The Civil War Begins Objective 3 02 Objective

The Civil War Begins Objective 3. 02

Objective 3. 02 • Analyze and assess the causes of the Civil War.

Secession • Lincoln wins election of 1860, South Carolina secedes on December 20, 1860 • Confederate States of America formed in February, 1861 • SC, GA, FL, LA, MS, AL, TX

Jefferson Davis • Elected president of the newly formed Confederacy • Former U. S. Congressman from Mississippi

Shots fired • Fort Sumter (SC) • Fort in Charleston harbor • In need of supplies • “food for hungry men” – who starts the war? • South Carolinians fire first shots

Lincoln calls for volunteers • Lincoln’s calls for volunteers promoted more Southern states to secede

Virginia • Virginia’s secession on April 17, 1861 is key – important state

Resources • North had many advantages – Factory production – Railroads – population • South had good generals, military tradition, and high motivation

Objective 3. 03 • Identify political and military turning points of the Civil War and assess their significance to the outcome of the conflict.

Civil War Strategy • Union had to conquer the South to win • Southern strategy was mainly defensive – (usually) • How did Lincoln propose to do this?

Anaconda Plan • Union’s three-part plan • 1) blockade Southern ports (no exports or imports • 2) send Union boats up the Mississippi River to control it and divide it in two • 3) capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, VA

Great Britain’s Help? • Great Britain needed South’s cotton • Could not get it because of Anaconda Plan’s blockade • Great Britain to help South? » +

First Major Bloodshed • (First Battle of) Bull Run (Manassas Junction)– in Va. , about 25 miles from Washington, D. C. – July 21, 1861 • Both sides were inexperienced • Both sides expected a short war and an easy victory

First Bull Run (continued) • Battle went back and forth • Confederates eventually gained advantage • Rallied around Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson – one of the South’s best generals – “There stands Jackson like a stone wall!!”

First Bull Run (continued) • Union began a panicky retreat to Washington

First Bull Run (continued) • Confederates too exhausted and disorganized to give pursuit • Many Southerners thought war was over and went home • Lincoln twice called for 500, 000 volunteers (to serve 3 years) • Not going to be a quick war

Civil War Generals • • Union George Mc. Clellan Ulysses S. Grant William T. Sherman • Confederacy • Robert E. Lee • Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

George Mc. Clellan • Union general • Given command of the “Army of the Potomac” after Bull Run • Accused by Lincoln of being too cautious/slow • Fired by Lincoln after Antietam • Ran against Lincoln in 1864 election as a Democrat for peace

Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson • Instructor at VMI before war • His troops rallied the South at Bull Run and earned him the nickname “Stonewall” • One of South’s best generals. • Shot and killed by his own sentries at Chancellorsville – May, 1863

Robert E. Lee • Became head of the Army of Northern Virginia after Johnston’s death • Defended Richmond • Led until surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865

The Politics of War • Would the South receive any help? • There was a chance…

Great Britain to the Rescue? • Why would they want to help the South? • To gain access to Southern cotton.

Trent Affair • Two Confederate diplomats (Mason and Slidell) arrested by Union while aboard British merchant ship • Great Britain had declared neutrality. – Very upset, almost at war with Union. • Lincoln apologizes, tensions ease.

What about the cotton? • Great Britain found sources of cotton – Had a huge cotton inventory at the outbreak of war – Found new sources of cotton in India and Egypt

Lincoln’s views on slavery • Lincoln did not think that federal government had power to abolish slavery where it already existed. • Thought slavery was morally wrong and wanted to stop its extension into territories.

Emancipation • If federal gov’t couldn’t free slaves, what could be done? • Lincoln thought they could be freed as a military maneuver

Emancipation Proclamation • Issued Jan. 1, 1863 • Freed all slaves in the states in rebellion • Did nothing for the slaves in the slave states still in the Union • Did not free any slaves immediately

Emancipation Proclamation (continued) • Military maneuver – slaves built fortifications, grew food for the Confederacy • Discouraged Great Britain (an abolitionist – thinking country) from supporting the Confederacy

Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation • Gave the war a higher moral sense for many in the North • Drew protests from some Northern Democrats • Ended any chance of compromise with the South – Fight to the death • Confederacy knew that if it lost its whole way of life would be gone

Political Troubles in North and South • Both Lincoln and Davis faced opposition to the war effort • The week after Ft. Sumter, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland – Stated that a person arrested must be brought to trial to determine why he or she is being jailed • Davis later did the same in the South

Constitutional? • Taney says no • Lincoln ignores him

Copperheads • Lincoln’s main political opponents in North were Copperheads – Northern Democrats who favored peace with the South – Led by Clement Vallandigham

Conscription • Both sides eventually had to draft soldiers to fight in the military • Confederacy did it first in 1862 – Drafted all able-bodied white men between 18 and 35 • Union did it in 1863 – Drafted white men between 20 and 45

“Rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight” • In Confederacy, could hire substitutes to cover your service • Also did not have to serve if you owned 20 or more slaves • In the North, you could also hire substitutes or could pay a $300 fee to get out of draft • Many poorer people on both sides were angered

Draft riots • Summer of 1863 – New York City erupted in violence • Poorer people (especially Irish immigrants) thought the war was unfair to them • For four days mobs attacked antislavery leaders, well-dressed men, and African. Americans • By end, over 100 deaths

Antietam (Sharpsburg) • Mid-1862, Lee took his army towards the Union capital • Crossed into Maryland

Lucky Mc. Clellan • A Union corporal found Lee’s battle plans wrapped around a cigar box • Mc. Clellan finally decides to be aggressive • Two armies fight to a standoff • Confederates retreat • Bloodiest singly-day battle in American history

Effects of Antietam • No British help for South • Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation

Gettysburg • Turning point of the Civil War • July 1 -3, 1863 • Union and Confederate armies class in Pennsylvania

Gettysburg (continued) • Battle goes back and forth for two days • Union Col. Chamberlain defends “Little Round Top” – Bayonet charge

3 rd day • General Lee orders General Pickett’s men to attack center of Union lines • Attacking uphill across 1 mile of open ground • Confederates turned back – “high water mark” of the Confederacy • Lee never again has sufficient numbers for a Northern invasion

The Western Theater • Vicksburg – very strategic city on the Mississippi River • Attacks failed • Placed under siege by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant • Fell to Union control on July 4, 1863 • A few days later the Union gains control of Mississippi River – part of Anaconda Plan

Vicksburg (continued) • Vicksburg was another major turning point in the war

Ulysses S. Grant • Eventually became commanding general for the Union army • Wins several victories in the West – Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson – Vicksburg • Wears down Confederacy

Gettysburg Address • “Four score and seven years ago…” • November 1863 – ceremony held to dedicate cemetery at Gettysburg • Lincoln – not featured speaker – makes two minute speech – Says that Union needs to ensure that dead did not die in vain

A War of Attrition • With Grant in charge, the Civil War becomes a war of attrition – The North tried to wear down the South • Grant decided to take the war to Southern civilians as well as the army • Confederate morale drops

Grant appoints Sherman • Grant appointed William Tecumseh Sherman as commander of the military division of Mississippi • Sherman and Grant begin total war – breaking the will of the South and its ability to make war

Grant the “Butcher”? ? ? • Grant threw many troops into battle and suffered many casualties because the North could afford it while the South could not – Wilderness – Spotsylvania – Cold Harbor • 7, 000 in one hour

Sherman in Atlanta • In late 1864, Sherman occupied Atlanta • Confederates cut off his supply lines • Mid-November he burned Atlanta and marched to the coast

Sherman’s March to the Sea • Burned Southern homes, farms, etc. • Troops lived off of the land. • Attempted to break the will of the South – (esp. brutal in SC)

Election of 1864 • Lincoln faced opposition from Northerners tired of the war – Several important Union victories prior to election • Won close victory over George Mc. Clellan • War would continue to victory

The fall of the Confederacy • President Davis and his government abandoned Richmond • Burned it as they were leaving

Surrender • Grant and Lee met to arrange the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Va • Lincoln insisted on generous terms • Men simply paroled and told to go home