July 26, 1861
The Crittenden Resolution is passed by the U.S. Congress, declaring that the Civil War is being fought to preserve the Union rather than to end slavery.
Washington, United States | United States Congress
On July 26, 1861, amidst the early stages of the American Civil War, the United States Congress passed the Crittenden Resolution. Named after its sponsor, Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky, this resolution aimed to clarify the Union’s stance on the objectives of the Civil War.
In April 1861, the Civil War erupted following years of escalating tensions over issues including states’ rights and slavery. The secession of Southern states and the attack on Fort Sumter galvanized the Northern states to preserve the Union. However, there was significant debate and division within the Union supporters over whether the war should also aim to abolish slavery.
The Crittenden Resolution explicitly declared that the primary objective of the Civil War was to preserve the integrity of the United States by restoring the Union. It emphasized that the war was not fought for “overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions” of the states, which was a direct reference to slavery. The resolution was intended to reassure border states and unionists who were concerned that the war might turn into a campaign for emancipation.
The resolution passed in Congress as a strategic measure to maintain unity among the Union’s diverse coalition, which included abolitionists, moderate Republicans, and pro-Union Democrats. On July 26, 1861, the House of Representatives approved the resolution with a substantial majority: 117 in favor and 2 against.
While the Crittenden Resolution placated some factions in 1861 by focusing on Union preservation rather than abolition, it also underscored the deep divisions in Northern policy and sentiment regarding slavery. As the war progressed, the resolution’s stance was challenged significantly, particularly as the Union adopted more abolitionist policies, culminating in President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
The Crittenden Resolution represents an early moment in the Civil War when political leaders sought to unify disparate elements of Union support under a common cause. Its initial focus on preserving the Union over confronting slavery highlighted the complexities and changing priorities during the war.
The Crittenden Resolution was a significant legislative act that captured the Union’s strategy and political calculations at the Civil War’s outset. It served to rally support by emphasizing national unity while postponing the contentious issue of slavery, which would later become central to the Union’s renewed moral and military strategy.
Source: www.britannica.com