The American Civil War1861–1865

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Causes

There were many causes for the outbreak of the Civil War. Many people agree slavery was the main cause for the war. In addition, sectional differences led to conflicts. Northern and Southern states were developing different lifestyles and

cultures. Differences in the economic life of the North and the South also contributed to the conflict. The North’s economy focused on finance and

manufacturing, and the South specialized in crops and agricultural trade. Southern states also began to question the extent of the federal government’s power.

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How does this painting, Tragic Prelude, represent the debate over slavery prior to the Civil War?

Abolitionist Movement

The Abolitionist Movement was active in Northern and Western states before the Civil War. Abolitionists wanted

slaves to be freed. Some abolitionists favored relocating them in Africa.

Many, but not all, abolitionists believed African-American slaves should have

the same freedoms as their owners. Southern states opposed the abolition of slavery; it was a financial necessity and part of their social structure. The

South’s agricultural trade depended on crops produced with slave labor.

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A Divided NationComparing Northern and Southern Societies

The North’s population was three times that of the South. Most other countries recognized the Union as

the government in America. However, Britain and France had

friendly relations with the Confederacy and considered aiding the South. The North also was more

affluent.

The South had about nine million people, including about three million

slaves. The average Southerner was not as wealthy as the average person living

in the North. About 90 percent of American industry and railroads were in the North. Reliance on slave labor

discouraged the creation of new jobs in the South. This discouraged

immigration, and most immigrants settled in the North.

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The Leaders

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Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States. He

opposed the expansion of slavery. A Republican, Lincoln led the Union

during the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln in Washington,

D.C., on April 14, 1865.

Jefferson Davis was President of the Confederate States of America. During the

Mexican War, he had been an officer in the United States Army. Davis also had served as the United States Secretary of

War. When the South surrendered, he was charged with treason and prohibited from

running for public office again.

The Generals

Ulysses S. Grant

William T. Sherman

Robert E. Lee

Thomas Jackson

George Meade James Longstreet

George B. McClellan James E.B. Stuart

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The Civil War Begins• The shots fired at Fort Sumter marked

the beginning of the Civil War.• In response, Lincoln called for 75,000

volunteers to serve in the army for 90 days.

• The rush to volunteer forced slave states in the South to choose a side.

• On April 14, 1861 South Carolina seceded, and on April 17, Virginia followed.

• In May, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina followed.

Uniforms

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At the beginning of the Civil War, states provided uniforms to soldiers; and the uniforms were in a variety of colors. This led to massive confusion on the battlefield, and often soldiers fired on their own men. As the war continued, both sides chose a single color for their uniforms. The United States of America chose blue, and the

Confederate States of America chose gray.

Border states choose sides

• Border states included: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri.

• Many wondered what the border states would do.

• Maryland was the most critical. If it seceded, than Washington D.C. would be surrounded by Confederate territory.

• Missouri was important because it controlled the lower Mississippi River.

•Kentucky controlled some 500 miles of the Ohio River.

•Both states joined the union.

Goals of the North and South

• Northern Goals: Keep the support of the border states and non abolitionists, avoid making slavery the issue, fight to save the Union.

• Southern Goals: To be left alone with slavery unchanged.

• The South wanted a defensive war, which meant the North would have to invade the south.

• The North was better equipped for the war.

• It had a larger population, and contained most of the nation’s factories and railroad lines.

• The South was fighting to preserve their way of life.

• Some southerners thought the South’s greatest advantage was its huge cotton exports to textile mills in Britain and France.

• The South thought that they would gain foreign aid, but when that did not happen, they stopped exporting cotton to them.

Tactics and Technology• Most of the generals on both sides had

been trained at West Point and used tactics that they had learned in previous wars.

• The weapons in the Civil War were deadlier than in previous wars.

• Other new weapons were exploding shells, flamethrowers, and machine guns.

• Observation balloons were used.• The telegraph allowed officers in the field

to communicate quickly with government officers.

• For the first time in history, railroads were used to move large numbers of troops and supplies.

Weapons of the Civil War

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canister shot

minié ball

rifled barrel

Springfield rifle, 1861 (Union)Although the Union used many types of rifles, this was the most common.

British Enfield rifle, 1853 (Confederacy)Although the Confederacy used many types of rifles, this was the most common.

officer’s sword

artillery projectile

Union PlansA. Planned to use its Navy to blockade

Southern ports.B. Capture the Confederate capitol-

Richmond.C. Seize control of the Mississippi River

Confederate PlansA. Fight a defensive warB. Make war unpopular in the North…

WHY?C. Trade with Europe for supplies.

StrategiesAnaconda Plan

King CottonThe Confederacy adopted a defensive strategy and attempted to secure alliances with more powerful

countries such as Britain and France. To do that, the South needed to show it could win the war. As a

result, the Confederate army attacked Union territory to draw Union troops away from the South and to impress potential allies. As the war continued, the

Southern strategy became one of evading the Union army, prolonging the war, and inflicting casualties to

demoralize the North.

Union General Winfield Scott suggested the Anaconda Plan to halt Southern trade. The plan would impose a blockade. This would eventually enable the North to control the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, the army would divide and isolate sections of the South and capture its vital cities and the capital in Richmond,

Virginia. Under General Ulysses S. Grant, the North’s strategy kept pressure on General Robert E. Lee’s army

and constantly weakened their numbers. The larger population of the North made this possible.

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Major Battles of the Civil War

• Fort Sumter• First Battle of Bull Run• Antietam• Fredericksburg• Shiloh• Chancellorsville• Vicksburg• Gettysburg

1st Battle of Bull RunWhere- Bull Run, VA

Year- July 21, 1861Who won- SouthGenerals: South-

Stonewall Jackson North-McClellan

Casualties- North-2900 South-2000

WHY IMPORTANT? Showed that both sides needed training and it was going to be a long and bloody war.

Battle of AntietamYear- September

1862Where- Sharpsburg,

MarylandGenerals-

Robert E. Lee-SouthMcClellan-North

Who won- Nobody, but South retreated.

Why important?Bloodiest day of Civil War- 26000 casualties! General McClellan replaced by Burnside

Battle of FredericksburgYear- December 1862Where- VirginiaGenerals- North-

BurnsideSouth-Robert E. Lee

Who Won- South killed the North

Casualties- Union-13000Confederacy-5000

Why Important? It was one of the North’s worst defeats, Burnside is retired.

Battle of ShilohYear- April 1862Where- Along the

Tennessee RiverGenerals-

North- Ulysses S. GrantWho Won- NorthWhy Important? One of

the bloodiest battles of the Civil war. North Gained control of the Mississippi river. Grant proved himself as a great General.

Battle of ChancellorsvilleYear- 1863Where- VirginiaGenerals-

South-Stonewall JacksonWho won- Brilliant victory

by the South- againWhy important? At the

end of one day of battle, nervous Confederate soldiers fired at what they thought was an approaching Union soldier- but is was really Stonewall Jackson- he died several days later.

The War at Sea

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The Battle of the Ironclads also is known as the Battle of Hampton Roads and the

Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack. This battle was fought off Sewell’s Point near

Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was the first naval battle between two ironclad ships, the

Union’s USS Monitor and the Confederacy’s CSS Virginia, which was rebuilt from the

USS Merrimack. The battle took place over two days, and the Virginia destroyed many of the Union’s

wooden ships. The next day, the two ironclads clashed at sea, and the Virginia was damaged. Neither side claimed victory in this

battle, but the battle revealed the future of naval warfare. Ironclad, steam-driven ships

were at a decisive advantage against wooden sailing vessels.

VicksburgMay 2-July 9, 1863

Mississippi

The lengthy Battle of Vicksburg began in Warren County on May 13,

1863. The North and the South considered Vicksburg an important

stronghold. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched massive assaults on

Vicksburg and terrorized the inhabitants. Confederates achieved a minimal victory at Milliken’s Bend

against untrained black troops. Federal troops pushed Confederate forces back as the size of the Union

forces continued to increase. Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 3, 1863.

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GettysburgJuly 1-3, 1863

Pennsylvania

The Battle of Gettysburg began as the Battle of Vicksburg was ending.

Confederate General Lee forced federal troops, under General George C. Meade’s

command, to lose ground as the Confederate forces attempted to take the

city. Lee planned several attacks, including attacks at Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den. The Union army fought

back, repelling Confederate attacks and sending them back to Culp’s Hill. Lee

was relentless and sent his army back into battle, but to no avail. He eventually began a retreat toward Williamsport.

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The Emancipation ProclamationJanuary 1, 1863

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It was part

of a two-part plan that guaranteed freedom to slaves in the Union and some

Confederate states. The Confederate government claimed Lincoln could not

issue laws over states in which he had no political control. The first plan, enacted on September 22, 1862, freed slaves in

Confederate states that had not yet rejoined the Union. The second part took

effect on January 1, 1863, applying to specific states, but not to the border states such as Maryland and West

Virginia.

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The Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863

Abraham Lincoln delivered this famous speech on November 19, 1863, to a crowd

gathered at the dedication of Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg,

Pennsylvania. The speech contains only two hundred seventy-two words, but it is

considered one of the greatest speeches in American history.

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African Americans and the war

• Thousands of slaves, however, escaped to join invading Union troops.

• Many were hired to drive wagons, build forts, or serve as guides.

• The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in all areas that were in rebellion against the U.S.

• It encouraged freedmen to join the Union forces.

• African American soldiers served in segregated units, usually commanded by white officers.

• Nearly 180,000 African Americans served in the Union armies.

Conditions for soldiers

• Most soldiers died not from wounds, but from disease.

• They suffered from diseases such as mumps, measles, and smallpox.

• Poor sanitation and polluted water also caused diseases.

Conditions for prisoners were far worse than in the camps.

• The most notorious prisoner camp was Andersonville in Georgia.

• Andersonville.ppt

The Home Front

• There was more widespread property damage in the South.

• Shortages of both food and goods made life extremely difficult.

• Southerners faced inflation.• Military drafts started on both sides,

and caused riots across the country.

Women and the War

• Women on both sides contributed to the war effort.

• Some disguised themselves as men and enlisted in the army.

• A few served as spies.• Women took over farms, stores, and

businesses.• About 3,000 served the Union army

as nurses.

Clara Barton

• Clara Barton served as a nurse and would later begin the American Red Cross.

Blockade Runners

• To get scarce goods, southerners depended on blockade runners.

• These were low, sleek ships that carried southern cotton to Caribbean ports, where it was unloaded and shipped to Europe.

• The ships brought back silk, soap, pepper, and other needed goods.

• Later, blockade runners would bring medical and military supplies.

West of the Mississippi

• Union and Confederate forces also clashed west of the Mississippi River.

• They fought over natural resources and additional soldiers for their armies.

• Lincoln did not enforce the draft in the West.

• 17,000 Californians joined the Union army.

• Western mines provided gold and silver to pay Union war costs.

• More than 10,000 Native Americans took part in the Civil War.

• Confederate agents negotiated treaties with the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and others.

• But many Indian units fought with the Union army.

The Final Phase

• In March 1864, Lincoln gave Grant command of all Union armies.

• In June, the armies met at the Battle of Cold Harbor

• The siege would cut the supplies to the Confederate capital.

• Sherman and his army marched toward Atlanta.

• Sherman laid siege to the city and his artillery shelled it daily.

• He was able to close the last railroad line into Atlanta.

The election of 1864

• The democrats chose George McClellan to run as their candidate.

• The Republicans chose Lincoln, with Andrew Johnson as his running mate.

• Lincoln easily defeated McClellan in the election.

• Lincoln’s victory enabled Congress to finally pass the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery in the U.S.

The War Ends• After the 1864 election, Sherman and

his troops marched across Georgia, and set Atlanta on fire.

• Over the next three weeks, Sherman’s army destroyed crops, livestock, homes, and businesses.

• In 1865, Confederate forces fled Richmond.

• Lee tried to escape but found himself surrounded by Union troops.

• Gone with the Wind clip: Fleeing Atlanta

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnEZrV_WT44

• He surrendered rather than lose more lives.

• Lee and Grant met at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9.

• Lee’s troops had to turn over their weapons and leave.

• President Lincoln did not live to see the official end of the war, he would be assassinated three days later on April 14, 1865.

Assassination of LincolnApril 14, 1865

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President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at the end of the Civil War. He was killed on April 14, 1865, while attending a play at

Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two other people.

Lincoln was watching Our American Cousin when John Wilkes Booth shot

him in the back of the head.

Booth was a loyal Confederate, and he thought the Confederacy could

triumph if Lincoln were dead. Booth jumped off the balcony and broke his

ankle, but managed to escape the theater. Lincoln died of his fatal

wound the next morning.

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The conspirators in the assassination of President Lincoln were Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, George

Atzerdot, Michael O’Laughlen, Samuel Arnold, Edman Spangler, and Dr. Samuel

Mudd. They were tried in a military tribunal court because the government

deemed the nature of the case required the use of this court. A majority vote would

result in a guilty verdict, while a two-thirds majority would result in a death sentence.

All eight were found guilty. Surratt, Powell, Herold, and Atzerdot were

sentenced to death by hanging. O’Laughlen died in prison. President Andrew Johnson pardoned Arnold, Spangler, and Mudd.

The Trial and Execution of the Conspirators

Legacy of the War

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The Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history. It has been referred to as “The War Between the States,” “The Brother’s War,” and the “War of Northern Aggression.” More than 600,000 Americans lost their lives, and countless others

were wounded severely. The Civil War led to passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth , and Fifteen Amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments

outlawed slavery, granted African Americans United States citizenship, and granted African-American males the right to vote. Although equal treatment under the law

for African Americans would not be enforced until almost a hundred years later, the Civil War abolished slavery and established the supremacy of the federal

government.