The Civil War

1
The Civil War

• GA Studies

2
Why Its Important

• The Civil War transformed the U.S. It devastated
  the economy of the South while contributing to
  the rapid economic growth of the North West.
  While African Americans gained their freedom, a
  legacy of bitterness between the North South
  was left behind that lasted for generations. The
  war also established the power of the federal
  government over the states.

3
The Two Sides

• By February 1861, 7 states had left the Union and
  formed the Confederacy
• Calling themselves the Confederate States of
  America, they elected Jefferson Davis, a MS
  senator, as president and Alexander Stephens (GA)
  as vice-president.

4
The Two Sides

• Within weeks of Lincolns inauguration,
  Confederate troops captured several southern
  garrisons including Fort Pulaski in Savannah
• The Confederate army then demanded the surrender
  of Fort Sumter (SC), but the Union general there
  refused
• On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired upon
  Fort Sumter and the Union surrendered it
• This action caused VA, NC, TN, AR to join the
  Confederacy

5
The Two Sides, cont.

• These four new states brought much needed
  soldiers, animals, industry food to the
  Confederacy
• The Confederacy chose Richmond, VA as its capital
  (only 100 miles from Union capital of D.C)

6
Border States

• 4 states that still allowed slavery remained in
  the Union MO, KY, MD, DE
• The people of these states were divided over
  which side to support
• Because MO, KY, MD had strong support for the
  South, they teetered on the brink of secession

7
Border States Their importance

• Missouri had strategic location on Mississippi
  River and could control major routes to the West
• Kentucky controlled the Ohio River
• Delaware was close to Philadelphia (an important
  Northern city)
• Maryland was close to Richmond D.C. (secession
  by MD meant D.C. would be surrounded by
  Confederacy)

8
Border States, cont.

• Lincoln had to be cautious with Border States to
  avoid antagonizing them out of the Union
• Because he used his power to have people arrested
  for supporting secession supported rebellion
  against the pro-secession govt. of MO, thousands
  of people in the Border States left to join the
  armies of the South, but the Border States
  remained in the Union

9
Secession from the South

• Not all Southerners agreed with secession
• Pockets of Union support existed in eastern TN
  western VA
• People of the Appalachian region generally
  opposed secession
• 48 western VA counties who wanted to secede from
  VA rejoin the Union eventually organized
  themselves as a separate state called West
  Virginia and were admitted the Union in 1863

10
Comparing North SouthNorthern Strengths

• Larger population to support war effort
• More industry more abundant resources
• Better banking system to raise money for war
• More ships (older ships)- most member of navy
  supported Union
• Larger more efficient railway network
• Abraham Lincoln was unexpected great war leader

11
Comparing North SouthNorthern Weaknesses

• North would have to invade hold South large
  area with hostile people
• Public opinion in North was divided over war
  support for war was shaky
• Many thought South had good chance to win

12
Comparing North SouthSouthern Strengths

• White population was extremely supportive of war
• Fighting in familiar territory
• Fighting for their way of life
• Military leadership was far superior
• People had strong tradition of military service
• Large pool of officers from military colleges
• Jefferson Davis (West Point graduate
  experienced soldier) was leader of Southern war
  effort

13
Comparing North SouthSouthern Weaknesses

• Smaller population of free men from which to
  build army
• Few factories to make weapons supplies
• Produced less than ½ as much food as North
• Less than ½ the amount of railroads fewer
  trains than North
• Made food, weapon, supply delivery difficult
• States Rights beliefs hampered war effort
• Individual states refused to give Confederate
  government enough power to fight war effectively

14
War Goals Strategies North

• Main goal at beginning was to win the war bring
  Southern States back to Union
• Ending slavery was not major goal at first, but
  this changed as war went on
• Plan included 3 major strategies
• Using superior Navy, North would blockade (close)
  Southern ports (to prevent supplies from entering
  south from earning money from cotton exiting
• Gain control of MS River (cutting supply lines
  splitting Confederacy)
• Capture Richmond, the Confederate capital

15
War Goals Strategies South

• Primary goal was to gain recognition as
  independent nation
• This would allow them to preserve traditional way
  of life, and slavery
• Their defensive strategy
• Hold onto as much territory as possible until the
  North got tired of fighting and recognized their
  independence
• South expected Britain France to pressure North
  to end war so cotton supply could be restored
• Offensively threaten D.C other Northern cities
  to persuade North they could not win

16
American Against American

• Many families friends were divided during the
  war by conflicting loyalties
• Sometimes family members would face each other in
  combat
• Both sides eventually had to force men to go to
  battle by the process of conscription (draft)

17
The Soldiers

• Most were inexperienced many were young
• Average age of recruit was 25, but 40 were 21 or
  younger (some as young as 16)
• Soldiers came from all parts of country all
  walks of life, but mostly from farms
• Union did not allow African Americans to serve at
  first, but they did serve later
• By summer of 1861
• Confederates (often called Rebels) numbered
  112,000
• Union (often called Yankees) numbered 187,000
• By end of war, about 850,000 men fought for
  Confederacy, and 2.1 million men fought for Union

18
False Hopes

• When war began, both sides expected a brief
  conflict early victory
• Southerners believed the North lacked the
  conviction necessary to win
• One Northern paper predicted a win for the North
  within 30 days
• Some leaders saw the situation differently
• William Tecumseh Sherman wrote, I think it is to
  be a long warvery longmuch longer than the
  politician thinks.
• Shermans prediction would be correct

19
Major Battles - Antietam

• Union Leader-George B. McClellan
• Confederate Leader- Robert E. Lee
• The South had been experiencing some success
  before this point in the war
• Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis,
  hoped that if the South kept winning Britain and
  France would join their efforts
• Davis asked Lee to lead an offensive into Maryland

20
Antietam, cont.

• 2 Union soldiers found a copy of Lees orders for
  his army (wrapped around 3 cigars)
• With the details of the plan in hand, McClellan
  was able to strategically plan for battle
• McClellan took his time allowing most of Lees
  troops to rally near Sharpsburg, MD
• After the single bloodiest day of the war (6,000
  were killed, 17,000 wounded) Lee withdrew Union
  claimed victory

21
Results of Antietam

• After Antietam, the Northern army gained
  confidence in their ability
• The battle also marked a change in the Northern
  war aims
• President Lincoln used the battle to take aim
  against slavery

22
Emancipation Proclamation

• Sept. 22, 1862 -Issued by Abraham Lincoln five
  days after the Battle of Antietam
• Lincoln wanted the Confederate States to end the
  war, return to the Union, and end slavery

23
Emancipation Proclamation

• Lincoln stated that unless the South surrender by
  January 1863, all slaves in states or districts
  in rebellion against the United States will be
  thenceforth and forever free
• The South had a choice
• Surrender and keep their slaves
• Dont surrender and the institution of slavery
  would be ended
• Confederate leaders chose to continue to fight

24
Major Battles - Gettysburg

• In June, 1863, Lee moved north with an army of
  75,000
• Union General Hooker wanted to advance on
  Richmond, but Lincoln told him his main objective
  should be to attack Lees army
• Hooker began to make excuses for not attacking
  the Confederate forces, and was replaced by
  General George Meade
• Meades mission was to find fight Lees forces
  while protecting Washington Baltimore from
  Confederate attack

25
Major Battles - Gettysburg

• The two armies met by accident on July 1, near
  the small town of Gettysburg, PA
• The battle began when Union cavalry surprised
  Rebel infantry raiding the town for shoes
• The North was outnumbered, and retreated to a
  line of hills south of the town where they
  established strong positions prepared to defend
  the town
• Although the South launched a strong attack, this
  strategic placement helped the North launch a
  strong counterattack which saved their position

26
Gettysburg Address

• At a ceremony dedicating a cemetery at
  Gettysburg, Lincoln gave a two minute speech
  which became known as the Gettysburg Address.
• In this speech, Lincoln declared that the dead in
  the war shall not have died in vain, our nation
  would see new birth of freedom the government
  of the people, by the people, and for the people
  would not perish