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Free Speech in the Civil War

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 September 2023

ADRIAN BRETTLE
ADRIAN BRETTLE*
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
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Abstract

During the Civil War, many Americans were prepared for censorship if free speech undermined preserving the Union. Journalists were unable to obtain timely accurate information on the military campaigns either for fear of helping the enemy or depressing morale at home. Self-censorship was far more important than official suppression of free speech, as spontaneous popular pressure curtailed freedom of expression at the beginning of the war and later on the army performed a similar function. For Federals, commitment to preserving the Union required treating Confederates as ubiquitous seditious conspirators. Combatting this internal enemy, in turn, especially in the Border States, required extensive suppression of free speech. Later in the conflict and right across the Union, the critical and urgent need to fill the ranks led to official censorship of any words that might discourage volunteering, and this conflicted with freedom of religion as well as speech and the press.

Keywords

Conspiracyseditiontreasonself-censorshipexpressionintimidationpropagandaprepared newsenlistmentsCivil War
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Policy History , Volume 35 , Issue 4: Special Issue on Free Speech in America , October 2023 , pp. 475 - 504
Copyright
© Donald Critchlow and Cambridge University Press 2023

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References

NOTES

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24. “The details of the recent battles in front of Richmond are wrapped in such a mass of confused, and contradictory accounts, and rumours, that it’s almost impossible to arrive at their results—One thing is clear—that inasmuch as the Confederates fully calculated on surrounding, and capturing, the greater portion of Gen. McClellan’s army they have, so far, failed. On the other hand, the raising the siege, the capture of guns, stores and prisoners fully entitles them to claim a decided success.” Bernal to John Russell, July 7, 1862, Piece 847, PRO.

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44. Kortwright to Earl Russell, August 6, October 31, 1864, Piece 974, PRO.