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[[American History Lecture Six|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Six|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Six Answers|Student Answers]]

[[American History Lecture Six|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Six|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Six Answers|Student Answers]]

This is a good time to pause and consider if, and which, college board or college credit exam you may want to take at the end of this course, so that you can begin to focus on what the course covers.  Smart preparation can improve your score tremendously, and the key is to begin that preparation early.  The basic options are the multiple-choice SAT II U.S. History exam (which is quite biased) to show high school achievement, the multiple-choice CLEP exam (which is the least biased) to earn college credit, and the AP exam (which is given only once at year at your local high school, and is the most expensive).

This is a good time to pause and consider if, and which, college board or college credit exam you may want to take at the end of this course, so that you can begin to focus on what the exam itself covers.  Smart preparation can improve your score tremendously, and the key is to begin that preparation early.  The basic options are the multiple-choice SAT II U.S. History exam (which is quite biased) to show high school achievement, the multiple-choice CLEP exam (which is the least biased) to earn college credit, and the AP exam (which is given only once at year at your local high school, and is the most expensive).

Let me know which, if any, exam you are considering taking so that I can guide your preparation.

Let me know which, if any, exam you are considering taking so that I can guide your preparation.

In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed with the antislavery wing forming the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy southern Whigs joining the Democratic Party in the South.  There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties:  in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak.  Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia.  Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Part was strong in the northeast.

In the 1850s, the [[Whig Party]] collapsed with the antislavery wing forming the Republican Party in the North, and the wealthy southern Whigs joining the Democratic Party in the South.  There have always been geographic strengths and weaknesses in political parties:  in areas of the country where one party is strong, the opposing party is weak.  Recall that the Federalist Party in 1800 was strong in Massachusetts, while the Democratic-Republican Party was strong in Virginia.  Jackson's Democratic Party was strong in the West (Tennessee) and South, while the Whig Part was strong in the northeast.

In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South (the opposite is true today).  But the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections in the 1850s.  The Democratic Party presidential candidate won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan).  Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery.

In the late 1850s, the Republicans were strong in the North, and Democrats were strong in the South (the opposite is true today).  But the Republican Party was young and had not fully developed, and there were still many northern Democrats, which gave the Democrats the upper hand in elections in the 1850s.  The Democratic Party presidential candidates won both in 1852 (Franklin Pierce) and in 1856 (James Buchanan).  Both Pierce and Buchanan were Democrats and pro-slavery.

For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in the territories, and thus rejected Stephen Douglas's approach of "popular sovereignty."  However, the Republican Party platform attempted to broaden its appeal by backing state rights, which was also supported by southern states that were predominantly Democratic.  Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party in 1856, and in 1860 campaigned for president by advocating saving the Union (keeping the North and South together in one country).

For the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party platform supported the Wilmot Proviso and rejected slavery in the territories, and thus rejected Stephen Douglas's approach of "popular sovereignty."  However, the Republican Party platform attempted to broaden its appeal by backing state rights, which was also supported by southern states that were predominantly Democratic.  Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee for president, had switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party in 1856, and in 1860 campaigned for president by advocating saving the Union (keeping the North and South together in one country).

== Secession ==

== Secession ==

The South threatened to secede (break away) from the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede now.

In 1860, the South threatened to secede (break away) from the United States if the Republican Abraham Lincoln were elected president.  Lincoln and many of his supporters considered that to be election rhetoric or bluffing by the South to try to influence the election.  After all, the South had threatened to secede before (as South Carolina did during the Jackson Administration), and never did actually leave.  Lincoln did not expect the South to secede now.

But the Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the (western) territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered opposition to slavery to be opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South also had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

The Republican Party was antislavery with respect to the (western) territories and many in the Republican Party also wanted slavery abolished even in existing states (though that was not the official position of the Party).  Several southern states, particularly South Carolina, considered opposition to slavery to be opposition to South Carolina itself, which depended heavily on slavery.  Many in the South felt so strongly about slavery that they wanted to break away if and when a Republican became president.  Note that the South also had fundamental differences with the North on other issues, such as the tariff and the significance of state's rights.

Lincoln was elected in November 1860, but presidents were not inaugurated until four months later, in March of the following year.  (That has since been moved to the earlier date of January 20 for inaugurations after a presidential election.)  That gave the South a long period to act, before Lincoln had any power to do anything about it.

Lincoln was elected in November 1860, but presidents then were not inaugurated until four months later, in March of the following year.  (That has since been moved to the earlier date of January 20 for inaugurations after a presidential election.)  That gave the South a long period to act, before Lincoln had any power to do anything about it.

Merely four days after the election of the new President Lincoln, on November 10, 1860, the South Carolina legislature called for a convention to consider secession from the United States.  South Carolina, the state of John Calhoun (who died in 1850), always had one of the largest slave populations (by percentage) and for decades had been the leader in calling for secession.  South Carolina residents were well-informed about the issues of states rights and how their heroes of John Calhoun and even Thomas Jefferson had championed the rights of states in the past by nullifying federal law.   

Merely four days after the election of the new President Lincoln, on November 10, 1860, the South Carolina legislature called for a convention to consider secession from the United States.  South Carolina, the state of John Calhoun (who died in 1850), always had one of the largest slave populations (by percentage) and for decades had been the leader in calling for secession.  South Carolina residents were well-informed about the issues of states rights and how their heroes of John Calhoun and even Thomas Jefferson had championed the rights of states in the past by nullifying federal law.   

The revenue from tariffs was not enough to pay for the Civil War.  Lincoln started an income tax for the first time (expired in 1872).  He suspended the payment by the government to citizens in gold and silver, to protect its reserves.  He taxed manufacturers and the public through sales taxes.  But most of all, Lincoln financed the Civil War by issuing "greenbacks", similar to our green dollar bills today.  This was a change from monetary practices under Alexander Hamilton, when all currency was backed by gold or silver.  Lincoln’s greenbacks were not backed by anything at all.  The government simply printed and distributed them.

The revenue from tariffs was not enough to pay for the Civil War.  Lincoln started an income tax for the first time (expired in 1872).  He suspended the payment by the government to citizens in gold and silver, to protect its reserves.  He taxed manufacturers and the public through sales taxes.  But most of all, Lincoln financed the Civil War by issuing "greenbacks", similar to our green dollar bills today.  This was a change from monetary practices under Alexander Hamilton, when all currency was backed by gold or silver.  Lincoln’s greenbacks were not backed by anything at all.  The government simply printed and distributed them.

When the government increases the amount of money out there, it causes inflation.  Everyone starts to realize that the money is not worth as much anymore because the government is printing more of it.  So inflation increased during the Civil War.  What cost $100 when the War started in 1861 cost about $170 after it was over.  That’s 70% inflation in just a few years, which is terrible if you have money in the bank.  Your savings are then worth only a little more than half what it was before the war.  Guess how much that $100 cost in 1861 would be today.  (About $2,282!).  You can compare inflation between any two years with this website: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

When the government increases the amount of money out there, it causes inflation.  Everyone starts to realize that the money is not worth as much anymore because the government is printing more of it.  So inflation increased during the Civil War.  What cost $100 when the War started in 1861 cost about $170 after it was over.  That's 70% inflation in just a few years, which is terrible if you have money in the bank.  Your savings are then worth only a little more than half what it was before the war.  Guess how much that $100 cost in 1861 would be today.  (About $2,282!).  You can compare inflation between any two years with this website: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

Now, recall our ongoing struggle between debtors (farmers) and creditors (bankers).  Which side likes inflation?  (The farmers.)  Their income increases because eggs, meat, milk, etc., are all increasing in prices.  Meanwhile, the money the farmers owe the bank does not increase; it is still the same loan as when they initially borrowed the money from the bank to set up their farm.  So farmers love inflation, and bankers dislike it.

Now, recall our ongoing struggle between debtors (farmers) and creditors (bankers).  Which side likes inflation?  (The farmers.)  Their income increases because eggs, meat, milk, etc., are all increasing in prices.  Meanwhile, the money the farmers owe the bank does not increase; it is still the same loan as when they initially borrowed the money from the bank to set up their farm.  So farmers love inflation, and bankers dislike it.