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copperhead
Civil War Encyclopedia >> Terms
| July 30, 1862 | The term Copperhead is used for the first time in writing by the Cincinnati Gazette. It was used to indicate people who would not admit they were Southern sympathizers, and "peace at any price" Democrats. People who did admit Southern sympathies were called "dough-heads." The paper used the term when refering to members of the Indiana Democratic Convention | Ohio Indiana |
| February 17, 1863 | General Grant rescinds the order halting publication of the Chicago Times as a "copperhead" paper | |
| Ulysses S. Grant |
The term "copperhead" applies to a northerner who sympathized with the Southern cause during The Civil War. In recent years, the term has been used to describe Peace Democrats, but the two were not synonymous during the Civil War.
Generally, copperhead was a derogatory term that applied to radicals who took action, whether in the legislature or near a field of battle. People who agreed with the Southern manifesto were called "doughheads." There seems to be some regionality to the two terms. Copperheads were in the west while doughheads were in the east.
The most commonly noted copperhead was Clement Vallandigham, who strongly supported the South's claim to states rights, but was strongly opposed to slavery.
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Generally, copperhead was a derogatory term that applied to radicals who took action, whether in the legislature or near a field of battle. People who agreed with the Southern manifesto were called "doughheads." There seems to be some regionality to the two terms. Copperheads were in the west while doughheads were in the east.
The most commonly noted copperhead was Clement Vallandigham, who strongly supported the South's claim to states rights, but was strongly opposed to slavery.
Links appearing on this page:
Clement Vallandigham
The Civil War
Civil War Encyclopedia >> Terms
copperhead was last changed on - November 12, 2006
copperhead was added on - November 12, 2006
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