Copperheads: The Rise and Fall Book Review

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With the Copperheads putting across messages relating to how Republicans could directly threaten the lower classes by generating an influx of black laborers from the South, simple workers were influenced in rebelling against their government and against everyone they considered to be responsible for their disadvantaged status.

Weber stresses the significance of the army in reducing the influence that the Copperheads had in the North. In spite of the fact that the soldiers themselves were not very passionate about going to war, they did not support Peace Democrats because the faction was against the Union's principles. The military was apparently largely responsible for the fact that the masses did not appreciate Copperheads.

The Copperhead were ardent racists and this also reduced their influence in the North, as in spite of the fact that they were determined to have the public's interest directed at preventing black individuals from becoming equals, they were met with little support. The party went as far as calling Lincoln a dictator and insinuating that he virtually imposed his power over the Confederates, who were seemingly interested in defending the regulations set by the Constitution. A great deal of Unionists was apparently inclined to believe that Lincoln was actually devoted to disregard constitutional laws.

Copperheads were both supported and rejected by the public, depending mostly on the warfare conducted by the Union. The masses would thus defend Copperheads when the Union was losing and do the opposite when it won battles. Peace Democrats lobbied so as for the government to put an end to the war, motivating their act through claiming that Republicans were merely interested in expanding their sphere of influence and that this lead to the death of numerous young people.
In the opinion of most Copperheads, the Union could never win the war and it was thus hopelessly to support it.

When all seemed lost for Lincoln as the Union proved to be unsuccessful in conducting warfare and the presidential elections appeared to favor anyone else but him, the conquering of Atlanta turned the odds to the Republicans. Weber offers a through narrative account regarding how the general public immediately turned its attention from the Copperheads and passionately put across its affection toward Lincoln. The Copperhead movement was humiliated by Lincoln's success as a president and as a leader of a moral war.

Weber manages to raise the reader's awareness through proving that Copperheads were far more dangerous than most people like to believe. The writer does no put great accent on the events leading to the war and it is thus difficult for the reader to understand more regarding conditions in the North. Although most are likely to feel confused consequent to going through the book, they will surely feel distrustful concerning the purpose of the Copperhead movement and its apparent beneficial nature. All things considered the book provides readers with a thorough account of the "fire in the rear," highlighting how the Copperheads were actually hypocrites because they did not support their principles consequent to the war.

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"Copperheads The Rise And Fall", 22 October 2010, Accessed.1 July. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/copperheads-rise-fall-7526