d) Dix-Hill Cartel

The Dix-Hill Cartel, established in 1862, was a system for prisoner exchange between the Union and the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Named after its negotiators, Union General John A. Dix and Confederate General Daniel H. Hill, the cartel was an attempt to humanely manage the growing number of prisoners on both sides. It established terms for equal exchange and parole of prisoners, typically on a rank-for-rank basis. However, the system collapsed in 1863, largely due to disagreements over the treatment and exchange of African American troops. The Confederacy’s refusal to treat captured black soldiers and their white officers as legitimate combatants for exchange led to the breakdown of the agreement. This collapse resulted in overcrowded prison camps with harsh conditions, exemplifying the war’s brutality and the deep-seated racial tensions within it.