A Fast Forced March Through The Civil

War

I’m going to take usquickly through theAmerican Civil War.

That will give us all an idea about the most important events beforewe start looking at specifics.

Let’s start by comparing the two sides in the Civil War. Each had advantages that help it and drawbacks that hindered it during the war.

Let’s start by looking atthe advantages the Northhad entering the CivilWar.

Larger Population

More industry

ALL the armories for making guns were in theNorth.

More Resources

The North had a much better system of railroad lines, most modern equipment and was better connected than the South.

Better system to finance the war

The North has the bestbanks and most of thenation’s cash.

Had more ships

The Navy stayed loyal to the Union

Now let’s look at the North’s disadvantages

Forcing people to do what youwant is very difficult -- remain inthe Union

Not a lot of Northerners supportedthe war

The North has the materialadvantages!

But, what are the advantages of the

South as it enters the Civil War?

White population supports the war

Fighting on their landthat they know well

Best leaders in the Armywent with the Confederacy

However, the South has manydisadvantages that limit itswar effort

Confederacy had no weaponsproducing facility

Confederate economy was basedon the export of cotton

Confederate agriculture was notdesigned for raising food

Much smaller population of freewhites than the North

Worse railroad system: fewer miles of track and no uniformrailway gage

States rights believers worked fortheir state but often not for theCSA

The Confederate war plan isto remain undefeated untilthe North recognizesConfederate independence.

The Union war plan isto: 1. capture Richmond, the Confederate capital 2. control the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in half East/West 3. naval blockade of the South stopping cotton exports and destroying Southern economy

The war was a series of back and forth battles which eventually gave the North victory

Gettysburg was the most important battle. It changed everything• Lee gets supplies he needs to keep CSA in field for another year

• Lee over reaches and suffers high casualties

• Lincoln makes war about abolition of slavery rather than ending secession

Gen. Grant, and his associates,Gen. Phil Sheridan and Gen.William Sherman commit to total war in order to defeatSouthern generals.

Sheridan ShermanU.S. Grant

Sheridan’s army destroysEVERYTHING in theShenandoah Valley

Sherman destroys EVERYTHING in a 20 mile wide swath as he marches eastward to the sea.

Cuts the Confederacy in half North/South

Ensures Lincoln’s reelection as president

U.S. GrantTakes the battle to the enemy

Goes around Lee’s dug-in trench warfare positions

Takes the casualties necessary to over run Confederate positions

Because of the high casualties under Grant’s command, some called him “Butcher Grant”

Grant’s approach and perseveranceforce Gen. Lee tosurrender his Army of NorthernVirginia thus endingthe Civil War with a Northern defeat of the Confederacy

The Union defeats the

Confederacy