Border states

Definition

Border states were slave states that did not secede from the Union during the Civil War, specifically Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware. These states held strategic importance due to their geographic location, which directly impacted military strategy and political considerations during the conflict. Their status as slaveholding states but remaining in the Union created a complex dynamic, especially in relation to the Emancipation Proclamation and the broader fight over slavery in America.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The border states were critical for both the Union and Confederate strategies due to their strategic locations along key transportation routes and proximity to major cities.
2. Despite being slave states, many residents of border states had mixed feelings about slavery and some actively supported the Union cause.
3. The Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free enslaved people in the border states, as Lincoln aimed to keep these states loyal to the Union.
4. Control of border states was essential for the Union to prevent further secession and protect Northern interests during the war.
5. The presence of border states highlighted the complex nature of loyalty and identity during the Civil War, as they straddled both pro-Union and pro-Confederate sentiments.

Review Questions

• How did the existence of border states influence military strategy for both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War?
  • Border states significantly influenced military strategies as both sides recognized their strategic locations. For the Union, retaining control over these states was crucial for maintaining supply lines and troop movements. The Confederacy aimed to sway these states to join their cause, which would bolster their resources. Consequently, battles were often fought in these regions to assert control and demonstrate power over the opposing side.
• Analyze how Lincoln's approach toward border states affected his broader strategy regarding slavery during the Civil War.
  • Lincoln's approach towards border states was marked by caution as he sought to maintain their loyalty while navigating issues related to slavery. He refrained from immediate emancipation efforts within these states to avoid alienating them. Instead, he focused on preserving the Union first while using measures like the Emancipation Proclamation to weaken Confederate resources. This duality shaped his strategy, balancing moral imperatives with political necessities.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of border states remaining in the Union for post-Civil War American society and politics.
  • The decision of border states to remain in the Union had lasting impacts on post-Civil War American society and politics. By staying with the Union, these states avoided some of the deep-seated divisions that emerged in former Confederate territories. Their loyalty helped shape Reconstruction policies and discussions around civil rights, as they became sites of tension between differing views on race and citizenship. This also set a precedent for future state-federal relations and ongoing debates about civil rights in America.

Related terms

Emancipation Proclamation:

An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, that declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory.

Secession: The action of withdrawing formally from membership in a federation or body, particularly referring to the eleven Southern states that left the Union to form the Confederacy.

Union:

The term used to refer to the United States during the Civil War, particularly emphasizing the federal government and the states loyal to it.