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== Civil War - 1863-1865 ==

== Civil War - 1863-1865 ==

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.  This historic document proclaimed all slaves in areas in rebellion to be "forever free."   

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.  This historic document proclaimed all slaves ''in areas in rebellion'' to be "forever free."   

Lincoln began planning for a post-War South.  His plan for readmitting southern States to the Union (that is, readmitting their representatives to Congress) was issued in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863:  don't prosecute Southerners, help reconstruct the South, and readmit states when 10% of the people take an oath of loyalty to the United States.  Lincoln was more generous to the South than many in the North were.

Lincoln began planning for a post-War South.  His plan for readmitting southern States to the Union (that is, readmitting their representatives to Congress) was issued in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863:  don't prosecute Southerners, help reconstruct the South, and readmit states when 10% of the people take an oath of loyalty to the United States.  Lincoln was more generous to the South than many in the North were.

Meanwhile, the Union Army (the North) was under new command after the firing of McClellan in late 1862, and it began winning battles against the Confederacy in 1863.  The key turning point occurred around July 4, 1863 in two different locations:  Vicksburg, Mississippi (July 4) and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1-3).  The losses of the South on those days have been described as "mortal blows."  It was Ulysses S. Grant who led the Union to victory at Vicksburg, and geographically that had the huge impact of cutting the South in half.

Meanwhile, the Union Army (the North) was under new command after the firing of McClellan in late 1862, and it began winning battles against the Confederacy in 1863.  The key turning point occurred around July 4, 1863 in two different locations:  Vicksburg, Mississippi (July 4) and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1-3).  The losses of the South on those days have been described as "mortal blows."  It was Ulysses S. Grant who led the Union to victory at Vicksburg, and geographically that had the huge impact of cutting the South in half.

By November 1863, Lincoln displayed signs of finding the faith that lacked earlier.  He may have found the Lord while riding the train to Gettysburg, in order to deliver what would become the famous Gettysburg Address.  Though not in the drafts of his speech for that commemoration, at the last minute Lincoln inserted the phrase "under God" after his reference to "one Nation."<ref>The origin of the phrase "under God" is the General Orders of [[George Washington]] on July 2 and 9, 1776: "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army" (July 2); "the peace and safety of the Country now depends, under God, solely on the success of our arms" (July 9). See http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/264xqezm.asp?pg=2 .  Later, the imagery of "under God" appeared in a cartoon in 1788 celebrating the ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts.  See [[American History Homework Three Answers - Model]].</ref>  He delivered the speech at the battlefield (converted to a cemetery) in commemoration of the soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg, and used the phrase "under God" in his remarks.  That Gettysburg Address remains the most famous in all of American history, ending with the words "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  

By November 1863, Lincoln displayed signs of finding the faith that he lacked earlier.  He may have found the Lord while riding the train to Gettysburg, in order to deliver what would become the famous Gettysburg Address.  Though not in the drafts of his speech for that commemoration, at the last minute Lincoln inserted the phrase "under God" after his reference to "one Nation."<ref>The origin of the phrase "under God" is the General Orders of [[George Washington]] on July 2 and 9, 1776: "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army" (July 2); "the peace and safety of the Country now depends, under God, solely on the success of our arms" (July 9). See http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/264xqezm.asp?pg=2 .  Later, the imagery of "under God" appeared in a cartoon in 1788 celebrating the ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts.  See [[American History Homework Three Answers - Model]].</ref>  He delivered the speech at the battlefield (converted to a cemetery) in commemoration of the soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Gettysburg Address remains the most famous in all of American history.  It ends with the words "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  

Lincoln took notice of Grant's success and by spring of May 1864 Lincoln elevated Grant to command of the Union forces in Virginia.  Grant was no military genius and had been only an average student at West Point, although he was a superb horseman.  But what made Grant so valuable to Lincoln was that Grant did not mind shedding blood on both sides.  Grant used the superior numbers of the Union to win battles against the South, led by General Robert E. Lee, in 1864 in Northern Virginia.   

Lincoln soon took notice of Grant's success and by spring of May 1864 Lincoln elevated Grant to command of the Union forces in Virginia.  Grant was no military genius and had been only an average student at West Point, although he was a superb horseman.  But what made Grant so valuable to Lincoln was that Grant did not mind shedding blood on both sides.  Grant used the superior numbers of the Union to win battles against the South, led by General Robert E. Lee, in 1864 in Northern Virginia.   

1864 was an election year for the presidency, and McClellan ran against Lincoln.  Early in the year it looked like McClellan would win.   

1864 was an election year for the presidency, and McClellan ran against Lincoln.  Early in the year it looked like McClellan would win.   

"Copperheads" were northern "peace" or pacifist Democrats who opposed Lincoln's war efforts against seceded South, and they supported McClellan.

"Copperheads" were northern "peace" or pacifist Democrats who opposed Lincoln's war efforts against seceded South, and they supported McClellan.

But the Union Army started to win on the battlefield, and the more it won, the more popular Lincoln became among voters.  Union General William Tecumseh Sherman really broke the back of the South's morale and will to fight.  General Sherman brutalized Georgia by destroying everything in a 60-mile-wide path from Atlanta to the ocean, known as his "March to the Sea" in late 1864.  To this day some southerners are bitter about his destruction, which Sherman justified a way to crush the opponent and end the way.  To the South, General Sherman was as evil as a modern-day terrorist, and the popular movie ''Gone With the Wind'' decries the excessive hardship caused by Sherman and the Union troops.

But the Union Army started to win on the battlefield, and the more it won, the more popular Lincoln became among voters.  Union General William Tecumseh Sherman really broke the back of the South's morale and will to fight.  General Sherman brutalized Georgia by destroying everything in a 60-mile-wide path from Atlanta to the ocean, known as his "March to the Sea" in late 1864.  To this day some southerners are bitter about this destruction, which Sherman justified a way to crush the opponent and end the way.  To the South, General Sherman was as evil as a modern-day terrorist, and the popular movie ''Gone With the Wind'' decries the excessive hardship caused by Sherman and the Union troops.

Lincoln was still worried about possibly losing the presidential election in 1864, and he even replaced his current Vice President with a Democratic southerner, Andrew Johnson, in order to help attract Democratic voters.  Lincoln wanted to appease voters who were tired of the war (including the Copperheads), and broaden his support.   

Lincoln was still worried about possibly losing the presidential election in 1864, and he even replaced his current Vice President with a Democratic southerner, Andrew Johnson, in order to help attract Democratic voters.  Lincoln wanted to appease voters (including the Copperheads) who were tired of the war, and broaden his support.   

To further help Lincoln win reelection, absentee voting was instituted for the first time.  This enabled thousands of Union soldiers to vote by mail rather than show up at the polling booths in their home town.  Much later absentee voting was allowed for everyone, so that could vote by mail while away from their voting booth.

To further help Lincoln win reelection, absentee voting was instituted for the first time.  This enabled thousands of Union soldiers to vote by mail rather than show up at the polling booths in their home town.  Much later absentee voting was allowed for everyone, so they could vote by mail while away from their voting booth.

Lincoln showed his "moderate" political views by vetoing the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed a very harsh reconstruction plan on the South demanded by the northern "Radical Republicans," which was a group of congressmen most determined to punish the South for slavery and the Civil War.  That Bill, which never became law, would have established virtually impossible conditions for Confederate states to rejoin the union, by requiring a majority in each Sate to take an oath of loyalty to the United States before it could be admitted.  Lincoln, fearful of a backlash by Radical Republicans for blocking their bill, used a "pocket veto" to prevent this from becoming law.  A "pocket veto" is a procedure allowed under the Constitution whereby legislation is considered vetoed if the President does nothing within ten days and Congress has adjourned; doing nothing is a less controversial way of dealing with a crisis than doing something people do not like.

Lincoln showed his "moderate" political views by vetoing the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed a very harsh reconstruction plan on the South demanded by the northern "Radical Republicans," which was a group of congressmen most determined to punish the South for slavery and the Civil War.  That Bill, which never became law, would have established virtually impossible conditions for Confederate states to rejoin the union, by requiring a majority in each State to take an oath of loyalty stating that they had always been loyal to the United States, before the State could be readmitted.  Lincoln, fearful of a backlash by Radical Republicans for blocking their bill, used a "pocket veto" to prevent this from becoming law.  A "pocket veto" is a procedure allowed under the Constitution whereby legislation is considered vetoed if the President does nothing within ten days and Congress has adjourned; doing nothing is a less controversial way of dealing with a crisis than doing something people do not like.

Lincoln then defeated McClellan in the election of 1864, aided by the exclusion of southern voters from the election (who would have voted against Lincoln).  McClellan dropped out of national politics after losing this election,, but much later McClellan became Governor of New Jersey (1878-81).

Lincoln then defeated McClellan in the election of 1864, aided by the exclusion of southern voters from the election (who would have voted against Lincoln).  McClellan dropped out of national politics after losing this election, but much later McClellan became Governor of New Jersey (1878-81).

In March 1865, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is the opposite of his First: he now saw the world and the Civil War in moral rather than legal terms.  His Second Inaugural Address is filled with spiritual references, reflecting that Lincoln had at least personally found his way.  He is one of the few public officials to display an increase in faith while wielding earthly power.

In March 1865, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is the opposite of his First: he now saw the world and the Civil War in moral rather than legal terms.  His Second Inaugural Address is filled with spiritual references, reflecting that Lincoln had at least personally found his way.  He is one of the few public officials to display an increase in faith while wielding earthly power.