruelty endemic in all slaveholding communities and fear among slaves of being sold on by their master. Typical plantation was an area of conflict between master and slave. - F + E - Slave accommodation and standard of living superior to that of free Americans in New York in 1893. Whippings have been exaggerated - only 0.7% of hands per yr.
Reaction to KN Act	- K and N territory opened up to popular sovereignty following repeal of Missouri Compromise. Potential for slavery to expand despite 3630 agreement. - Serious threat to union - part of slave power conspiracy to allow the South to dominate and spread its slavery. - Rep Party founded directly in rejection to the Act - seen as resistance. - Douglas hoped the Act would heal divisions within Dem Party and unite them as a national party. - Act viewed as offering something to both N and S as means of providing a compromise of the organisation of territories. - Bleeding Kansas - re-emphasised slave power conspiracy in the N and led to extremists being sanction on both sides.
Reaction to KN Act	- Act became focus for Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. - This was a debate where 3 topics dominated - slavery, race and slavery expansion. Both men appeared to not seem too far apart. Douglas - never once said in public slavery was morally wrong and Lincoln did not expect slavery to die immediately. - Nativist concerns in North progressively overshadowed by slavery issue and concerns over Kansas-Nebraska.
Reaction to KN Act	Historians - McPherson - KN Act was even more important than the fugitive slave issue. - Gienapp - Reps were limited in opposition to slave power and KN's importance decreased.
Causes of Civil War (overlaps with essay topic)	Slavery - Agitation against slavery increased - perceived N aggression against slavery and rise of ab movement from 1835 took place. Ab of slavery by Mexican Gov in Texas, prompted outbreak of Mex War. - Lincoln's election - views were clear and well known across the South following Lincoln-Douglas debates - Douglas and Lincoln's views seen as similar on slavery. - Reps believed that war should be waged against slavery until its demise. Different Political Philosophies - Diff structures (agr/ind) led to diff pol philosophies, but economic structures key cause. Lack of trust in pol system - so sec crisis escalated.
Causes of Civil War (overlaps with essay topic)	Economics - Civ War viewed not to be about slavery, but about economics - ind vs agr. N and S thus divided into two sections. - Territorial expansion seen as a key source of tension - eg which territories should be free or slave. - Tariff - duty to be paid on certain imports and exports, was important economic factor. N - industrialised, S became committed to cotton, so tariff more beneficial in N than in S. Southern opp grew due to tariffs being pushed higher.
Causes of Civil War (overlaps with essay topic)	Power - Each side battled for control - as control of govt meant rep for the controlling section and for dominance of their ideology eg South economy threatened by tariff. Other reasons - John B's raid (recall from essay) - Lincoln seen as direct threat to soc/ec status of South, if he were to be elected.
Causes of Civil War (overlaps with essay topic)	Historians - Stampp - slavery was prime cause of Civil War. - Charles/Mary Beard - ec divergence between N and S led to tensions ultimately culminating in war.
Davis as a wartime leader (overlaps with essay topic)	Good wartime leader - Judging of character - As sec of war, gained knowledge of officers available to him to choose for leadership roles in Confed. Constrasted with Lincoln - he did not give out pol appts and Lincoln had lack of mil experience. - Experience - Been defended for having military and admin exp, unlike Lincoln did with Union. - Gave Davis a more realistic view of situation than most other Southerners. - Personality - Became a public figured during war by touring the South to rekindle faith in his leadership - imp as clearly trying to keep Confed together and could be a reason why Confed held on as long as it did.
Davis as a wartime leader (overlaps with essay topic)	Poor Wartime Leader - Personality made him enemies - High turnover rate in cabinet, with six secs of war during course of the war, showing he may have failed to cement relationships with his colleagues. - Linked to this - George Rable - Davis lacked ability to develop crucial political talents which were essential for an effective president. - Leadership skills - Although his exp was seen to be adv over Lincoln and Union, nevertheless Union defeated Confed. This prompted debate over his style of leadership. - Linked to this - Potter - If Union and Confed had exchanged president with one another, Confed might have won its own independence. - Charisma - There was concern over ability to connect with the public and within politics. Although previously his public speaking skills were seen as influential, Harry Williams argues his public sp skills seemed to elude him. Appeared unable to communicate moral justification for a separate nation.
Southern Attitudes to Lincoln's election in 1860	- South believed Lincoln and all Reps were abs and would end slavery if elected to office. - Lincoln believed slavery was morally wrong and wished to see end of it - South were outraged when he branded slavery as evil. - Lincoln emphasised he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed but only opposed its expansion - South found this unconvincing. - Fear that election of Linc would leave Northerners in control of fed gov. - As Pres, Lincoln could appt Reps to key pos of gov and begin process of limiting slavery, Fug Slave Act, and introducing economic policies to put slavery on road to extinction. - Reps sectional party with Lincoln's name absent from ballot paper in 5 of the 10 states. - Reps emphasised Slave P conspiracy during election while Southern Dems played a Black Reps image.
Southern Attitudes to Lincoln's election in 1860	Historians - Tulloch - Linc's election triggered off secession bc Reps threatened extension of slavery by threatening honour and survival of planter class. - Gienapp - Reps had united in opp to slave power - S saw no future with union.
Fort Sumter	- Confed had taken over most forts in South - bar Sumter and Pickens. - Its garrison was led by Major Robert Anderson, ex-Kentucky slaveholder. - Fort Sumter had become symbol of nat sovereignty for both sides: Lincoln had declared in his inaugural speech that he intended to hold on to what remained of federal property in the South. Retention of Sumter seen as test of his credibility. - Sumter's evacuation was seen as inevitable by Linc's advisor due to food shortages, but he put off making imm decision and sent trusted observer to Charleston to assess situation.
Fort Sumter	- Seward has sent assurances to Confed leaders Sumter would be evacuated whilst Lincoln remained coy. - Lincoln had no intention of delegating power, abandoning Sumter or fighting more than one war at a time. - Lincoln sent relief and resupplied Sumter. - Lincoln argued to have deliberately manoeuvred Confed into firing the first shots of war. As by trying to resupply Sumter, he was passing buck to Jefferson Davis. - South started to fight back as it was claiming to be merely reclaiming its own property - seen as an affront for Union flag to be flying in South. - Richmond, Virginia's capital, seceded and became Confed capital. Seen as loss to Union due to its industrial nature. - Potter: believed that compromise was unlikely from the outset, given the momentum of secession and the fundamental philosophy of the Republican Party. - Stampp: believed that Lincoln’s chief concern was the maintenance of the Union. He was acting to re-assert and vindicate federal authority in the South. It was clear his policy was one of the preservation of the Union through a defens strat
Lincoln's relationship with Generals	- Lincoln's initial generals believed war should be carried out by professional soldiers, and not politicians. - McPherson - high proportion of Lincoln's generals were merely political appointments, and proved to be incompetent militarily. - McClellan did not keep Lincoln up to date regarding what was occuring on the battlefield - believe Lincoln should have no role in military conduct of war. It has been suggested that McClellan took credit for victories which were not necessarily down to him, eg West Virginia. However, New York Herald - "Gen McClellan, the Napoleon of the Present War."
Lincoln's relationship with Generals	- Lincoln demanded an all-out attack on the South, but generals believed one battle at a time was the best solution. This highlights differences in views of generals and Lincoln regarding how war should be fought. - Neely - Lincoln went to extremes to avoid partisanship in selecting battlefield commanders and this was viewed as crucial to Union victory. - McClellan ran against Lincoln in Pres election, eventually going on to lose. - Lincoln's lamentation of McLellan - he did not finish off General Lee's army while in retreat at Antietam so victory was not complete.
Lincoln's relationship with generals	- Lincoln deeply distressed by decision not to pursue Gen Lee for sig Confed losses at Gettysburg. Lee had ability to maintain strong defence while MEade organised effective attack. - Lincoln believed Mead failed to calculate sheer scale of Lee's escape. This is because Lee's successful retreat allowed Confed to regroup and continue effort against North. - Lincoln congratulated Meade on successes - Meade went to receive thanks of Congess and gained promotion due to contribution at Gettysburg. - Williams - McClellan committed sev bad errors that showed he lacked qualities of a supreme commander.
Lincoln's relationship with egnerals	- Lincoln's relationship with Grant - Linc had respect for Grant due to belief that he found a solider capable of the job. - Thought Grant was direct, straightforward and could devote himself to ensuring Confederacy were put out of action. - Lincoln's relationship with Mclellan broke down further during B of Antietam due to demoralisation of Union forces.
Emancipation Proclamation	- Slave insurrection was encouraged in Confederacy - so undermined war effort significantly. Lincoln benefited from over 180k Blacks participating in Union armies by end of war. - European recognition of Confederacy vanished due to war being defined as conflict between freedom and slavery. - Emanc P sets out there was no detriment to slavery in slave states within the Union, eg by Sep 1862 not a single slave had been liberated.
Emancipation Proclamation	- Emancipating Confed's slaves as a war measure and not as an act of justice towards Negro so Lincoln subordinated the ideal of freedom to the preservation of the Union. - This means emanc of slaves was a war goal, rather than a moral decision. - But, in Lincoln annual address to Cong in 1863 he made little mention of Eman Proclamation, which led to many questioning why it was not included. Randall and Donald, War changed course during proclamation.
Emancipation Proclamation	- Emanc P viewed to have destoryed Northern pro-war coalition. LEd to COnservative Republicans no longer supporting for a small period. - Proc did not free slaves in every area, this is because Emancipation depended on the advanced of Union armies, so many Blacks had no freedom till after war. - Black recruitment vital to efforts on front line - Whites reluctant to re-enlisted, wheras Blacks more willing to participate in war efforts. Quarles - efforts of Blacks ensured war swung in favour of Union. - Lincoln's view on slavery - "unqualified evil to negro, white man and state." However, in first inaugural address - Lincoln claimed he had no intention to intefere in slavery in states where it existed. So, announcement of Emanc P caused confusion.
Dred Scott decision	- The Supreme Court decision regarding this case was delivered on the 6th March 1857 by Chief Justice Taney, who judged Congress did not have the right to prohibit slavery in the territories. - Supreme Court upheld slaves are property and Congress had no right to prohibit slavery anywhere. - Large proportion of Sup Court supported slave masters over slaves and were supportive of slave industry - around 5 of the justices in Taney's court were from slaveholding fams - slave power conspiracy?
Dred Scott Decision	- Slave power conspiracy expanding - this was the idea that Southern slave owners controlled the federal government and were using its power as a means to expand and protect slavery - imp as decision made sure conspiracy would grow in the North. - Formation of Rep Party was as a result to opposition of extension of slavery. Many newspapers condemned situation - New York Tribune sympathised with Reps view of the case and criticised inhuman nature of Dred S case. Mcp - Rep stance led to increase in support for their party.
Dred Scott Decision	- Southern opinion at the time was mainly in support of decision in case because it was seen to recognise their state rights. Many Northerners believed South were just concerned with profiting from slave labour - Tulloch states decision emphasised view slave were merely property to their owners.
(SOUTH) Why did soldiers fighgt?	-Southerners united by threat that Rep Party posed to them. - Fought to defend the institution of slavery and resist abolitionist threat from North. Eg, John Brown's Harper's Ferry Raid! - Defence of Southern way of life - protecting their autonomy. South felt they had no representation in fed gov given Reps represented Northern values and received no support in the South.
UTH) Why did soldiers fighgt?	- Fighting to defend property and property rights which argued to include slaves too. There were young men whose family fortunes depended on slavery so enlisted to fight to defend family livelihood. - Many enlisted due to peer pressure - seen as trendy thing to do and did not want to be seen as cowards by friends and family. - Since many soldiers were poor farmers, boredom and a simple longing for adventure must have inspired many. Many others would have been roused to righteous indignation by the glamorous rhetoric that was used to inflame the populaces of both the warring sides.

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