Chapter 16: The Civil War Chapter 16: The Civil War BeginsBegins

Section 1: War EruptsSection 1: War Erupts

Even though both sides wanted Even though both sides wanted to avoid a fight – they couldnto avoid a fight – they couldn’’tt

One of the things One of the things the Confederacy the Confederacy did was to take did was to take over government over government places – like post places – like post offices, banks, offices, banks, forts, newspapers, forts, newspapers, etc…etc…

One of the forts the South hadnOne of the forts the South hadn’’t taken over t taken over was: was:

Fort Sumter Fort Sumter – an island fort off South Carolina– an island fort off South Carolina

Fort Sumter was still Fort Sumter was still held by the Union, but held by the Union, but they were running low they were running low on supplies.on supplies.

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln decided to send them decided to send them the supplies they the supplies they needed.needed.

On the way, the supply On the way, the supply ships were attacked.ships were attacked.

The South then began The South then began to attack the fort – to attack the fort – and and the Civil War had the Civil War had begunbegun

The 2 sidesThe 2 sides

The NorthThe North Lincoln tried to get 75,000 Lincoln tried to get 75,000

men to enlist in the militia men to enlist in the militia (to put down the uprising).(to put down the uprising).

The SouthThe South More and more states More and more states

decided to break away.decided to break away. Getting Virginia was big for Getting Virginia was big for

the South (a wealthy state the South (a wealthy state with a lot of people).with a lot of people).

Convinced Convinced Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee to to resign from the Union army resign from the Union army and he became the and he became the commanding general of the commanding general of the South.South.

The Civil War is the reason we have a Virginia and a West

Virginia. People west of the mountains didn’t have slaves.

People east of the Appalachians did.

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Northern AdvantagesNorthern Advantages Had a lot more people 22 million to 9 Had a lot more people 22 million to 9

million (3.5 million slaves).million (3.5 million slaves). Had a lot more railroads.Had a lot more railroads. Had most of the ships and the naval Had most of the ships and the naval

power.power. Had most of the nationHad most of the nation’’s factories.s factories. Fighting to uphold the constitution.Fighting to uphold the constitution. Had a strong political leader (Lincoln).Had a strong political leader (Lincoln). Had a stronger government.Had a stronger government. Fighting to Fighting to ““preserve the Union.preserve the Union.”” The NorthThe North’’s Plan: s Plan: The Anaconda Plan The Anaconda Plan – to – to

slowly squeeze the south (militarily and slowly squeeze the south (militarily and economically).economically).

Sometimes the Civil War is also called Sometimes the Civil War is also called ““a a war of attritionwar of attrition””

Southern AdvantagesSouthern Advantages

Fighting for a cause.Fighting for a cause. DidnDidn’’t need as many soldiers t need as many soldiers to defend as they would have to defend as they would have needed to attack – fighting aneeded to attack – fighting a defensivedefensive war.war. Knew their own land better.Knew their own land better. Had better military leaders who knew more about war Had better military leaders who knew more about war

strategy.strategy. Could ride and shoot better (more northerners lived in Could ride and shoot better (more northerners lived in

cities).cities). Used the American Revolution as an example that the Used the American Revolution as an example that the

stronger side doesnstronger side doesn’’t always win (and as an example t always win (and as an example that it was OK to go to war to break away from a that it was OK to go to war to break away from a country).country).

The South thought that could The South thought that could maybe get some help frommaybe get some help from

France and/or Britain… who France and/or Britain… who they thought depended on they thought depended on Southern cotton for their Southern cotton for their textile mills.textile mills.

But they decided to stay But they decided to stay out of it.out of it.

At first the South was going At first the South was going to fight a defensive war, to fight a defensive war, but soon decided to take but soon decided to take the offensive the offensive

(go after the other side (go after the other side /attack)/attack)

One of the first battles:One of the first battles: The Battle of Bull RunThe Battle of Bull Run (or… Manassas)(or… Manassas)

Close to Washington D.C.Close to Washington D.C. Some people even came Some people even came

to watch (sat up on a hill)to watch (sat up on a hill) Some of the men not Some of the men not

fighting came by and did fighting came by and did ““play by playplay by play”” for the for the people.people.

This battle made people This battle made people in Washington realize the in Washington realize the war was going to take a war was going to take a long timelong time

Close to Washington D.C.Close to Washington D.C. Some people even came Some people even came

to watch (sat up on a hill)to watch (sat up on a hill) Some of the men not Some of the men not

fighting came by and did fighting came by and did ““play by playplay by play”” for the for the people.people.

This battle made people This battle made people in Washington realize the in Washington realize the war was going to take a war was going to take a long timelong time

Manassas was so close to Washington D.C. that many Manassas was so close to Washington D.C. that many people came out from the city to watch the battle. They people came out from the city to watch the battle. They

came on horseback or in carriages, to watch the battle as if came on horseback or in carriages, to watch the battle as if it were a play. The onlookers included several senators and it were a play. The onlookers included several senators and

congressmen. When Union troops began to retreat and congressmen. When Union troops began to retreat and Confederate artillery shells came closer, the spectators Confederate artillery shells came closer, the spectators

suddenly realized that war was dangerous. They joined the suddenly realized that war was dangerous. They joined the withdrawing soldiers, adding greatly to the general withdrawing soldiers, adding greatly to the general

confusion as the retreat became a rout.confusion as the retreat became a rout.