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'''War Democrats''' were those who broke with the majority of the [[History of the United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] and supported the military policies of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Abraham Lincoln]] during the [[American Civil War]] of 1861-1865.  In the [[United States presidential election, 1864|1864 presidential election]], War Democrats and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] jointly nominated Lincoln, a Republican, for president and nominated [[Andrew Johnson]], a Democrat, for vice president in what was called the "[[Union Party]]" ticket.  
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'''War Democrats''' were American [[Democratic Party (United States), history|Democrats]] during the Civil War (1861-65) who supported the military policies and war goals of President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. After the attack on Ft. Sumter in April 1861, there was a massive outpouring of bipartisan support for the Union war effort across the North, with leading Democrats like [[Stephen A. Douglas]] announcing their fervent support.  Lincoln controlled appointments to the rank of general and made generals of prominent war Democrats such as [[John A. Logan]] and [[Ben Butler]]. In the border states it was much more controversial to be a War Democrat, but Lincoln worked hard to secure their support. He appointed Senator [[Andrew Johnson]] military governor of Tennessee.  


To court Democrats, Lincoln appointed many to high civil and military offices to win over some Democratic votes. Some joined the Republican Party, while others remained Democrats. Their opponents in the Democratic party included [[Peace Democrats]] (who remained loyal to the Union but advocated a negotiated settlement with the [[Confederacy]]) and [[Copperheads (politics)|Copperheads]], Democrats who openly supported the Confederacy.
When the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in September 1862, the war became highly controversial in the North and the peace faction took control of the Democratic party. In the 1864 presidential election, War Democrats and the [[Republican Party (United States), history|Republicans]] formed a fusion party, and nominated Lincoln, a Republican, for president and Andrew Johnson for vice president in what was called the "[[Union Party]]" ticket.  
 
 
Many War Democrats joined the Republican Party, while others remained Democrats. Their opponents in the Democratic party included [[Peace Democrats]] who advocated a negotiated settlement with the [[Confederacy]]) and [[Copperheads]], Democrats who openly supported the Confederacy.


Prominent War Democrats included:
Prominent War Democrats included:
*Andrew Johnson, the U.S. senator and then military governor of [[Tennessee]] who was elected Vice President in 1864 on a ticket with Lincoln.  After Lincoln's assassination, he served as President from 1865-69.
*Andrew Johnson, the U.S. senator and then military governor of Tennessee; elected Vice President in 1864 on a ticket with Lincoln.  President from 1865-69.
*[[John Brough]], Governor of [[Ohio]].
*[[John Brough]], Governor of Ohio.
*[[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Ben Butler]], Congressman from Massachusetts; general
*[[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Ben Butler]], Congressman from Massachusetts; general
*[[John Adams Dix]], of New York. Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury, general
*[[John Adams Dix]], of New York. Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury, general
Line 13: Line 17:
*[[John A. Logan]], Congressman from Illinois; general
*[[John A. Logan]], Congressman from Illinois; general
*[[George B. McClellan]], railroad president; general; Democratic presidential nominee in 1864
*[[George B. McClellan]], railroad president; general; Democratic presidential nominee in 1864
*[[Joel Parker]], [[Governor of New Jersey]]
*[[Joel Parker]], Governor of New Jersey
*[[David Tod]], [[Governor of Ohio]]
*[[David Tod]], Governor of Ohio
*[[Edwin M. Stanton]], Ohio; [[James Buchanan|Buchanan]]'s [[Attorney General of the United States|Attorney General]]; Lincoln's [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]]
*[[Edwin M. Stanton]], Ohio; James Buchanan's Attorney General; Lincoln's Secretary of War
 
==Other Usage==
The term is also used, albeit not as widely, to describe Democrats who support President [[George W. Bush]]'s prosecution of the [[War on Terror]] following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11 terrorist attacks]].  Some prominent modern-day "war Democrats" include Senator [[Joe Lieberman]], former Senator [[Zell Miller]],  former House majority leader [[Dick Gephardt]], and commentator [[Tammy Bruce]].<ref>On [[September 5]], [[2006]], Bruce, a registered Democrat, [http://tammybruce.com/2006/09/defeatist_democrats_arent_anyt.php| criticized members of her own party] for being "defeatists" in the [[War on Terror]].</ref>
 
==Reference==
*Silbey, Joel H. ''A Respectable Minority: The Democratic Party in the Civil War Era, 1860-1868'' (1977)
 
==Notes==
<references/>


[[Category:American Civil War political groups]]
[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

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War Democrats were American Democrats during the Civil War (1861-65) who supported the military policies and war goals of President Abraham Lincoln. After the attack on Ft. Sumter in April 1861, there was a massive outpouring of bipartisan support for the Union war effort across the North, with leading Democrats like Stephen A. Douglas announcing their fervent support. Lincoln controlled appointments to the rank of general and made generals of prominent war Democrats such as John A. Logan and Ben Butler. In the border states it was much more controversial to be a War Democrat, but Lincoln worked hard to secure their support. He appointed Senator Andrew Johnson military governor of Tennessee.

When the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in September 1862, the war became highly controversial in the North and the peace faction took control of the Democratic party. In the 1864 presidential election, War Democrats and the Republicans formed a fusion party, and nominated Lincoln, a Republican, for president and Andrew Johnson for vice president in what was called the "Union Party" ticket.


Many War Democrats joined the Republican Party, while others remained Democrats. Their opponents in the Democratic party included Peace Democrats who advocated a negotiated settlement with the Confederacy) and Copperheads, Democrats who openly supported the Confederacy.

Prominent War Democrats included:

  • Andrew Johnson, the U.S. senator and then military governor of Tennessee; elected Vice President in 1864 on a ticket with Lincoln. President from 1865-69.
  • John Brough, Governor of Ohio.
  • Ben Butler, Congressman from Massachusetts; general
  • John Adams Dix, of New York. Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury, general
  • Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from Illinois; Democratic Party's northern candidate in the presidential election of 1860; he died when the war was just a few weeks old.
  • Ulysses S. Grant, storekeeper in Illinois; general
  • Joseph Holt, Kentucky; Buchanan's Secretary of War; Lincoln's Judge-Advocate General of the Army
  • John A. Logan, Congressman from Illinois; general
  • George B. McClellan, railroad president; general; Democratic presidential nominee in 1864
  • Joel Parker, Governor of New Jersey
  • David Tod, Governor of Ohio
  • Edwin M. Stanton, Ohio; James Buchanan's Attorney General; Lincoln's Secretary of War
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