The most vexing problem the Confederacy had during the Civil War was?

Question

A) ammunition. B) manpower.
C) finance. D) food production.

Answer 1

Finance. Especially since they didn't want to replicate the mistakes (as they saw it) that had led the central government of the USA to grow too strong. They all wanted to be Jeffersonians rather than Hamiltonians and get along without a central bank.

It is very tough to fight a war without such an institution.

Answer 2

I say B. Why? Because while at first manpower didn't matter, as the Union troops started making a difference, the Confederate troops couldn't replace their losses in terms of casualties, while the Union troops easily could. Ammuntion wasn't much of a problem, and finance was, since inflation skyrocketed with the confederate bonds going to junk. Food production was a problem too, but the manpower caused the ties in the battles to start to go the Union way as they were able to eventually defeat the Confederacy. Remember, the blockade helped this greatly.

Answer 3

Certainly over the course of the war the North was able to generate more manpower than the South, however, as others have point out, funding the military effort was the key. The North had more real wealth to tax than the South could generate. However, while the war as driven by President Lincoln ran roughshod over the Constitution, its methodology of financing destroyed underlying foundations long established by the Founders and strengthened by President Jackson.

Keep in mind that prior to the war the federal government was easily funded by two types of revenue, a very low tariff and the sale of public lands. In 1858 total federal government was only 74.2 million or about 1.3 billion in 1995 dollars. In terms of per capita spending that was $2.50 per person or about $44 per person in 1995 dollars. This was less than 2% of the nations economy. The cost for the Union to wage a war of aggression in the lands of the Confederacy would eventually rise to an average of $1.75 million per day. New forms of taxation had to be developed.

This began in 1861 with a direct tax of $20 million dollars on real estate. This was far from what was needed and in 1862 the Internal Revenue Act was passed. This was an attempt to tax nearly everything. In addition to these new excise, sales, and license taxes this act also introduced stamp taxes on most legal documents and an inheritance tax. However, even with this new tax system and all of the increases of governmental intrusion into private lives, this act went directly against the Constitution and instituted the nations first income tax which lasted for 10 years. Even with all of these taxes the North had to resort to borrowing large sums to cover the war cost. However, the North had the industrial base and wealth to accomplish these funding needs even though at the end of the war had higher taxation per capita than any other nation.

The Confederacy did its best to raise the required funding for the war and the invasion of their county, but were limited due to far less wealth and an attempt to stay within the Constitutional intent of the Founders. Clearly they couldn’t match the financial resources of the federal government of the Union.

Answer 4

E) Industrial Production
All of the others are definitely problems the Confederacy faced, but the effort was doomed from the start because the North had much greater industrial production and capacity before the war and vastly superior ability to increase production. That, linked with the North's greater manpower (B) led to the problems with ammunition production (A) and finance (C), and perhaps also food production (D).

Answer 5

One of the problems with slavery (besides the obvious humanitarian reasons) is that it was bad for the economy--money didn't circulate. And the South didn't have much of an industrial base--depending on Europe for manufactured goods. That's why the Union Navy blockaded Southern ports.

Answer 6

D because the people of the south were starving
A because they couldnt make enough and uninon destroyed key ammunition plants
C because they werent able to fund their army
B because they were outnumbered overall around 2000000 to 800000

Answer 7

c, finance

Answer 8

Money. They never had enough.

Answer 9

All of the above, ............