War Democrats facts for kids

Second lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant in full dress uniform in 1843

War Democrats were a group of Democrats in the United States. They lived during the American Civil War (1861-1865). These Democrats strongly supported President Abraham Lincoln's plans and goals for the war. They believed in fighting to keep the country united.

After the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, many people in the North supported the Union's war effort. This support came from both major political parties. Important Democrats, like Stephen A. Douglas, quickly showed their strong support. President Lincoln even chose some well-known War Democrats, such as John A. Logan and Ben Butler, to become generals.

What Was a War Democrat?

Being a War Democrat was more challenging in the "border states." These states were located between the North and the South. They had ties to both sides. Lincoln worked hard to get their support. For example, he made Senator Andrew Johnson the military governor of Tennessee.

In September 1862, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. This important statement declared that many enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. After this, the war became very controversial in the North. A group called the "peace faction" gained control of the Democratic Party. They wanted to end the war through talks, not fighting.

War Democrats and the Union Party

In the 1864 presidential election, War Democrats and the Republicans joined forces. They created a new group called the "Union Party". This party nominated Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, for president. They chose Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat, as his vice president.

Many War Democrats later joined the Republican Party. Others chose to remain Democrats. Their main opponents within the Democratic Party were the Peace Democrats. These Peace Democrats wanted to negotiate a settlement with the Confederacy. Some extreme Peace Democrats were even called Copperheads. They openly supported the Confederacy.

Key War Democrats

Many important figures were War Democrats. They played big roles during the Civil War and in American politics. Here are some of them:

• Andrew Johnson: He was a U.S. senator. Later, he became the military governor of Tennessee. In 1864, he was elected Vice President with Lincoln. He became President from 1865 to 1869.
• John Brough: He served as the Governor of Ohio.
• Ben Butler: A Congressman from Massachusetts who also became a general.
• John Adams Dix: From New York, he was Secretary of the Treasury under President Buchanan. He also served as a general.
• Stephen A. Douglas: A senator from Illinois. He was the main Democratic candidate from the North in the 1860 presidential election. He passed away early in the war.
• Ulysses S. Grant: Before the war, he was a storekeeper in Illinois. He became a very important general during the war.
• Joseph Holt: From Kentucky, he was Secretary of War under President Buchanan. Later, he was Lincoln's Judge-Advocate General of the Army.
• John A. Logan: A Congressman from Illinois who also became a general.
• George B. McClellan: He was a railroad president and a general. He was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1864.
• Joel Parker: He served as the Governor of New Jersey.
• David Tod: He also served as the Governor of Ohio.
• Edwin M. Stanton: From Ohio, he was Attorney General under James Buchanan. He later became Lincoln's Secretary of War.

Images for kids

• 

  Second lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant in full dress uniform in 1843

Sources and further reading: Citizendium