Civil War Election of 1860 Civil War Election

Civil War Election of 1860 – Civil War

Election of 1860 • 1. “Know Nothings” emerge as a political presence (nativists, always claim “I know nothing” we pressed on their organization) • * Republican Party is born in 1854, under leadership of Horace Greely • Lincoln emerges as a political force through the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, turns Republican

• Results • Lincoln wins • 40% of popular vote • 60% of electoral vote • 4 candidates • Abraham Lincoln • John Bell Hood • Stephen Douglas • John C. Breckinridge • Lincoln receives 0 southern electoral votes, yet still becomes President.

Secession Movement • Outraged by the lack of electoral votes the southern states begin to leave the union in protest. • Dec. 20, 1860 : SC leaves 1 st • GA leaves next • Other states follow • Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia leaves after Ft. Sumter is attacked • Feb. 1861 the Confederate States of American (CSA) is formed • Modeled after US const. except state independence and secession • Protection of slavery • Opposed slave trade • Chose Jefferson Davis as President

Advantages and Disadvantages North South Population Much larger population 2. 5 to 1 advantage Rail Roads despite a clear population advantage, the army was almost equal size early in the war 2. 4 to 1 advantage even though Atlanta was the industrial Much more mileage of track to transport heart and transportation hub of the goods and most importantly, soldiers. Huge South. The mileage of track was much advantage for shipping soldiers to the front less than that of the North. Industrial Output Merchant ship advantage 9 to 1 Iron production 15 to 1 advantage Firearm production 32 to 1 advantage Wheat production 4. 2 to 1 advantage Naval ship tonnage 25 to 1 advantage cotton production 24 to 1 advantage

II. Emergency Powers of the President Lincoln • 1. Suspension of habeas corpus: ability to hold political prisoners throughout the duration of the war. Fear of Confederate sympathizers.

• . Emancipation Proclamation • Lincoln resisted making the abolition of slaves a Union goal • He opposed slavery, but did not think he had the legal authority to end it • Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery and make southerners have to work rather than fight • The Emancipation Proclamation officially made the abolition of slavery a Union goal (No longer interested in just preserving Union)

• Gettysburg Address • Lincoln explained meaning of Civil War • Redefined meaning of the United States • Promised a “new birth” of freedom

• 2 nd Inaugural Address • Very non gloating or rejoicing speech • Referred to slavery as the “scourge of war” • Divine punishment of slavery of all Americans north and south

Key Figures • Ulysses S. Grant U. S. General Shiloh, Vicksburg, Antietam 6 th lead commander of US forces Plagued by alcohol and smoking, became most influencing US military leader • Future President • •

• Robert E. Lee CSA General Lead commander of CSA forces Brilliant military mind Turned down Sec. Seward for the lead USA generalship • Wins majority of early battles, loses at Gettysburg • •

• Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson • • • CSA General Lee’s “right hand man” Devout Christian VMI Professor Gaines fame from the battle of Bull Run / Manassas

• William T. Sherman • USA General • Grant’s best friend • “War is Hell” – total war – scorched earth campaign • Burns Atlanta

• Jefferson Davis • Mexican War Veteran • Former Mississippi Senator • 1 st and only President of the Confederate States of America

The War • Fort Sumter • April 12, 1861 • Southern militias seizing forts • CSA ships firing on supply ships to Sumter • CSA demanded surrender, fire was exchanged • Lincoln refused to give the order to fire, wanted Davis to make the decision of war. • VA secedes the next day

• Shiloh • April 6 -7, 1862 • Grant (USA) defeats Johnston & Beauregard (CSA) • USA moved down the Tennessee River and captures 2 CSA forts • CSA launches a surprise attack early in the morning. Catches USA off-guard and Grant is able to rebound and bring in reinforcements up • Goes down as a draw, but USA claims victory

• Antietam (Sharpsburg) • September 17, 1862 • Bloodiest single day in American history • Mc. Clellan (USA) vs. Lee (CSA) • DRAW – Union claim victory – Lincoln need a victory to boost morale to issue the Emancipation Proclamation • Union: 12, 000 casualties Confederate: 10, 300 casualties • Union engaged 87, 164 / Confederate engaged 38, 000

• Vicksburg • May 18 – July 4, 1863 • Siege • Grant (US) defeats Pemberton (CSA) • Starve out the city of Vicksburg (32, 000 casualties) • Elevates Grant to lead command of USA

• Gettysburg • July 1 -3, 1863 • TURNING POINT OF THE WAR • Lee (CSA) is attempting to invade D. C. from the north • Meade (USA) defeats Lee (CSA) • Epic 3 day battle

• Day 1 (July 1) • CSA is “blind”. Head of scouting and recon, Gen. Jeb Stuart is missing. Lee doesn’t know where the USA army is moving from or how many etc. • Due to the loss of Jackson (Chancellorsville) Gen. James Longstreet takes his place, urges Lee to secure the high ground, he does not

• Day 2 (July 2) • Little and Big Round Top is the focus of the battle on day 2 • CSA attempts multiple times to remove the USA from the high ground. Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain (USA-20 th Maine) emerges as the hero who saves the USA army.

• Day 3 (July 3) • Gen. Stuart (CSA) finally arrives, it’s too late • Lee (CSA) orders the infamous “Pickett’s Charge”. It’s a huge failure. Has to cover 300 yards of open field.

• Atlanta • July 22, 1864 • Part of Sherman’s “March to the Sea” campaign – started in Chattanooga, TN • Sherman (USA) defeats Hood (CSA) • CSA sets fire to Atlanta once it realizes that it is being surrounded. Escapes south to Jonesboro. Sherman takes the city and burns the rest of it • Moves on to Savanah.

Appomattox Court House • April 9, 1865 • Lee officially surrenders to Grant • Grant offered terms that Lee couldn’t turn down • Ordered by Lincoln to be generous to Lee in his offer knowing his army was suffering. • Lee saw no other or better option

Gettysburg Letter Home Essay • Pick one of the stories you here and see on the video • Use their experience to write a letter back home to a loved one. • Spouse, children, parent etc. • Role play • Research the Battle of Gettysburg and use the info in the video to use details into your letter. Display knowledge of what happened in your experience of the battle. • Reference names and events you see in the video • • • 2 page minimum Handwritten Must be in letter form Be creative Role play • Soldier, nurse, etc.