THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

By

Hannah Gumb 7K

1861-1865 The Union State (North) and the

Confederate State (South) fought this war. Resolution- The North won.

Major Causes of the War SECTIONALISM- was when northern and southern states started to refer to

themselves as being two separate and independent nations, rather than one nation. 

SLAVERY- caused the war due to the debate between the states that wanted slavery and the states that wanted to end slavery and the westward expansion of it. The Nebraska Act starts fierce feuding in “Bleeding Kansas.” 

ECONOMICS- was a major problem due to the different dependencies on imports and exports; the North wanted a protective tariff (tax) on imported and exported goods, as they relied little on them, but the South wanted no part of the tariff, as they were 90% dependent on imports and exports. 

STATES RIGHT'S- the South's believed that state government should hold more power than the federal government. They soon wanted to become their own country, and that was when the South seceded, hoping to win independence.

Abraham Lincoln and the states could not compromise this issue, so the Civil War began.

Ulysses S. Grant Grant was a significant person for the North. He was the most successful Union general of the Civil War. When there was peace, he had a hard time supporting his family,

as a farmer and a businessman, that caused him to start drinking.

While the Civil War was a tragedy for the nation, it was Grant’s salvation.

Grant was very confident in himself and that he would win the war.

He led the North to victory.

Robert E. Lee Lee was a significant person for the South. Lee was widely regarded as the best soldier in the United

States Army. After Fort Sumter was attacked he was offered the opportunity

to command all Union forces. But he didn’t want to fight against his own Virginians.

His fame from his victories and his deep sense in dignity made him a legend even during this war.

He often gambled by splitting his army, even when outnumbered, to gain the advantage. Lee was good at judging how much risk he should take.

He did make mistakes though. He was later a lofty symbol of the South’s lost. He was an excellent general, both on attack and in defense.

Lee never wanted this terrible struggle with the North, and knew peace had to be made, so he surrendered.

The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863. This was a significant battle in the Civil War. Lee’s army was at its fighting peak at this time. He made

his men cross a mile of open ground, even though they were being fired at the whole time. Lee made a very bad decision there, and gave the North an advantage.

At the end, the Union won the Battle of Gettysburg.

Life on the Home Front The Civil War not only affected soldiers, but it also affected those at home

that weren’t soldiers. Those at home had to deal with friends and family members leaving to go out

to war, and not being able to know if they were alright or not. Some people were also spies. The spies were mostly women, because

nobody expected them. If they were caught, they were less likely to be hung. Children also felt they wanted to help out during the war. Some got

permission from their parents to go to war, while others ran away to join the army. They would pretend to be older than they were, and were mostly given the job as drummer boy.

Final Resolution

There would be no more slavery in the United States, so all slaves were freed. But, that freedom took nearly a century to realize.

Also, the United States would feel like one nation again instead of two separate nations.

Major Effects of the Civil War

African Americans were not allowed to participate in politics, and were forced into a separate society. Not until the Civil Rights struggle of the 1960’s did African Americans win the same rights as white Americans.

By 1965, national paper currency and a national banking system had been created. The first national social welfare system had been started.

In the South, the economy and way of life had been shattered by the war. Its political power was all gone and Congress divided the South into 5 military districts. Federal troops were sent in to monitor them. It took some time for the South to gain its former place back in the political life of the country.

Resources http://ap3111.k12.sd.us/Events/gettysburg.jpg http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1865/Ci

vil-War-Flag.jpg http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/-The-Civil-

War-united-states-of-america-758089_400_300.jpg http://www.5rhp.org/civil%20war.jpg http://media.photobucket.com/image/robert%20e%20lee/uh2

214/robert-e-lee.jpg http://lifetussle.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/usgrant.jpg Encyclopedia of the United States at War by June A. English

and Thomas D. Jones Social Studies textbook- American History of our Nation