COPPERHEADS AND THE CIVIL WAR: THE NORTHERN OPPOSITION TO UNION POLICIES
As with many things involving opinions and politics, not everyone had the same ideas about the Civil War, regardless of which state they called home. Some of the states in the North had Democrats who simply opposed the idea of the Civil War. Known as the Copperheads, these Civil War opponents felt strongly against Lincoln, the federal government’s encroachment on civil liberties, and in many cases, the equal treatment of Blacks in the United States.
Who Were the Copperheads in the Civil War?
Copperheads were a faction of the Democratic Party in the Civil War living in Union-controlled states that wanted the federal government to draft a peace treaty with the Confederates immediately.
Also known as Peace Democrats, Copperheads in the Civil War placed the blame for the conflict on abolitionists and wanted a reunion of the United States as soon as possible.
The Midwest was where the strongest concentration of support was found among the Copperhead movement, particularly in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, where many had Southern roots and resented Northern industrialists.
Origins of the Term
The term “Copperheads” during the American Civil War is an allusion to the venomous snake that would become connected to Peace Democrats opposing the war.
It’s believed that the term came from an article in 1861 written by the New York Tribune, describing Democrats as snakes of the same namesake because they stuck without warning.
While Republicans embraced the term, so too did anti-war Democrats, who used it as a symbol of liberty during a time when they felt oppressed by the federal government.
Although this would evolve over time, the Democrats who supported the Civil War were known as War Democrats in contrast to the Copperheads.
The Agenda of Peace Democrats During the Civil War
Copperheads in the Civil War era had several demands that were a part of their overall agenda. Peace Democrats wanted the nation restored and the war over with, along with several other issues:
- No More Draft: Copperheads were heavily against conscription.
- Smaller Government: Many Copperheads during the Civil War believed the federal government was getting away from the Republic of America and overreaching.
- Keep Blacks Away: Although not everyone in the movement felt this way, some, particularly Irish Copperheads in New York City, feared that Blacks becoming free would take their jobs.
Leaders within the movement like Horatio Seymour, Fernando Wood, and Clement L. Vallandigham made waves during a time in which the nation was divided, unlike any other point in its history.
In 1862, the Knights of the Golden Circle, which would become the Order of American Knights and the Sons of Liberty, was founded, with many other groups aiming to defeat Republicans in office rather than some of the treasonous accusations coming from their opponents.
The Legacy of Copperheads in the Civil War
While Copperhead groups talked of violent resistance, no attacks were ever organized, despite negative word-of-mouth from Republican opponents.
However, Civil War Copperheads viewed Lincoln as a tyrant undermining American values and were successful in helping with anti-war initiatives including the following:
- Campaigns to encourage desertion by Union Soldiers.
- Copperheads worked to help Confederate prisoners escape.
- Anti-war legislation in Indiana while also maintaining political influence in Illinois.
Though they occasionally met with Confederate agents and accepted money, their influence remained limited, despite encouragement from the Confederacy. Some leaders were even imprisoned without trial due to suspicions of disloyalty.
Although they had little impact on the war’s overall outcome, the Democratic Party was stained with a reputation of disloyalty for decades.
Historians remain divided on the Copperheads during the Civil War; however, more recent views frame them as partisan critics rather than traitors.
The legacy of Copperheads in the Civil War continues to spark debates about civil liberties, rights, and the Constitution while remaining an interesting look at some of the complex politics taking place during our nation’s bloodiest conflict.
Sources:
Britannica. Accessed October 2024.
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