Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society
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Historical Comprehension: Using Visual Data
Pictorial envelopes are among the most exceptional features of the Civil War Treasures collection. Conduct a Keyword search using the terms secession and envelopes to find envelopes representing conflicting perspectives of secession. Use the Gallery View to select some examples from each side to analyze. Some possibilities are:
- Secessionists leaving the Union
- An eminent Southern clergyman.
- Secession! non est.
- Don’t tread on us.
Analyze the effect of these visual images in building support for or against secession.
- How did the Union envelopes depict secession? How did the Confederate envelopes depict secession?
- What symbols were used to convey support for or opposition to secession?
- How effective were the graphic depictions on the envelopes as propaganda?
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Examine the pictorial envelopes "A Southern Gorrilla, (Guerilla)" and "Cotton Is King." Analyze the verses on the envelopes and interpret the perspectives of the pictorial envelopes.
- How does “A Southern Gorrilla, (Guerilla)”denote the cruelty of slavery?
- Why do you believe derogatory language is used on this envelope?
- Why does the Confederate envelope deride Horace Greeley, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and “Yankee” schoolteachers?
- What is the irony expressed in the “Cotton Is King” envelope?
- How is John Bull portrayed in the illustration?
- Would an abolitionist be likely to use either of these envelopes? Explain why or why not.
Illustrated envelopes originated in 1840 in England and were popular in the United States throughout the second half of the 19th century. Why do you think these envelopes became a popular way to express political views? Why might they have lost popularity in the 20th century? (Think about something that might have replaced them as a method for conveying ideas via the mail.)