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Lincoln's weak speech persuaded no one.  Some of my prior students have suggested that the real problem in 1861 was a lack of leadership just when the nation needed it most.  Where was George Washington, or someone like him, at our nation's crucial moment?  Instead, Lincoln was at our helm and he used a lawyer-like approach to a problem that cried out for more.  He had the respect and confidence of virtually no one in the South.

Lincoln's weak speech persuaded no one.  Some of my prior students have suggested that the real problem in 1861 was a lack of leadership just when the nation needed it most.  Where was George Washington, or someone like him, at our nation's crucial moment?  Instead, Lincoln was at our helm and he used a lawyer-like approach to a problem that cried out for more.  He had the respect and confidence of virtually no one in the South.

One month after his inauguration, in April, Lincoln told South Carolina that he needs to re-supply a federal garrison there called Fort Sumter.  South Carolina did not trust Lincoln and felt this was a trick to fool and possibly attack it.  South Carolina demanded the surrender of federal troops at Fort Sumter.  Shots were fired (it's unknown who fired first), and South Carolina quickly captured Fort Sumter on April 12th.  Lincoln calls for Union (North) troops on April 15th.  Within weeks more states secede, bringing the total to 11 of the states that have seceded:  Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

One month after his inauguration, in April, Lincoln told South Carolina that he needed to re-supply a federal garrison there called Fort Sumter.  South Carolina did not trust Lincoln and felt this was a trick to fool and possibly attack it.  So South Carolina demanded the surrender of federal troops at Fort Sumter.  Shots were fired (it's unknown who fired first), and South Carolina quickly captured Fort Sumter on April 12th.  Lincoln called for Union (North) troops on April 15th.  Within weeks more states seceded, bringing the total to 11 of the states overall that seceded by the end of June 1861:  Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

There were compromises between the North and South in 1820, 1850 and 1854.  One last attempt at compromise occurred in 1861, led by Senator John Crittenden of the border state of Kentucky.  Congress passed a constitutional amendment in 1861 to protect slavery in the South, in the hope that would satisfy it.  But this amendment was never ratified by the States because war broke out before the States could even consider it.  It seems unlikely that the northern states would have agreed anyway.

There had been compromises between the North and South in 1820, 1850 and 1854.  One last attempt at compromise occurred in 1861, led by Senator John Crittenden of the border state of Kentucky.  Congress passed a constitutional amendment in 1861 to protect slavery in the South, in the hope that would satisfy it.  But this amendment was never ratified by the States because war broke out before the States could even consider it.  It seems unlikely that the northern states would have agreed anyway.

Meanwhile, Congress passed two "Confiscation Acts" attempting to help the President win the war.  The Confiscation Act of 1861 authorized the Union to seize any property, including slaves, which were being used to aid the South in its "insurrection" against the North.<ref>http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=557</ref>  Then the Second Confiscation Act was passed in 1862, it took the additional step of ordering freedom for any slaves belonging to engaged in "treason" against the United States:<ref>addref</ref>

Meanwhile, Congress passed two "Confiscation Acts" in order to help the President win the war.  The Confiscation Act of 1861 authorized the Union to seize any property, including slaves, which were being used to aid the South in its "insurrection" against the North.<ref>http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=557</ref>  The Second Confiscation Act was next passed in 1862, taking the additional step of ordering freedom for any slaves belonging to slave-owners engaged in "treason" against the United States:<ref>addref</ref>

:That every person who shall hereafter commit the crime of treason against the United States, and shall be adjudged guilty thereof, shall suffer death, and all his slaves, if any, shall be declared and made free; or, at the discretion of the court, he shall be imprisoned for not less than five years and fined not less than ten thousand dollars, and all his slaves, if any, shall be declared and made free ....

:That every person who shall hereafter commit the crime of treason against the United States, and shall be adjudged guilty thereof, shall suffer death, and all his slaves, if any, shall be declared and made free; or, at the discretion of the court, he shall be imprisoned for not less than five years and fined not less than ten thousand dollars, and all his slaves, if any, shall be declared and made free ....