American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Civil War connection?

major bill

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American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Civil War was formed in April of 1866. Is there a possible connection between the SPCA and the Civil War? If so what is the connection?

I am not sure ending slavery and the founding of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can be connected. Some people however could possibly see a connection.
 
I was intrigued by this observation and so did a little research.

According to the ASPCA website:

"While on assignment in Russia as an American diplomat, a New Yorker named Henry Bergh stopped a carriage driver from beating his fallen horse. The year was 1863, and it was then and there that Bergh realized the effect he could have on the world. He soon resigned his post and returned to New York to devote his energy to the prevention of cruelty to animals. In 1866, he founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

aspca-150-saving-lives-henry-bergh.jpg


Henry Bergh, Founder of the ASPCA


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The ASPCA’s official seal, drawn by Frank Leslie and unveiled in 1867."
https://www.aspca.org/about-us/history-of-the-aspca

The article points out that it should be of no surprise that the seal is of an angel protecting a fallen carthorse given why the organization was founded.

The History website adds that:

"On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh, 54.

In 1863, Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. It was there that he was horrified to witness work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. En route back to America, a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure a charter not only to incorporate the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.

Back in New York, Bergh pleaded on behalf of 'these mute servants of mankind' at a February 8, 1866, meeting at Clinton Hall. He argued that protecting animals was an issue that crossed party lines and class boundaries. 'This is a matter purely of conscience; it has no perplexing side issues,' he said. 'It is a moral question in all its aspects.' The speech prompted a number of dignitaries to sign his “Declaration of the Rights of Animals.”

Bergh’s impassioned accounts of the horrors inflicted on animals convinced the New York State legislature to pass the charter incorporating the ASPCA on April 10, 1866. Nine days later, the first effective anti-cruelty law in the United States was passed, allowing the ASPCA to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and to make arrests."

Anyways, it looks like the man who founded the organization was in Russia when he came up with the idea. It then solidified in England. His visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London occurred in June 1865, meaning he was abroad from some time in 1863 (per Lincoln's appointment) - Summer 1865 (after the conclusion of the war). So a direct connection between Bergh and his personal motivations and the American Civil War seems unlikely (beyond that he was in London on appointment from Lincoln).

That said, it is possible that a general social attitude linked to abolitionist sentiment, temperance movements, the second and third great awakenings, etc. inspired Bergh and other early members to join the organization. My history teacher encouraged us to always think not just about when an event occurred but why it did not occur earlier or later. Perhaps the Civil War era was just so full of these kinds of ideas that it makes sense an individual would have the idea to create a humane society and enough social support to see its success. Perhaps the New York State legislature was swayed by the recent conflict and therefore more susceptible to pleas of the heart (although an equally strong case could be made that the conflict did nothing but harden their hearts, especially with the vast number of animals sacrificed "necessarily" for the war effort. Or perhaps that they would think, "why at a time of such immense human suffering should we stop to think about animal suffering?" That said, they did vote for it). Regardless, I would say that anti-animal cruelty sentiments came from the same soup of the 19th Century as many other movements, rather than that one was necessarily an extension of the other.

What an interesting question @majorbill. I'm interested to hear what other people think. You've got me thinking about all sorts of stuff now. My poor school work is just NEVER gonna get done at this rate ; )



 
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aspca-is-founded


In a way, Lincoln appointed Henry Bergh to a diplomatic post in St. Petersburg, Russia. There he was horrified to witness peasants beating their work horses. Then on his back to the US he stopped in London. While there he visited the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was determined to get the charter to an American version of this group. In 1866 he did just that. So it can be said that a connection to the Civil War is probable, because of Lincoln's actions in granting Bergh a diplomatic post in Russia.
 
@mofederal it seems we both looked at the same piece of evidence and drew exactly the opposite conclusions! :bounce: I do agree that Lincoln's appointing Bergh is a direct connection. That said, in reading more about Bergh, it seemed he traveled extensively in Europe even prior to his appointment by Lincoln, so he was likely going to be exposed to animal cruelty whether he was an ambassador or not. He also seems to have taken umbrage with bullfighting in Spain and other animal cruelty around Europe:
https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/bergh-henry

"Travel was a particular passion for the Berghs. They embarked on extended journeys, including a three year visit to Europe in 1847. Henry kept extensive diaries during this travels noting the food and entertainment that they enjoyed. It was during this trip that the first glimpse of Henry Bergh’s eventual calling would be entered into his diary. The Bergh’s had attended a bull fight in Spain, and were appalled by the blood and death on display. Most troubling were the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd as horses were gored and bulls taunted and then killed. When the Berghs returned to the United States they again took up their social life with great gusto. In addition to attending plays, Henry Bergh tried writing several of his own. He prevailed upon several of his social connections to have at least one of these staged. It received tepid reviews. Bergh had chosen to pen a farce, and in so doing he revealed a significant talent gap – he apparently suffered from a humor deficit.

Bergh’s social circle included the political elite of his time as well. He supported abolitionist positions, and shared this conviction with his fellow New York State resident William Seward. When Seward joined Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet as Secretary of State, Bergh gained an appointment as legation secretary for the American delegation to Russia. From all accounts, Bergh performed admirably and must have impressed the Tsar, since Alexander II made his personal yacht available to him several times.

Bergh enjoyed the opulence of society in St. Petersburgh. He traveled about the city in an ornate carriage, a driver at his call. During one such trip there came a moment that transformed Bergh’s life, and the future of animals in America. Spying a Russian peasant beating his fallen cart horse, Bergh called for his own driver to stop his carriage. He instructed his coachman to order the peasant to stop beating the horse. The details of how and when this event happened are shrouded in mystery. What was it about this particular day and this particular peasant? Observing people beating horses must have been a common event given other accounts of the times. That moment, indeed if it even was a single moment, has become enshrined in the legend of Henry Bergh, and the ASPCA. Not long after, Bergh would resign his post, and return to the United States. His return came via England, and while there endeavored to meet with the Earl of Harrowby, serving as president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at that time. When he set sail for his return across the Atlantic he must have had much to ponder. He recognized that the cruel mistreatment of horses that he observed in Russia was also a common practice in his home city of New York. He also carried with him an understanding of how the RSPCA had been formed and carried out its efforts to protect animals.

Shortly after his return, Henry Bergh began the rounds of contacting friends and allies, explaining his plan to form a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When he felt that he held sufficient support for his plan, he announced a public lecture on “Statistics related to the Cruelty Practiced on Animals.” A storm raged through the city on the night of February 8, 1866, but Clinton Hall was crowded with an anxious crowd. Bergh’s preliminary efforts had paid off, and his lecture prompted a ground swell of support. In the days following the meeting a who’s who of the social and political elite of the city and state signed a petition calling for the formation of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Bergh carried the petition to Albany and lobbied the state legislature. The response was rapid and on April 10, 1866 the New York State Legislature granted a charter for the formation of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Just nine days later, the legislature passed an amended law for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and authorized Bergh and his fledgling Society the power to enforce the law."

So it seems he hung around with the same social circles as abolitionists and other social-justice figures. This was largely how he became connected with Lincoln and received the fateful appointment that would place him on a St. Petersburg street before a frustrated peasant beating an exhausted cart horse.
 
I think there is an assumption that people opposed to the cruelty to slaves after there were not more slaves transferred the war against cruelty to cruelty to animals. I am sure there is some overlap, but have some reservations about this theory.
 
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