THE CIVIL WAR START TO FINISH Hitting the

THE CIVIL WAR: START TO FINISH Hitting the Highlights

SECESSION The Election of 1860 – the final straw for the South Lincoln is an anti-slavery candidate Elected with NO southern states – their voice is not heard, their way of life will be destroyed South Carolina leads the way State convention votes to repeal ratification of the Constitution and dissolve ties with the Union 6 more states join Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all vote to secede Secession is viewed as similar to the American Revolution Do not agree with the current government – a necessary course of action to uphold people’s rights Feb 8 th 1861, declare a new nation – the Confederacy Drafted a framework similar to the US Constitution

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES – THE NORTH Strengths Weaknesses Large population – 22 million Had to cover a huge, unfamiliar territory Immigration to northern cities meant thousands of new recruits 7 times as much manufacturing – better supplied 75 % of the railroads in the country – transport troops and supplies Control of the US Navy and merchant fleet Central government already in place Lincoln Did not have strong military leaders

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES – THE SOUTH Strengths Weaknesses A defensive stance – only had to hold on until the North gave up Large percentage of the population was slave labor – did not fight Home-field advantage – knew the terrain and fighting to protect their homes and families Few factories, railroads and navy Strong military leadership – especially Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson Weak central government – starting from scratch with stubborn officials (Davis)

GOALS FOR THE WAR North Preserve the Union – keep the USA together by forcing the south to rejoin Find a way to abolish slavery in the US – later adopted by Lincoln as well South Independence from the North Protect their way of life (slavery included)

STRATEGIES North South Anaconda plan – encircle the South and force their return to the Union through defeat Defeat and repel Northern armies Blockade the coast Cut in half by controlling the Mississippi River take out major supply centers Reclaim the Confederate capital at Richmond, VA Break the morale of the North – make them give up fighting to reclaim the south Use quick decisive strike at the heart of the North to better use limited resources Count on European supplies and money to aid in fighting the war

THE GENERALS Ulysses S. Grant - North Robert E. Lee - South Shy and sloppy son of a storekeeper Son of a Revolutionary War general West Point graduate Often accused of drunkenness Honorable, courageous, skillful and not afraid to take a chance Rises through the ranks – never gives up, learns from mistakes, willing to take risks Very intelligent, determined, compassionate, and a “coldeyed killer” *downfall – did not take the western battles seriously enough – focused too much on Virginia

Lincoln’s Generals Winfield Scott Irwin Mc. Dowell George Mc. Clellan Joseph Hooker Ambrose Burnside Ulysses S. Grant George Meade George Mc. Clellan, Again!

The Confederate Generals “Stonewall” Jackson Nathan Bedford Forrest George Pickett Jeb Stuart James Longstreet Robert E. Lee

FIGHTING A young man’s fight – vast majority of fighters under 21 (early teens) “a brothers’ war” – families and friends divided by their allegiances Mary Todd Lincoln lost 3 brothers – fought for the south Robert E. Lee was leader of the US Army and decided to represent his home state of Virginia and command the army of the confederacy Sen. John Crittenden of KY – had 2 sons 1 major general in the Union army, 1 major general in the confederate army Armies would exchange friendly banter between battles, play baseball games or trade tobacco or coffee during truces

FIGHTING Friendliness didn’t stop the carnage – over 600, 000 Americans were killed in the Civil War 2/3 of that number died from diseases rather than battle wounds Average soldier ended up up in the hospital at least once or twice a year If a soldier ever lost the hospital he was lucky Sanitary conditions were awful 75% of the operations were amputations Northern forces always outnumbered the southern forces – including thousands of African-Americans allowed to join the Union army in 1863. Paid about 1/3 of white wages Earned respect for bravery

BATTLES Fort Sumter (SC) – 1861 – 1 st battle of the Civil War, confederates seize weapons and ammunition at Union forts. Bull Run (VA) – 1861 – 1 st large battle, Confederates soundly beat Union forces right outside Washington DC Shiloh (TN) – 1862 – Union caught unprepared but Grant manages to win, solidifies Union control in west. Antietam (MA) – 1862 – Lee’s 1 st push into the North, fails, one of the bloodiest battles. 22, 000 killed or wounded – Lincoln gives the Emancipation Proclamation Chancellorsville (VA) – 1863 – victory for the Confederacy on Lee’s gamble, Stonewall Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men

BATTLES Gettysburg (PA) – 1863 – Lee’s 2 nd push into the North, 3 day battle that forces confederates to withdrawal. turning point in the war, the South can only retreat Vicksburg (MI) – 1863 – Grant sieges the Confederate held town, forces surrender and the North controls the Mississippi river March to the Sea (GA) – 1864 – Union General Sherman leads troops from Atlanta to Savannah, practicing total war. Designed to break the spirit of the South The Wilderness (VA) – 1864 – Grant uses superior numbers to wear down Lee’s troops. Grant is called a butcher, Union troops outnumber Confederates 2 to 1 Appomattox Courthouse (VA) – 1865 – Lee formally surrenders to Grant. End of the Civil War.

THE WAR : 1861 - 1865

EMANCIPATION What to do about the slaves? Escaped slaves began pouring into the Union armies – put to work in labor battalions to earn their keep Had to be careful not to antagonize slaveholding states still in the Union (KY, MA, MO, DE, WV) Lincoln wanted each state to abolish slavery on its own and compensate slave owners for lost property – send slaves back to African – Americans are allowed to fight in the Union armies 1863 Lincoln intends to free the slaves, but waits for a big victory to make the announcement

EMANCIPATION September 22, 1863 makes the Emancipation Proclamation All slaves in STATES AT WAR WITH THE UNION are free… Not all slaves in the United States. KY, MA, MO, WV, DE are allowed to continue to own slaves. Confederacy ignored it. Consequences Made pro-slavery forces fight on Angered northerners who were fighting to bring the US back together, not free slaves deserters, enlistments decline Does the government have the right to take away your property? Many Northerners begin to embrace the cause of Abolition

THE WAR AT HOME North South Economy holds steady Economy collapses Propped up by the war – making war supplies Advances in agriculture and western raw materials Draft Riots Could pay to have your name removed from the draft lottery Became a rich vs. poor Unfairly targeted free blacks with mob violence Blockade shuts down all trade No help from Europe Inflation End to slavery in places taken by Union forces Drain of manpower – men called to fight Home guard – often took advantage of hardworking people

ASSASSINATION April 15 th, 1865 – Five days after the Confederate surrender President Lincoln goes to theatre to watch a comedy Southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth (actor) snuck into the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head Lingers through the night but dies from the wound – and inept medical care