Unit 6: Civil War

1. Unit 6: Civil War

2. Goals of this Unit • To understand that the North effectively brought to bear its long-term advantages of industrial might and human resources to wage a devastating total war against the South. • To recognize that the war helped organize and modernize northern society, while the South, despite heroic efforts, was economically and socially crushed. • To understand that Lincoln’s skillful political leadership helped keep the crucial Border States in the Union and maintain northern morale, while his effective diplomacy kept Britain and France from aiding the Confederacy. • To be able to explain how the Civil War, begun as a limited struggle over the Union, eventually became a total war to end slavery and transform the nation. • To recognize that after several years of seesaw struggle, the Union armies under Ulysses Grant finally wore down the Southern forces under Robert E. Lee and ended the Confederate bid for independence as well as the institution of slavery.

3. The South Secedes SC secedes in Dec. 1860 Soon followed by “Deep South” Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas Feb 1861 – Southern states form “Confederate States of America” Elect Jefferson Davis as President of C.S.A. President Buchanan did almost nothing to stop the secession One final compromise offered – Crittendon Compromise (extend Missouri Compromise line – north = free, south = slave) Lincoln takes over, crushes compromise “Honest Abe” took free-soil pledge, wouldn’t break it

5. Why the South Seceded: Institution of slavery threatened by North Would kill Southern economy if outlawed Believed starting own nation allows own development Economy, industry, banking, shipping, etc. Compared their secession to independence of American colonies in 1776 U.S. breaks from England, South breaks from North South didn’t think North would try to stop their secession Believed if war did break out, Europe would support South due to its economic value

6. Lincoln’s Inauguration (Mar. 4, 1861) Primary goal: REUNITE THE NATION Problems with South leaving: Dividing country impossible due to geographic reasons They still owe national debt Runaway slave issues would surely lead to conflict Europe could prey on a weak and split America (economically, diplomatically, militarily)

7. War Begins (1861) Lincoln’s inauguration (Mar) Southern delegates offer peace treaty to Lincoln Lincoln refuses Fort Sumter, SC (April) Island fort held by North, being surrounded by South Supplies running out, reinforcements too late South open fires on Ft. Sumter North surrenders after day War officially begins

8. Lincoln Preps for War Call to arms 75,000 soldiers Orders naval blockade of South 4 undecided states secede and CSA Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and NC

9. Border States

10. Border States Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland All slave states that had not seceded Importance: Would increase South’s population Would increase South’s industrial potential Lincoln’s plan to gain border states: Declared martial law in Maryland Railroad importance, buffer to D.C. Convinced border states his motives were to end war, not slavery Splits between border states: Tennessee “volunteers” Anti-slavery West Virginia breaks away from Virginia

11. Advantages North Larger population 3x South’s population Industry Railroads U.S. Navy Naval blockade’s importance More money South Only had to defend, not conquer North needed a decisive victory to win Geographical advantages Better military leadership Robert E. Lee “Stonewall” Jackson

12. South’s Foreign Aid? South believed Europe would help them Economic importance – cotton Reasons help never came: Some Europeans wanted a split U.S. Other Europeans were anti-slavery Effect of Uncle Tom’s Cabin England’s reliance on Southern cotton decreasing Had started own crops in colonized Egypt and India North sends food over to famine-affected Europe throughout war → support grows

13. Foreign Affairs England gives very little support to South “Trent affair” Northern ship stops British ship with 2 Southern diplomats on it → arrested → released CSS Alabama Staffed with British forces, attacked U.S. ships worldwide, but not in U.S. waters Brits never follow though with promise to build raider ships for South → could hurt England one day U.S.-Canada border issues Puppet government set up in Mexico by Napoleon III (France) violates Monroe doctrine

14. A. Lincoln vs. J. Davis Stable & established government Can easily exert power Better foreign relations Navy at disposal Telegraph and railroad system Never popular (Elected by delegates, not common people) An unstable “confederacy” Loosely united Weak by design Hard to govern Hard to exert power

15. Lincoln vs. the Constitution Unconstitutional actions: Martial law declared in Maryland Increases the size of the Army Created draft too Paid $2 million to a few private citizens for undisclosed military purposes Suspended habeas corpus Anti-unionists arrested and held without trial “Supervised” Border State elections

16. Economies During War NORTH Raises import tax Railroads and open seas Sold war bonds Funded 62% of war for North Recreated National Banking System Secured and regulated money in economy War boomed industry Women’s role increased Factory workers, Red Cross SOUTH Union naval blockade killed South’s money flow Could not export cotton Could not import for (no import tax) Massive inflation New CSA currency fails Southerners held 30% of nations wealth before secession → 12% after Lack of money kills South’s war effort

17. War Starts Ft. Sumter (April 1860) Both sides confident war will be short “Ninety-Day War” North wants to take Richmond, VA (CSA capital) July 1860 – Battle of Bull Run (VA) Both sides unprepared, unorganized Southern Gen. Thomas Jackson holds line, fights off North “Stonewall Jackson” North panics & retreats, South wins the first major battle of the Civil War Significance? Realization war was going to take much longer Both sides needed better preparation 5,000 casualties in one day

18. Both sides stall to prepare for long war Lincoln puts Gen. George McClellan in charge Organized, master planner Planned to take Richmond Would end war “The Peninsula Campaign” (Summer 1862) Stonewall Jackson bluffs attack on D.C. Northern troops split Southern Gen. Jeb Stuart’s cavalry circles & outflanks McClellan Southern Gen. Robert E. Lee attacks in “Seven Days’ Battles” Pushes McClellan back to sea South wins another huge battle 35,000 casualties

19. North’s quick solution to war fails twice Lincoln’s new plan: TOTAL WAR Blockade, divide, conquer Strengthen naval blockade Free the slaves Divide the South along Mississippi River Capture Richmond, VA (CSA Capital) Engage battle anywhere possible Abandons using only large, planned battles South would be pounded into submission in every facet of war North’s New Strategy

20. Northern Gen. Winfield Scott’s “Anaconda Plan”

21. Naval Blockade Penetrable at first, strengthened over time Stopped and searched any ships coming in or out C.S.S. Merrimack – ironclad ship threatened blockade North builds U.S.S. Monitor Monitor defeats Merrimack in Chesapeake Bay March, 1862 New plan: replace wooden ships with iron, steam ships Who’s more likely to manufacture more and at a faster rate?

22. Antietam Aug 1862 – Second Battle of Bull Run North beaten badly by South, led by Lee South undoubtedly winning the war Lee marches forward invades Antietam, MD Wants to lure Border States to join CSA Draw war off of Virginia’s farmland Make a symbolic victory on Northern soil Loses battle plans – found by North Gen. McClellan (back in charge) prepares for battle…

23. Antietam Battle of Antietam Creek (Sep. 1862) Most critical battle of war so far Could be knockout punch for South Northern victory would keep war alive, convinces Europe to stay out of war North wins Overpowers South with numbers Over 20,000 casualties

24. Emancipation Proclamation First, much awaited victory for North Gives Lincoln a stage to announce next part of plan: free the slaves Not just a war to reunite the nation, but now to end slavery as well Gives North a “moral” rationale for fighting Proclamation did not free slaves in Border States States too fragile → could leave secede in anger No real legal repercussions to Proclamation – why? Lincoln holds no political power in South Lincoln didn’t have authority to free slaves even in the Union North would have to win the war for it to go into effect South complains Lincoln is stirring slave rebellion

25. Black Soldiers Join Effort Free Black men in the North banned from enlisting at first As war progressed, more soldiers were needed Black men now allowed to enlist 10% of army made up of Black men Southern army often just executed captured Black soldiers rather than treat them as POWs Massacre at Ft. Pillow, Tennessee Advancing Northern armies freed slaves, some of which joined the war

26. Futile Northern Generals Gen. McClellan demoted again after Antietam Had Lee’s plans!!! Barely won the battle Largely because of numbers Failed to pursue and crush Lee Gen. Burnside takes over Defeated at Fredericksburg, VA (Dec, 1862) Gen. Hooker takes over Defeated at Chancellorsville, VA (May, 1863) Lee’s most impressive victory Humiliating loss for the North Stonewall Jackson mistakenly killed by own men Gen. Meade takes over…

27. Gettysburg Lee again goes for “knockout punch” Invades North again Battle of Gettysburg, PA (July 1863) South wins first two days of battle forcing North to retreat up into hills Third Day: “Pickett’s Charge” Lee sends 15,000 men across open field to crush the North with frontal assault Fails miserably – Northern lines hold North wins HUGE battle

28. Gettysburg Biggest win for North thus far Massive loss for South 25,000 casualties Turning point in war South could not keep up with North’s influx of soldiers, supplies Chances at victory dwindling fast Gettysburg Address (Nov 1863) Lincoln returned to battlefield to give speech to troops Meant to boost morale, rationalize war

29. Gettysburg Address Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

30. Blockade, Divide, Conquer Ulysses S. Grant “Unconditional Surrender” Rose to fame by capturing Jackson and Vicksburg, MS One day after Gettysburg Divides South at Mississippi River Gen. Sherman divides South from Tennessee to Atlanta (Spring 1864) “March to Sea” Total war tactics Destroyed everything in his path Burns Atlanta to ground

31. Election of 1864 Abe Lincoln (National Union Party) George McClellan (Democratic Party) Lincoln Results: McClellan 212 Electoral College 21 55% Popular Vote 45%

32. Election of 1864 Lincoln had some Northern opposition “Radical Republicans” felt Lincoln was mismanaging war Democrats split on Lincoln support “War Dems vs. Peace Dems” Lincoln forms “Union Party” Combines Republicans and War Democrats George McClellan runs vs. Lincoln Lincoln easily wins election

33. The Final Stages: Lee vs. Grant Grant promoted to Commanding General Army South blockaded & divided GRANT’s strategy now: Beat the South by outlasting the South North has strength in numbers Series of battles in VA grinds away at South: The Wilderness (May 1864) Spotsylvania Courthouse (May) Cold Harbor (June 1864)* Petersburg (June 1864 - Mar 1865) All result in Northern “victories”*

34. The South Surrenders Petersburg was South’s last stand After it falls, South doomed Grant marches to Richmond “Scorched earth” method of South causes fires in Richmond Evacuation allows for easy capture of capital April 1865 – Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse in VA

35. Aftermath 600,000 dead A whole generation gone $15 billion spent Long-term animosity Physically destroyed the South Pro: Slavery ended forever Lincoln assassinated 5 days after the war ends At a play at Ford’s Theater in D.C. Shot by John Wilkes Booth in part of plot to still help South win the war Lincoln an instant martyr in North Died reuniting the nation, ending slavery Assassination celebrated in South, ironically dooms them Radical Reps who replace Lincoln not as forgiving as Lincoln