Kentucky Declaration of Neutrality facts for kids

The Kentucky Declaration of Neutrality was an important decision made by the Kentucky Legislature during the American Civil War. It officially declared that the Commonwealth of Kentucky would not take sides in the war. This happened on May 16, 1861.

Just a month before, Kentucky's Governor, Beriah Magoffin, had refused to send soldiers to help the Union fight the Southern states that had left the United States. President Abraham Lincoln had asked for these soldiers. The Legislature decided to pass this declaration to try and stop Kentucky from leaving the Union. They also wanted to prevent Kentucky from becoming a major battleground.

Kentucky stayed neutral until September 4, 1861. On that day, Confederate Major General Leonidas Polk ordered his troops to take over Columbus. Even though Kentucky tried to stay neutral, it became a very important state during the Civil War. Many battles were fought there, including Barbourville, Camp Wildcat, and Perryville. These battles gave both the Union and the Confederacy important advantages.

Why Kentucky Declared Neutrality

Kentucky's leaders had several reasons for wanting to stay neutral. They hoped this would protect the state and its people.

Governor Beriah Magoffin's Role

As Governor of Kentucky in 1861, Beriah Magoffin had a big decision to make. He had to decide if Kentucky would join the Union or the Confederacy. He was expected to make the best choice for all Kentuckians.

However, Governor Magoffin secretly supported the Confederacy. He even wrote a letter discussing what Kentucky should do after Lincoln was elected president. In this letter, he suggested changes to laws about enslaved people. He thought that states where slavery was not allowed should pay slave owners if enslaved people escaped and were not returned.

But Governor Magoffin also knew that people in Kentucky had very different ideas about slavery. He wasn't sure which side had more supporters. Because of this, he felt it was too risky for Kentucky to pick a side. He worried it would cause too much trouble within the state.

Kentucky's Location

Kentucky's location was another big reason for its neutrality. It was right in the middle of the Union states and the Confederate states. This meant people in Kentucky were influenced by both sides.

People in Northern and Eastern Kentucky often supported the Union. But those in Southern and Western Kentucky leaned more towards the Confederacy. Governor Magoffin knew that choosing a side would upset a large part of the state's population. He wanted to avoid protests, riots, and people leaving Kentucky. So, he decided that staying neutral was the best plan.

Economic Reasons

Kentucky's economy relied a lot on trade with Northern states. In 1861, about 1,000 shipments arrived from Cincinnati every week. If Kentucky joined the Confederacy, this trade would stop quickly. This would hurt Kentucky's economy badly.

Trading with Southern states was also difficult because the South had strict rules against tariffs (taxes on goods). Even so, the use of enslaved labor was important to Kentucky's economy.

Even with Governor Magoffin's efforts, Kentucky's economy suffered greatly after the Civil War. The state had to pay for the damages from the thirteen battles fought within its borders. This put Kentucky in a difficult financial situation.

What Happened Because of Neutrality

Kentucky's decision to be neutral had a big impact throughout the rest of the war. Both Union and Confederate armies often occupied Kentucky's land. Control of the state kept changing between the two sides.

Many Kentuckians had strong opinions about the neutrality decision. Some supported it, while others wanted Kentucky to join either the Union or the Confederacy. Interestingly, many Confederate supporters actually wanted Kentucky to stay neutral. They feared that if Kentucky chose a side, it would pick the Union.

Families in Kentucky were divided by the war. This led to the famous phrase "brother against brother". The state faced a lot of internal conflict. As the war continued, people in Northern and Eastern Kentucky became less supportive of slavery. However, people in Western and Southern Kentucky strongly supported the Confederacy because they relied heavily on enslaved labor.

In total, about 100,000 Kentuckians fought for the Union armies. Only about 25,000 to 40,000 served with Confederate troops. This further deepened the divide among Kentuckians. The effects of this division can still be seen today in Kentucky's political landscape. Northern cities like Louisville and Lexington tend to support the Democratic party. Most other cities in the state lean towards the Republican party.