Lincoln and the cotton trade

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Forum Host
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Once the Civil War started Lincoln was face with a lack of cotton crisis. Lincoln was put under political pressure to secure cotton for the Northern factories. War or no war, no governor wanted to close the mills in their home state. Lincoln was also faced with the fact that cotton products such as tents were needed by the Union armies. The problem was how to obtain Southern cotton without providing money to the Confederacy. Some 900,000 bales of cotton reached the New England ports during the Civil War. About 300,000 bales were confiscated from captured areas or legally purchased there, and another 160,000 bales were meant for foreign markets. The remaining bales came from what one might call "illegal, extra-legal or other sources". Some Northern businessmen made huge profits off of this questionable trade in cotton. Some Northern mills reported a 600% increase in profits during the war.

Dispute the Union blockade Lincoln had to ensure that not only enough cotton reached England and France to keep them form breaking the blockade to obtain cotton, but Lincoln also had to satisfy the profit hungry Northern businessmen, secure cotton goods for the Union army, while at the same the time not allowing the Confederacy to obtain too much money to purchases foriegn made war material. This resulted in a real balancing act for Lincoln.
 
Back
Top