James M. McPherson Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam
Freedom by definition states that one is allowed to speak, think, or act without restraint or fear of severe consequence. During the time surrounding the Civil War, freedom was synonymous with liberty in the sense that that was what the Union was striving for. McPherson argues that The Battle of Antietam was the most crucial turning point in relation to the Civil War. He states that without this battle, there was the chance that freedom in America would not be achieved. His main point in “Crossroads of Freedom” are the events leading up to Antietam, the bloodiness of the battle, and its aftermath.
McPherson uses a comparison of other battles that shaped the Civil War alongside Antietam to further understand how the events within the first year of the war changed America as nation. In this first chapter, McPherson marks the early months of he conflicts leading up Antietam and its effect. The two failures that impacted the two sides of the country are as follows: the incorrect measures taken by the Union in relation to the “Trent Affair”, and the failed “King Cotton” blockade by Confederate forces.
The “Trent Affair” provoked a financial panic within the Northern states. After the capture of two Confederate envoys from the British steamer Trent (Page 12), the possibility of war with Britain came into play. The war could not be financed without payments that had been briefly suspended after this affair. It was not until February of 1862 that new measures were taken to “patch the leaky hull of Union finances” (Page 16) when the Union Congress prepared to issue a new version of war bonds. Union victories and defeats would quickly appear in newspaper headlines across the country. This would quickly effect the Confederacy too however, by replaying Confederate failures on paper in a “catalogue of disasters” (Page 20). The goal of the “King Cotton” blockade during the Civil War was the recognition of the Confederacy as nation. Confederate planned to intervene in the foreign blockade by keeping crop at home. The Confederates saw the cotton exports as an opportunity to provoke Britain into war that in time would merit a Confederate victory. Maritime law at the time stated, “a blockade had to be efficient to be lawful” (Page 35). Seeing this blockade as an unlawful act caused the European allies to state, “only Union victories can alone prevent foreign intervention” (Page 38). The failure of the King Cotton blockade would not end in Confederate failure. In fact, the reverse of victory soon occurred as the swing of the Civil War laid toward the Confederacy by summer 1862. As the Confederacy needed support from European citizens, the Union would quickly wage a different type of war. McPherson believed that the Emancipation Proclamation sparked Northern interest to radicalize the fighting. Confederate forces would provoke a crisis within the Union and Great Britain. What took place at the Mississippi River became positive for the South in 1852. Southern tension arose during the summer of 1862. Southern property, however, would be the step towards a total war. The land within the south would become an advantage as battles waged there. The first of the Seven Days Battles showed military weaknesses within the Confederacy and the Union. The Army of North Virginia took the worst of the fighting at Gaines’ Mill on June 27th. McPherson claims, “repeatedly, relentlessly, with a courage bordering on recklessness…for the whole Seven Days” (Page 45). Although soldiers began to be hit with “battle fatigue”, …show more content…
The Civil War would rage on. Fighting continued for another two years with an inevitable victory by the Union, the Confederacy would never achieve its goal of independence. Freedom –liberty- would be slowly gained for the slaves at that time. Lincoln would declare that unless the current Confederate states return to the Union by January 1863, all slaves “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free” (Page 139). This would spark outrage within the Confederacy with eventual submission after the Civil War. The Union victory at Antietam lost the Confederacy is foreign supporters and the chance of recognition by them. This would later affect the election that followed in the
Freedom by definition states that one is allowed to speak, think, or act without restraint or fear of severe consequence. During the time surrounding the Civil War, freedom was synonymous with liberty in the sense that that was what the Union was striving for. McPherson argues that The Battle of Antietam was the most crucial turning point in relation to the Civil War. He states that without this battle, there was the chance that freedom in America would not be achieved. His main point in “Crossroads of Freedom” are the events leading up to Antietam, the bloodiness of the battle, and its aftermath.
McPherson uses a comparison of other battles that shaped the Civil War alongside Antietam to further understand how the events within the first year of the war changed America as nation. In this first chapter, McPherson marks the early months of he conflicts leading up Antietam and its effect. The two failures that impacted the two sides of the country are as follows: the incorrect measures taken by the Union in relation to the “Trent Affair”, and the failed “King Cotton” blockade by Confederate forces.
The “Trent Affair” provoked a financial panic within the Northern states. After the capture of two Confederate envoys from the British steamer Trent (Page 12), the possibility of war with Britain came into play. The war could not be financed without payments that had been briefly suspended after this affair. It was not until February of 1862 that new measures were taken to “patch the leaky hull of Union finances” (Page 16) when the Union Congress prepared to issue a new version of war bonds. Union victories and defeats would quickly appear in newspaper headlines across the country. This would quickly effect the Confederacy too however, by replaying Confederate failures on paper in a “catalogue of disasters” (Page 20). The goal of the “King Cotton” blockade during the Civil War was the recognition of the Confederacy as nation. Confederate planned to intervene in the foreign blockade by keeping crop at home. The Confederates saw the cotton exports as an opportunity to provoke Britain into war that in time would merit a Confederate victory. Maritime law at the time stated, “a blockade had to be efficient to be lawful” (Page 35). Seeing this blockade as an unlawful act caused the European allies to state, “only Union victories can alone prevent foreign intervention” (Page 38). The failure of the King Cotton blockade would not end in Confederate failure. In fact, the reverse of victory soon occurred as the swing of the Civil War laid toward the Confederacy by summer 1862. As the Confederacy needed support from European citizens, the Union would quickly wage a different type of war. McPherson believed that the Emancipation Proclamation sparked Northern interest to radicalize the fighting. Confederate forces would provoke a crisis within the Union and Great Britain. What took place at the Mississippi River became positive for the South in 1852. Southern tension arose during the summer of 1862. Southern property, however, would be the step towards a total war. The land within the south would become an advantage as battles waged there. The first of the Seven Days Battles showed military weaknesses within the Confederacy and the Union. The Army of North Virginia took the worst of the fighting at Gaines’ Mill on June 27th. McPherson claims, “repeatedly, relentlessly, with a courage bordering on recklessness…for the whole Seven Days” (Page 45). Although soldiers began to be hit with “battle fatigue”, …show more content…
The Civil War would rage on. Fighting continued for another two years with an inevitable victory by the Union, the Confederacy would never achieve its goal of independence. Freedom –liberty- would be slowly gained for the slaves at that time. Lincoln would declare that unless the current Confederate states return to the Union by January 1863, all slaves “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free” (Page 139). This would spark outrage within the Confederacy with eventual submission after the Civil War. The Union victory at Antietam lost the Confederacy is foreign supporters and the chance of recognition by them. This would later affect the election that followed in the