New Jersey's Civil War Experience

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of the North, and it may never have been a question to some political leaders. But, there was without a doubt conflict over the decision at hand and public opinions varied.
My first objective in this paper is to establish the similarities between New Jersey and the Border States. This is important in understanding the conflict within the state. Next, I will discuss the various differences in opinion that New Jerseyans had on the war and secession itself. I will also discuss the unification of New Jersey under the Union cause and the patriotism that eventually evolved. My last objective is to briefly explain the contributions that New Jersey made to the war effort.
In the nineteenth century, New Jersey had many contrasts with the other Northern Union States. In studying popular vote, economic factors, location, newspaper editorials, and personal letters the numerous differences became apparent. Personal opinions on the war, Lincoln as president, succession, and abolitionism varied. Because of these differences in public opinion, New Jersey suffered great inner conflict. The state didn’t seem to unite under the Union cause until the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter.
In order to discuss the internal conflict in New Jersey it is important to understand the similarities the state shared with the Border States. Historians have even called New Jersey the northern most Border State. In establishing New Jersey as a Border State, or at least showing that it had many similarities with the Border States, it is important to look at documents such as letters from the states governor, editorials in newspapers, voting results for the state, and other sources of public opinion such as diary entries of soldiers.
Most view New Jersey’s position in the Civil War as that of a Northern Union state from the beginning. It is often thought that its “experience …paralleled that of other Northern states,” and any opposition was minimal an...