Advantages Disadvantages of the North and South During

Advantages & Disadvantages of the North and South During the Civil War

Advantages of the North Ø Ø Demographics: Ø 22 Million people living in the North Ø Support of 23 states Ø Self sufficient in food Ø Large amount of immigrant labor Economic Factors: Ø Many factories producing a wide range of products Ø Effective banking system Ø Government backed currency Ø Produces almost all of it’s own military hardware

Advantages of the North n n Technology/Education: n Relatively high rate or literacy n Many public schools as well as colleges in numerous states Military/Navy n 16, 000 men in army already at start of the war n More then 1 million men enlisted by the end of the war n 42 ships at start of the war, 700 by the end n Naval superiority leads to blockade of Southern ports

Advantages of the North n n n Transportation: n 21, 000 miles of track, 5, 000 more built during war n Good canal and road systems Diplomatic Relations: n After Emancipation Proclamation there was growing European support Geographic: n Free movement of troops and supplies throughout Union territory during the war n Fighting an offensive war

Advantages of the South Demographic: – Self sufficient in food – Defending their homes and rights n Economic: – None n Technology/Education: – Some great technological achievements such as first iron-clad war ship – Military schools, many good military leaders – Tradition of horsemanship, marksmanship, and outdoor living n

Advantages of the South n Transportation: – Only 9, 000 miles of track n Diplomatic Relations: – Early sympathy for Confederates from Britain and France, because of desire of raw cotton n Political: – None

Advantages of the South n Geographic: – Home field advantage – Shorter supply lines

Disadvantages of the North n Military/Navy: Many officers were appointed for political reasons or elected by their men and proved to be ineffective n Many men from towns and cities not used to firearms, horses, and camp life n n Diplomatic Relations: n Relations with Europe was not good at start of war

Disadvantages of the North n Geographic: n Supply lines are long and not as stable

Disadvantages of the South n Demographic: – Only 11 states with a population of 9 million people – Little immigration because of lack of economic opportunities n Economic: – – Limited factories Few banks Reliance on imported goods Confederate bonds produce little revenue

Disadvantages of the South n Technology/Education: – Reliance on human power and handcrafting – Little emphasis on education, few colleges and universities n Military/Navy: – No army at start of war – No navy at start or war, concentrated on blockade running

Disadvantages of the South n Transportation: – Only 9, 000 miles of track, much was destroyed in the war – Dependent on river and coastal transportation n Diplomatic Relations: – Little material support from other countries

Disadvantages of the South n Political: – Has to create a national government from scratch – Doctrine of States’ Right’s lead to problems between Jefferson Davis and state leaders

Northern Military Strategies n On the offensive n Three Points: (The Anaconda Plan) n Take Richmond n Control Mississippi River and split Confederacy n Naval Blockade to stop trade with Europe

Southern Military Strategy n Defend their land live independently in peace