The War Begins

Introduction

Lasting 4 years and resulting in the death of 620,000 Americans, the Civil War is the costliest war in American

Both sides hoped for a quick victory based on their individual strengths

The Civil War official began April 12, 1861 at the Battle of Fort Sumter

Union v. Confederate Union Advantages:

More MoneyLarger Army

○ 2X larger than ConfederateMore Factories

○ To make guns, suppliesMore Railroads

○ To transport troops, suppliesAbraham Lincoln

○ Becomes expert on war strategy

Union: Blue Confederate Advantages:Robert E. Lee

○ Top General in the warStronger MotivationHome field Advantage

○ Mostly fought in SouthWorld reliance on Cotton

○ Hope to get alliesMilitary Tradition

○ More prepared soldiers Confederate: Red

Union v. Confederate Union Strategy to win

the WarAnaconda Plan

○ Use navy to keep South from getting supplies

Capture the Capital (Richmond, Va)

Divide the South into thirds○ Cut 1: Mississippi River○ Cut 2: Through Georgia

Union v. Confederate Confederate Strategy

to win the WarDefend their territory

○ Keep North from conquering

Capture the Capital (Washington D.C.)

Cotton Diplomacy○ Use Cotton resources

to gain European help

Europe!!!

Help Us!!!

Union v. Confederate Border States: Slave

states that remained in the UnionDelaware, Kentucky,

Maryland and Missouri (West Virginia later)

Population in the Border States were deeply divided, lots of civilian violence

Border States: Light Blue

The First battle: Fort Sumter The Confederates began taking over

federal mints, armories and forts across the South

The Union forces refused to give up Fort SumterControlled entry into Charleston Harbor

(Charleston, SC)○ One of the biggest Southern ports

The First battle: Fort Sumter

The South demanded the Union to leave the fortThe Union refusedThe South opened fire

on April 12, 1861 (the beginning of the Civil War)

The fort surrendered in 34 hours, 1 casualty…

The First Battle: Fort Sumter Significance:

Lincoln rallies support for the war by saying the South started it