The Civil War

1. The Civil War

2. Causes • State’s Rights vs. Federal Power • Irreconcilable Differences • Slavery When asked by a Union soldier why he was fighting in the war a Confederate soldier replied, “I’m fightin because you’re down here.”

3. Border States • Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware • Border states had many citizens that supported the North, but also had many Southern sympathizers • Remained loyal throughout the war (Missouri and Maryland were held somewhat forcefully) • Important to the North for resources and men, and also a buffer zone

4. Southern Advantages Northern Advantages • Only had to defend, did not have to conquer • Knew the lay of the land • Help from locals • Fantastic leadership; 3 top Confederate generals had resigned from the US army to lead the Confederacy • Robert E. Lee, considered by many to be one of the great military leaders of American History, was offered the top position in the Union Army by Abraham Lincoln. He refused, and took the same position in the Confederate Army • Overwhelming majority of manufacturing (produce war materials much more quickly and on a larger scale) • Transportation (twice as much railroad track allowed the North to transport both troops and supplies much more quickly than the South) • Twice as much farmland • 79% of the white population (“white man’s war”) **all of these resources allowed the North to field, feed, and equip larger armies Taking Sides

5. Constructed Response Which side has the greater advantage as they enter the war? Claim – 2 points Evidence – 4 points Interpretation – 4 points

6. Strategies Union • Blockade • Mississippi River • Seize Richmond (Confederate Capital) Confederate • Defend • Britain? • Last long enough so that the North would get tired of fighting

7. First Battle of Bull Run • First major battle • About a total of 60,000 troops • Hundreds of spectators actually travelled out from Washington to watch the battle; expected a quick and easy Union victory • Started well enough for the Union, but tide turned quickly and battle eventually turned in to a Confederate route. • General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson • Union force panicked and didn’t stop running until they got back to Washington • Retreat was unorganized and embarrassing • Retreat was even slowed as Union wagons became entangled with the wagons of the spectators who were also fleeing after getting more than they bargained for • Shattered both Northern and Southern sentiments that it would be a quick and easy war

9. Deadlier War • First modern war fought after the industrial revolution • Industries developed to manufacture war materials (guns, minnie balls, cannons, etc…) • New rifles were much more accurate and easier to load • Cannons/artillery had greater range and accuracy • Superior weapons vs. Outdated battlefield tactics • Ironclads

10. General George McClellan (1862) • Great at training and organizing • Ridiculously cautious and arrogant • Terrible battle field general • Union Army of 100,000 soldiers vs. Confederate Force of 15,000 • Didn’t attack, but instead asked for more men • This pause allowed the Confederates to receive reinforcements • Able to make the Union Army retreat • If he would have attacked they would have been able to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond • The Union had lost every major battle in the first 2 years of the war.

11. Antietam, more McClellan mistakes • Antietam was single bloodiest day in American history with 26,000 casualties • The Confederates and General Robert E. Lee lost nearly 1/3 of the army • RETREAT! • Called a Union Victory (very important) • McClellan had Lee on the ropes, but failed to pursue • Could have possibly destroyed Confederate army if he had stuck with it

12. McClellan vs. Grant • McClellan was arrogant and OVERLY CAUTIOUS; refused to press advantages; flat out bad field general • Grant took chances; was by far having more success; while McClellan was losing or sitting still Grant was winning numerous battles out West; seen as a loose cannon by some; considered a drunk by others

13. Battle of Shiloh • HUGE win for Union (and Grant) • Confederates were forced to abandon railway center • Union gained control of part of W. Tennessee and part of the Mississippi River • Better than 25% casualties

14. Emancipation Proclamation and General Order 143 • The “bloodiest” day in American history was the Battle of Antietam, Maryland. • The Union “victory” at Antietam allowed President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. • Great Britain and France remained neutral and did not enter the war on the side of the Confederacy.

15. Emancipation Proclamation and General Order 143 cont… • The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate States(Eventually all states would free their slaves) • With African Americans joining the armed forces, the United States had a greater advantage over the Confederate States because of its number of soldiers and sailors. (General Order 143)

16. North South • Many did not support emancipation • Some believed that Lincoln and the North had forced the South into war • Democrats (copperheads) vs. Republicans • Areas with large plantations and lots of slaves favored the war • Poorer back country regions with few slaves did not support the war Divisions

17. The Draft • Mandatory military service • South was first (why?) • North followed suit • Many exceptions for wealth in both north and south • Southerners who owned 20 or more slaves were exempt. • Northerners could pay a one time fee of $300 to get out of military service. • Both sides could hire others to take their place. • “Poor man’s fight” • Lead to violent riots in the North in 1863. Both wealthy whites and any and all African Americans were targeted.

19. North South • Too many jobs in North • 1st Income Tax • Printed $400 million = INFLATION • Goods increased in price an average of 80% • Prevented from trading cotton overseas by Union blockade • Massive shortages of all kinds of goods due to lack of industry • Tiny Supply + Huge Demand = Ridiculous Inflation • Goods increased in price up to 5,725% Economic Issues

20. The poor south… • Life was much more difficult in the South during the war than it was in the North • Lack of industry • Invading army • Blockade **Makes their effort that much more impressive $800 Please

21. The Wonderful Women • 400 disguised themselves as men and fought • Spies (especially in the South) • Took over businesses, farms, plantations • Factory work • Government jobs • Nurses

22. New Opportunities • Teaching • Nursing • These professions as well as others had been dominated by men before the Civil War

23. Battle of Gettysburg • 2nd time Confederates engaged Union on Union soil (first time: Antietam) • Lee believed that a Confederate victory on Union soil would bring an end to the war • Battle began when Confederate soldiers were discovered near Gettysburg looking for shoes • 85,000 Union vs. 75,000 Confederates • Picket’s Charge • 23,000 Union casualties • 28,000 Confederate casualties (2nd time Lee had lost 1/3 of his army) • Huge win for Union

24. Fall of Vicksburg • Vicksburg was one of 2 cities on Mississippi River still held by Confederates • City was put under siege by General Grant in May of 1863. • After 6 weeks 30,000 confederates gave up • With the surrender of Vicksburg the entire Mississippi River was in Union hands

25. Union Advantages Pay Off • Under General Grant the Union army finally began to use its vast resources against the Confederate army • Grant continued to attack Lee’s army over and over again b/c Grant knew that he would continue to get more soldiers and supplies • At the time Grant controlled the largest army in the world (over 500,000 men) • The confederate army, however, was running out of men and supplies

26. Lincoln Reelected • Election of 1864: Lincoln vs. McClellan • Remember McClellan was formerly Lincoln’s top general • Lincoln had removed him from his position twice • McClellan was a Democrat (wanted to end the war with the South) • Lincoln was very unpopular at this time due to length of war and high casualty rate. • The capture of Atlanta by General Sherman and his Union troops propelled Lincoln to an easy victory • Atlanta was the South’s industrial center where most of their war materials were made. • Without Atlanta it would be impossible to keep the Confederate troops supplied properly

27. Total War • At the same time Grant was attacking Lee his good friend, William Tecumseh Sherman, was leading his famous march from Atlanta to the Atlantic Ocean • Goal was to “make Georgia howl” • 60,000 soldiers • 285 miles long, 60 miles wide path of destruction • Achieved goal

28. Appomattox • April 9, 1865 • Terms of surrender: give up your weapons and leave in peace “The war is over. The rebels are our countrymen again.” Ulysses S. Grant “With malice toward none; with charity for all;…let us strive together…to bind up the nation’s wounds.” Abraham Lincoln