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| Friday April 19, 1861 |
Lincoln declares "Whereas an insurrection against the
Government of the United States has broken out in the State of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas," therefore a blockade of the ports of those states was
declared by President Lincoln in a proclamation. This was later
extended to all southern states.
It has been argued over the years if this was the right thing to do
or if it was effective. Blockades are generally declared against
recognized nations. Since the state were in rebellion some argue
that the ports should have been declared closed rather than
blockaded. The blockade proved to become more effective as the
war continued.