Week 9 Blog Post

Week 9 Blog Post

Comments on Major Problems in the Civil War and Reconstruction Documents and Essays:

Gov. Joseph E. Brown: It is an ironic dilemma that the Confederacy placed itself in by forming a separate nation. By going to war, the new nation found out that a strong central government and military was necessary if the country was going to have any chance at beating the Union forces. It is interesting that Gov. Brown had not anticipated that the need for martial law would arise in time of war. Also noteworthy was that he was writing to Vice-President Stephens who was already at odds with President Davis.

Eliza Adams: It was very bold and brave of Mrs. Adams to write to Pres. Davis to request an exemption for her son Matthew. She certainly had just cause in my mind as did the other women that Amy M. Taylor wrote about in her essay “Southern Families and Their Appeals for Protection.” Adams also anticipated needing corroboration of her hardship. She offered to get a petition from her neighbors. She also referenced that he could inquire of Gen. Lawton’s Brigade.

Plain Folk: Keeping the misspellings in the document shows the education level of its writers. Writing to the governor of NC was undoubtedly a big step for them born out of their hunger. They see the large plantation owners as taking advantage of them by jacking up prices especially of corn. At least they are letting the governor know that they will take matters into their own hands, presumably threatening violence, if he does not do something to stop the inflation.

NC Legislature: Significant in this document is that the legislature did not accept the possibility of needing “emergency powers” even in time of war. They wrote, the People of North Carolina … declare that ‘no conditions of public danger,’ present or prospective, probable or possible, can render the liberties of the people incompatible with the public safety.” (P & T, 251) The document further equated a draft with military despotism and a violation of state rights. This again demonstrates that the states were not in favor of the national government exercising any authority over them which is why the Confederate Constitution’s preamble stated, “We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent government …” (McPherson & Hogue, A-1) The NC legislature had a good case to say that the Confederate government was acting against its own Constitution by trying to enforce draft requirements of the states and suspending habeas corpus.

I will post on the essays tonight.

Written by Molly Kettler