THE NORTH V. THE SOUTH

Background Information on the Eve of the Civil War

Format

Information about the North will be in the left column

Information about the South will be in the right column

Other Names

Union, United States of America, Federals, USA

Confederacy, Confederate States of America, CSA

Flags

Stars and Stripes Stars and Bars, and a separate battle flag

Number of States

23 states (not counting CA or OR)

11 states

Population

22,000,000 Between 10-12,000,000

(3,500,000-4,000,000 of which were slaves)

Industrial Development

92% of the Nation’s industries were in the North

Very little industrial development; mostly an agrarian (farming) economy

Railroad Mileage

75% of the nation’s railroad miles were in the North

Many fewer miles of railroads in the South (25%)

The map on the next slide shows American railroads in 1851

Financial Resources

Had 75% of the nation’s wealth in banking, manufacturing and shipping industries

Most of the wealth was in land and slaves

Leadership

Abraham Lincoln Experience as a

lawyer, limited experience in Congress, and virtually no military experience

Jefferson Davis Senator from

Mississippi and Secretary of War

Military experience in the Mexican War

Jefferson Davis

Generals

West Point Military Academy graduates

Few Union Generals were effective in leading Union Armies until Ulysses S. Grant’s rise in 1862-1864

Perhaps the South’s greatest advantage

Brilliant, bold military leaders from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), West Point and other academies

Northern Fighting Strategies

Bring the South back to the Union ASAPNever recognize the South’s independenceStrangle the South with a naval blockade (Anaconda

Plan)Defeat Rebel Armies, split the South in two and capture

the capital (Richmond, VA)

Southern Fighting Strategies

Fight a defensive war until the Union no longer has the will to fight

Stress how secession is a parallel with the 13 colonies pulling out of the British Empire in 1776

Capture Washington, D.C.

Capital Cities

Washington, D.C. Richmond, Virginia

Naval Power

Large navy which grew even larger as the war progressed

Virtually no navy at the start of the war

Cause for Fighting

To preserve the Union (at first)

Later the emancipation of slaves became a cause

To gain independence

To save “The Southern Way of Life” which included slavery

States rights

Slang Names for Troops

Federals, Yanks, Billy Yanks, Yankees, Blues, Bluebellies

Rebels, Rebs, Confederates, Graybacks, Butternuts, Johnnies, Johnny Rebs

Northern Miscellany

Battles were fought away from homeLess skilled in the military artsThousands of immigrants were fighting for no

purpose that made sense to themFarm Acreage: 65%; dominant crops- wheat and

cornDivided politically into at least four groups

(included anti-war groups)

Southern Miscellany

Traditionally protecting their homes and way of life

Fought on their own land, which they therefore knew better than their opponents

Military tradition: nearly every male citizen skilled at riding horses and using rifles

Violence was a traditional aspect of Southern Society

Mrs. Atkins Miscellany