WHat Happened in North Carolina ?
SUCCEEDING from the union
North Carolina was one of the last states to succeed from the Union. The state succeeded after President Lincoln asked for help from troops in North Carolina to put down the rebellion after the attack on Fort Sumter. On May 20th, 1861 North Carolina succeeded from the Union and began the involvement in the Civil War. This state, being a slave state, had a cause to fight for, even though they contemplated on leaving or not because of protection by the constitution. The state took their time deciding which side to take and Tennessee was the only other state that succeeded after North Carolina. Northern Carolina was mostly based on agriculture because of tobacco and cotton, the cash crops, both using slaves as a way of income. They were heavily using slaves in farming and fought for their cause.
Fort Fisher Fort Fisher is located near Wilmington, North Carolina. this was the south's last open seaport on the Atlantic coast. Union forces were ready for an attack against General Robert Hoke's infantry line at Fort Fisher on January 13th, 1865. On the 15th, some troops moved toward the rear of the fort and attacked. This lead to the South, under command of General Hoke, surrendering and the Union gained access to the port. There were around 2,000 deaths resulting from this Union victory.
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North Carolina after the war
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http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/pcoll/civilwar/97-86.JPG
North Carolina suffered heavy losses in the Civil War. Around 30,000 troops died, not only from combat but also from disease and starvation. Economically, after the war, North Carolina suffered as well. So much was spent on financing the war and abolishing slavery that slaveholders lost almost all of their money. Many businesses had to declare bankruptcy, colleges were closed, and banks shut down. After the abolition of slavery, many wealthy landowners who had once owned slaves had their land confiscated or simply abandoned the land because without slaves they could not take care of it. North Carolina's political offices were in shambles after the war. In early 1865 the government had crashed, leaving the state under military control for reconstruction. After President Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Johnson became the President and he took over bringing the rebellious states back into the Union. With the Amnesty Proclamation, southerners, except those of extreme wealth or leadership, were pardoned. Anyone who swore allegiance to the Union would be granted their land and property.
Kelly, Martin. Battle of Fort Fisher. Retrieved from http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_fortf.htm
North Carolina's Civil War Story. Retrieved from http://civilwarexperience.ncdcr.gov/narrative/narrative-4.htm
Tindall, George and David Shi. (2007). America, A Narrative History. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.