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"Have we made any Progress in Crushing the Rebellion?"
This 1864 broadside from the National Union Party, complete with a striking wood-engraved map, offers a compelling visualization and textual argument for the progress of the Union in the Civil War, aimed at bolstering support for President Lincoln's reelection.
As a key political document from the latter stages of the American Civil War, this broadside reflects the intense political and military strategies employed by the National Union Party, a temporary name adopted by the Republican Party for the 1864 election. The primary objective was to sway public opinion, particularly among Democrats skeptical of President Lincoln's policies and the war's progression. By presenting factual information in a visually impactful manner, the broadside directly confronts the claims of Democrats and Copperheads who criticized Lincoln's leadership and questioned the war's efficacy in reuniting the nation.
The Map
The map, prominently positioned above the textual content, visually delineates the territorial changes from the outset of the war to 1864. The areas once under Confederate control, shown in gray, contrast sharply with the smaller, black-shaded regions still held by the Confederacy, underscoring the Union's advances. This graphic element is paired with text sections such as “Who Commenced the War,” which utilizes excerpts from the Confederate States Register to argue that the Southern states initiated the conflict, thereby legitimizing the North's defensive stance. The section titled “Have we made any Progress in Crushing the Rebellion?” further challenges the notion of a stagnant war effort, emphasizing the Union's substantial achievements.
Supporting the broadside's argument are two detailed tables comparing the territorial and population control of Southern states in 1861 and 1864. These tables quantitatively illustrate the considerable losses of the Confederacy over four years of conflict, with the Union regaining control over 1,311,184 square miles and 7,638,062 people. The text highlights not only the Union's military and territorial gains but also its moral victories, such as the abolition of slavery in several states and the unwavering integrity of Union territory. The document concludes with an optimistic outlook on the war's imminent end, citing the relentless advances of Union generals Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, and the irreversible damage to the institution of slavery.
This broadside serves as a significant political artifact and a testament to the Union's strategic use of print media to shape public opinion and rally support for its cause during a critical moment in American history. Its blend of map and textual elements makes it one of the triumphs of Civil War persuasive cartography.
