DIVIDED BY WAR 1861 1865 THE SECESSION CRISIS

DIVIDED BY WAR 1861 -1865

THE SECESSION CRISIS Lincoln’s election leads South Carolina to secede on December 20, 1860 Question: would other states follow?

THE CRITTENDEN COMPROMISE DEC. 1860 John Crittenden (KY) proposes a compromise A series of constitutional amendments Hopes to convince the South not to leave

THE TERMS OF THE COMPROMISE Restore the Missouri Compromise line to 36° 30′ Unamendable amendment to guarantee slavery where it exists A special committee formed to work out the deal

REPUBLICANS & LINCOLN REJECT THE COMPROMISE It would violate the Republican platform Compromise is defeated in committee Last hope of avoiding war is gone

Why does Lincoln oppose the Crittenden Compromise?

SIX MORE STATES SECEDE

PRESIDENT BUCHANAN DOES NOTHING. He was a “lame duck” waiting to leave office

LINCOLN IS INAUGURATED MARCH 1861 Inaugural address tries to reassure the south “I have no power or desire to end slavery where it exists” Lays responsibility for starting war with South

FORT SUMTER CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA Major Anderson in command of the fort Lincoln tries to send supplies 4: 30 AM on April 12, 1861 Confederate General Beauregard opens fire

LINCOLN CALLS FOR 75, 000 VOLUNTEERS. VA, AR, TN, NC join the Confederacy The Border States (DE, MD, KY, & MO) remain in the Union Vital to Union success

Lincoln: “I hope God is on our side, but I must have Kentucky!” Lincoln moves to hold Maryland… suspends Habeas Corpus What does this mean? ? ? Kentucky remains loyal As do the rest of the border states

The Southern Position Confident of victory Fighting for independence, not slavery Fighting from defensive position… always desirable Believed Yankees were weak and would quit

THE NORTHERN POSITION Confident of victory North had population and material advantage Fighting to preserve the Union… the noble cause Thought

THE MILITARY BALANCE SHEET The South: Southern military tradition Southerners highly motivated Had best officers at the start of the war Fighting on home

Military Balance Sheet The North: Larger population 4 X as many troops More factories and supplies Most railroads in the North A navy to blockade the South Scott’s Anaconda Plan called for constricting the Confederacy to death

Mobilization: Call to Arms

Mobilization Supplies & Armaments

CIVIL WAR LEADERS: PRESIDENT LINCOLN Lincoln had no significant military experience Not respected by many Clever and wise politician

CIVIL WAR LEADERS: JEFFERSON DAVIS Political experience West Point grad and veteran of Mexican. American War Secretary of War Davis was a weak leader Further weakened by general fear of centralized power in South

Politics & Leadership Key Military Figures Union leader of all armies Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant VS Confederate leader of all armies General Robert E. Lee

MOBILIZING FOR WAR Both sides rely on volunteers Union pays bounties “Bounty jumping” a problem 1863 Congress passes a draft Men 20 to 45

MORE… Draft was unfair In Union: $300 could buy exemption You could hire a substitute South passed draft in 1862 18 to 45 years old Large slave owners exempt

FUNDING THE WAR South: Sold bonds 40% of war costs Rest paid by printing money Caused runaway inflation North: Passed income tax Taxed manufactured goods and sold bonds

MORE… By 1862, daily cost of war was $1. 75 million per day North passed the Legal Tender Act (1862) Issues paper money called “Greenbacks” National Banking Act (1863)… Banks must buy federal bonds

Technology same for both sides More accurate rifles with longer range Deadly advances in artillery pieces First crude submarines (South) Beginning of trench warfare Cavalry and Bayonets become secondary and eventually obsolete The element of surprise is the greatest advantage Mobilization Technology

Military Strategy Suppression vs. Attrition North Suppress a rebellion and restore a Union Compel the South into ceasing their attempts Completely crush the war-waging capacity of the South Fight a war of attrition Prolong the war to the point where it becomes a waste of time and money to continue Win independence by default if North does not continue