Biggest union error?

[atlantis]

Was the Emancipation Proclamation the biggest union error of the conflict. It told slave owning southern unionists their property rights meant nothing to Washington and confirmed the fears of non-slave owning southern whites that the union would force them to compete with freed slaves for jobs.
The EP gave confederates whose morale was flagging reason to continue the fight thus prolonging the war.

Your Thoughts

 

[Library Lady]

No, the biggest Union/Federal error was in not continually and consistently enforcing the Reconstruction Amendments post-war. Expanding freedom in the US is NOT an error.

 

[archieclement]

The EP likely did end any other chance for negotiated end. But if that was intention its not really a failure.

If going into reconstruction, then passing policy's that were unenforcable is what actually lead to inconsistent enforcement. Any sucessful policy would needed to remain within states support to be enforced.

 

[JerryD]

I have yet to read a single diary or memoir that expressed the opinion you state that the EP boosted southern morale or confirmed fears they would have to compete with slaves for jobs. In fact, its kind of ludicrous to think any would think so.

In fact, we know the EP was perhaps Lincoln's smartest move. It effectively put an end to any consideration by Great Britain or France to recognize the CSA and it ultimately put the war on a higher moral plane. While there was some pushback from the north, the effect on barring European recognition of the CSA and in giving the war a higher cause far exceeded any conflict with draft dodgers or others opposed to the measure.

 

[marktwainenjoyer]

The biggest error was not issuing it sooner.

 

[archieclement]

The biggest error was not issuing it sooner.

Not sure what you mean, in how much earlier.
In 1861 think likely would resulted in loss of border states. Missouri and Kentucky would then been the 2nd and 3rd most populated confederate states, Maryland would then been the 5th........the states represented over 2.5 million more white manpower and another 400,000+ slave labor. Why Lincoln was careful to not drive them away.

 

[marktwainenjoyer]

Not sure what you mean, in how much earlier.
In 1861 think likely would resulted in loss of border states. Missouri and Kentucky would then been the 2nd and 3rd most populated confederate states, Maryland would then been the 5th........

That's a good point. However, it would have likely made George McClellan up and quit, and that can only be a good thing.

 

[WestCoastSB]

Was the Emancipation Proclamation the biggest union error of the conflict. It told slave owning southern unionists their property rights meant nothing to Washington and confirmed the fears of non-slave owning southern whites that the union would force them to compete with freed slaves for jobs.
The EP gave confederates whose morale was flagging reason to continue the fight thus prolonging the war.

Your Thoughts

I mean, I've heard the Emancipation Proclamation was meant to keep the Europeans at bay. Any truth to this claim?

 

[archieclement]

I mean, I've heard the Emancipation Proclamation was meant to keep the Europeans at bay. Any truth to this claim?

Would think it was an consideration, as was it would hurt the Confederacy.

But seems most often overlooked is the 100 days to implementation if the states didn't rejoin the Union. It would seem a clumsy attempt to end the war that failed, if it was intent. Or suppose could been considered a clumsy attempt to extend slavery if states had rejoined.

But seem the 100 day delay would seem to signal he had some hope it might ended the war before being implemented.

 

[DanSBHawk]

Was the Emancipation Proclamation the biggest union error of the conflict. It told slave owning southern unionists their property rights meant nothing to Washington and confirmed the fears of non-slave owning southern whites that the union would force them to compete with freed slaves for jobs.
The EP gave confederates whose morale was flagging reason to continue the fight thus prolonging the war.

Your Thoughts

I wouldn't consider it an error. It gave the whole war some clarity. Even for those who were in denial about the cause of the war.

 

[6thMichCav]

No, I disagree with the premise. Although those factors may have motivated some, in my opinion actual combat losses were a bigger factor. So, in my opinion Grant's attack at Cold Harbor was the worst failure of the war.

 

[Saruman]

Was the Emancipation Proclamation the biggest union error of the conflict. It told slave owning southern unionists their property rights meant nothing to Washington and confirmed the fears of non-slave owning southern whites that the union would force them to compete with freed slaves for jobs.
The EP gave confederates whose morale was flagging reason to continue the fight thus prolonging the war.

Your Thoughts

William Watson, a Scotsman living in Baton Rouge in 1860, thought the biggest error was that the Federal Government was too slow to react to secession and the seizure of forts and property:

The passing of the formal act of secession, and the declaration of the independence of the State, was regarded by many as a mere piece of political bounce, carried out with the view of compelling from the Federal Government some guarantee against any encroachment on what they termed Southern rights. But the seizure of the United States arsenal, and driving the United States troops from the State, was considered a high-handed act, which they expected the Federal Government would immediately resent...

Had the Federal Government acted promptly and sent up the river one or two of their small steam frigates, and if at the same time one or two armed transports with 500 troops had been sent down from above, the garrison and arsenal would have been re-occupied without resistance, while a couple of gunboats stationed on the Mississippi would have crushed secession in the bud...

A very large proportion of the people... would have approved of the action of the Federal Government, and would have hailed with gladness some appearance of a sovereign power, and felt a sense of security, and realized that they were living under a government that would enforce the laws, and protect the true liberties of the people... Had this been done, secession could have made no headway.

The Federal Government took no action. The loyal portion of the population who had been waiting in breathless suspense to see what action would be taken, were now disheartened, while the secession party increased in numbers, and became more arrogant and noisy.

 

[Bruce Vail]

I have yet to read a single diary or memoir that expressed the opinion you state that the EP boosted southern morale or confirmed fears they would have to compete with slaves for jobs. In fact, its kind of ludicrous to think any would think so.

In fact, we know the EP was perhaps Lincoln's smartest move. It effectively put an end to any consideration by Great Britain or France to recognize the CSA and it ultimately put the war on a higher moral plane. While there was some pushback from the north, the effect on barring European recognition of the CSA and in giving the war a higher cause far exceeded any conflict with draft dodgers or others opposed to the measure.

'put the war on a higher moral plane'

No. The notion that the South was immoral is a post-war rationalization for all the death, destruction and suffering caused by the War. The EP itself was a war measure aimed at making sure that the North was the victor.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

'put the war on a higher moral plane'

No. The notion that the South was immoral is a post-war rationalization for all the death, destruction and suffering caused by the War. The EP itself was a war measure aimed at making the sure that the North was the victor.

While I'm not sure I agree about the "higher moral plane" claim, I also disagree with your statement. There was plenty of sentiment before and during the war among the German American communities that the entire southern way of life was immoral. I'm not sure abolitionists would be included in your statement either.

 

[Bruce Vail]

While I'm not sure I agree about the "higher moral plane" claim, I also disagree with your statement. There was plenty of sentiment before and during the war among the German American communities that the entire southern way of life was immoral. I'm not sure abolitionists would be included in your statement either.

Well, yes. The small pre-war abolitionist movement signified by William Lloyd Garrison did assert the moral corruption of the slave states.

I know very little about pre-war abolitionism in German-American communities, and would like to know more.

 

[JerryD]

'put the war on a higher moral plane'

No. The notion that the South was immoral is a post-war rationalization for all the death, destruction and suffering caused by the War. The EP itself was a war measure aimed at making sure that the North was the victor.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Even by comtemporary standards, slavery was seen as contemptable and was dying out around the world. I am reading a history right now of British views on the ACW, their personal correspondence is full of references to how abominable slavery was and how repugnant it would be to have support a slaveocracy.

 

[JerryD]

I mean, I've heard the Emancipation Proclamation was meant to keep the Europeans at bay. Any truth to this claim?

I think that was a major consideration, and it was quite successful in that regard. But Lincoln was also getting internal pressure to issue it, while also trying to balance not alienating those in the north who he knew would oppose it.

 

[benmax]

The biggest error was not issuing it sooner.

Depending on how much sooner you are referring to. If you are considering at the start of the War, I reckon Lincoln would have been lucky to get 75 Northern volunteers let alone 75,000. I really don't think there was that much of a moral compass at the start.

 

[archieclement]

Its kinda a loaded question, but would agree with perhaps not doing more to put it down quicker, either acting quicker, and/or raising a more overwhelming force initially.

 

[milhistbuff1]

Not listening to Gen. Scott at the outset to better prepare the fresh forces with training and giving the industrial base time to stockpile materiel before commencing strong offensive action. Both sides expecting a short war at the outset turned it into longer bloodier one.