Two Societies at War, 1861-1865

A detailed Summary of Two Societies at War, 1861-1865

The Civil War yielded many changes. However it is the collaboration of events before, during, and after that makes up our nation's history. This so called "War between the States" took place between 1861 and 1865. Over those four years over 500,000 lives were lost and hundreds of thousands were crippled.

After Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 southerner's knew their way of life was in danger. Talk of secession spread rapidly in South Carolina. Robert Barnwell Rhett and the "fire-eaters" held a convention on December 20th, 1860 to decide on secession. They voted unanimously to dissolve the union. By February a new nation was proclaimed, the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was named as president.

Senator John J. Crittendon of Kentucky submitted a proposal of an amendment that would protect slavery from federal interference in any state where it existed. It was approved by congress. On March 4,1861 Lincoln stated in his inaugural address that slavery would be permitted in states where it existed, but soil in the territories would remain free. He also said that secession was illegal and acts supporting it constituted insurrection. Plain and simple the choice for the South was to return to the

By 1862, both the North and the South were having trouble finding new soldiers. The reality of war was setting in and no one was as eager to join the fight as they once were. So in 1862 the Confederate Congress imposed the first legal draft. There were two loopholes in the draft that raised question. The first was it exempted one white man for each twenty slaves he overseen. The other was that drafted men could hire replacements, turning it into what laborers and farmers called "a rich man's war and a poor man's fight. Not long after enthusiasm rose and the army was plentiful once again.

The Union had another idea to get more troops. In 1862 the Militia Act was passed. It set a quota of volunteers each state had to enlist. They also passed the Enrollment Act in 1863. To entice volunteers, officials offered cash bounties for enlistment. This prompted the enlistment and reenlistment of almost a million men.

Union, or face war. On April 14th, 1861 the Confederate's demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter. When they refused, the Confederate forces opened fire forcing Major Robert Anderson to comply. A compromise was not possible by this time, however war was.

Lincoln responded with a call for 75,000 sta

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Approximate Word count = 827
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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Two Societies at War, 1861-1865

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