1861: Union Blockade of Southern Ports

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Description

Throughout the Civil War, the Union imposed a naval blockade over all Southern ports in hopes of hurting Southern trade and commerce through measures such as hampering cotton sales out of ports like New Orleans. The U.S. was concerned that the South would begin conducting free trade with foreign powers, and thus distribute those foreign goods to aid their war effort. ^[1] The idea was suggested by General Winfield Scott as part of his “anaconda plan” in which he hoped to “deprive the South of its resources… [which would] reduce the new Confederation to national bankruptcy.” ^[2]

President Lincoln was also concerned with how this affected Northern trade. He believed that the South’s rebellion would restrict the North from conducting trade due to the non-existent tariffs on Southern imports. This would eventually hurt all U.S. citizens that engaged in any kind of foreign commerce. ^[3]

The U.S. could impose the blockade effectively, because most shipbuilding was done in the North. The U.S. could also supplant its navy with chartered merchant ships that were quickly armed and manned to work with the navy. Within the first year of the blockade, the U.S. had 260 warships patrolling Southern waters. The blockade proved to be a success because it isolated Southerners from the world, it diminished the South’s foreign trade to one-third of its average, and the blockade was recognized as legitimate by European powers like England who were more hesitant to conduct trade with the South as a result. ^[4]

Related Events:

1861: First Battle of Manassas, 1861: The Trent Affair, 1861: Battle of Port Royal

Sources:

^[1] Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Tribune, 22 April 1861.

^[2] Abraham Lincoln, quoted in, "Blockade of Southern Ports," The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review, (June, 1861), 785. [APS Online: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=68550278&sid=1&Fmt=1&clientId=43093&RQT=309&VName=HNP, Accessed 10 November 2006]; New York, New York, New York Times, 17 May 1861.

^[3] Abraham Lincoln, quoted in, "Blockade of Southern Ports," The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review, (June, 1861), 785. [APS Online: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=68550278&sid=1&Fmt=1&clientId=43093&RQT=309&VName=HNP, Accessed 10 November 2006].

^[4] James M. Mcpherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), 380-385.