THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-18651865

BASIC FACTSBASIC FACTS

United States of United States of America=Union; President is America=Union; President is LincolnLincoln

Confederate States of Confederate States of America; President is America; President is Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis

1860—Lincoln is elected President1860—Lincoln is elected PresidentBy February 1861, 7 states leave the UnionBy February 1861, 7 states leave the Union

The War Begins…• April 1861—Lincoln tries to resupply Union troops at Fort Sumter in the harbor at Charleston, SC• Confederates bomb the fort• FOUR more states leave the Union

The bombardment of Fort Sumter

4 slave states stayed with the Union4 slave states stayed with the Union1 new state got created (West Virginia)1 new state got created (West Virginia)

Northern AdvantagesNorthern Advantages Population: Population: 22 million vs. South’s 9 22 million vs. South’s 9

millionmillion

Economic advantageEconomic advantage: 85% of U.S. : 85% of U.S. industryindustry

Railroads: Railroads: 20,000 miles of track vs. 20,000 miles of track vs.

9000 miles9000 miles

Control ofControl of U.S.U.S. Navy: Navy: used the used the Anaconda Plan to blockade the SouthAnaconda Plan to blockade the South

Southern AdvantagesSouthern Advantages

defensivedefensive warwar

excellent military leadershipexcellent military leadership

Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee•Served in the Mexican War.

•Lincoln asked him to lead the Union Army but he said no.

•Opposed secession and slavery but said he could not fight against his home state of Virginia.

Commander of the Confederate Army

Battle of Bull Run / ManassasBattle of Bull Run / ManassasThe first major battle of the Civil War,

July 1861

BULL RUN

Generals: N—McDowell, S-Beauregard, Johnston; Thomas Jackson gets nickname “Stonewall”

Confederate victory Observers come to picnic Rivers run red with blood North was shamed; realized the fight

would be long South got overconfident

Bull Run was a Union defeat that shamed the North and helped them realize that the war was going to take longer than a couple of months.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson Alfred S. Johnston

Two of the Confederacy’s best generals, Jackson and Johnston, were at Manassas. Neither of them would survive the war.

Fighting ConditionsFighting Conditions

Lack of Lack of supplies supplies

Disease, Disease, malnutrition malnutrition and infectionand infection took the lives took the lives of over 65% of of over 65% of the soldiersthe soldiers

A Union doctor gets ready to amputate a soldiers leg. Amputations were a very common procedure during the war.

Peninsula Campaign, Peninsula Campaign, VirginiaVirginia

March-July 1862March-July 1862 Union troops tried Union troops tried

to attack Richmondto attack Richmond N general—N general—

McClellanMcClellan S general—S general—

JohnstonJohnston Union troops split Union troops split

between fighting between fighting Johnston and Johnston and Stonewall JacksonStonewall Jackson

Brutal fightingBrutal fighting

Robert E Lee Robert E Lee from S from S defeated North defeated North in Seven Days in Seven Days CampaignCampaign

Highlighted Highlighted McClellan’s McClellan’s hesitancy, hurt hesitancy, hurt Union moraleUnion morale

Merrimack (Virginia) vs. Merrimack (Virginia) vs. MonitorMonitor

Battle of the first Battle of the first ironclad shipsironclad shipsMarch 1862March 1862

Merrimack Merrimack was later destroyed by was later destroyed by Confederates so Union would not Confederates so Union would not

get get itit

Antietam, MD—September 1862Antietam, MD—September 1862

AntietamAntietam

Confederate soldier dropped battle plans Confederate soldier dropped battle plans wrapped around a cigar packwrapped around a cigar pack

Union “victory” and turning point in the warUnion “victory” and turning point in the war

Hopes of European aid for the South dimHopes of European aid for the South dim

Lincoln issues the Emancipation Lincoln issues the Emancipation ProclamationProclamation

even more info: Antietameven more info: Antietam Lee invaded Maryland Lee invaded Maryland

trying to end war.trying to end war. Regarded as the Regarded as the

bloodiest day in bloodiest day in American HistoryAmerican History

There was no clear There was no clear winner of the battle, winner of the battle, but it was enough for but it was enough for Lincoln to call it a Lincoln to call it a Union victoryUnion victory

Emancipation Emancipation ProclamationProclamation

Effective January 1, Effective January 1, 18631863

Freed slaves in areas Freed slaves in areas rebelling against the rebelling against the Union (NOT those in Union (NOT those in border states)border states)

Mixed reactionsMixed reactions

Fredericksburg, VA—Fredericksburg, VA—December 1862; Union December 1862; Union commander Burnsidecommander Burnside

FredericksburgFredericksburg General Burnside sends Union troops across an open field at Lee General Burnside sends Union troops across an open field at Lee

and his men, who were set up behind a stone wall. The Union Army and his men, who were set up behind a stone wall. The Union Army took huge losses.took huge losses.

“General Lee, A chicken could not

live on that field when we open on it”

-Gen. James Longstreet before

Fredericksburg

Chancellorsville, VA—May Chancellorsville, VA—May 18631863

N—Hooker, S—LeeN—Hooker, S—Lee The Confederacy wins with a surprise attack The Confederacy wins with a surprise attack

from behind Union forces from behind Union forces But Stonewall Jackson was mistakenly killed But Stonewall Jackson was mistakenly killed

late in the day by his own men.late in the day by his own men.

Jackson is buried in Lexington, KY, but his Jackson is buried in Lexington, KY, but his arm is buried 100 miles away on a farmarm is buried 100 miles away on a farm

Gettysburg—July 1-3, Gettysburg—July 1-3, 18631863

GettysburgGettysburg Lee tries to invade the North Lee tries to invade the North Meade is main Northern generalMeade is main Northern general Lee’s army was short on supplies, Lee’s army was short on supplies,

and the North is where they would be and the North is where they would be able to raid towns for food, clothes able to raid towns for food, clothes and other necessities.and other necessities.

He hopes that Northern public He hopes that Northern public support would drop and bring about support would drop and bring about an end to the War.an end to the War.

75,000 Confederates in 75,000 Confederates in Pennsylvania!Pennsylvania!

The first shots The first shots are fired by are fired by Illinois Cavalry Illinois Cavalry when a Southern when a Southern raiding party raiding party was discovered was discovered coming into coming into Gettysburg Gettysburg looking for looking for shoes.shoes.

This was the only This was the only major battle major battle fought in the fought in the NorthNorth

Sample battle maps

Day 2: Little Round TopDay 2: Little Round Top

Little Round Top after the Battle

Cemetery RidgeCemetery Ridge

The weapons were more advanced The weapons were more advanced than the tacticsthan the tactics

A big reason casualties were so high during the Civil War was A big reason casualties were so high during the Civil War was because the weapons technology had advanced, but generals because the weapons technology had advanced, but generals were still using the old way of fighting – marching up men in were still using the old way of fighting – marching up men in columns, lining up and firing.columns, lining up and firing.

Day 3: Pickett’s ChargeDay 3: Pickett’s Charge

On the 3On the 3rdrd day of the battle, Lee orders 15,000 men day of the battle, Lee orders 15,000 men under Gen. George Pickett to assault the center of the under Gen. George Pickett to assault the center of the Union line. They must cross a half mile of open ground Union line. They must cross a half mile of open ground to get there.to get there.

Casualties after 3 days at Gettysburg – Union: 23,000; Confederacy: 28,000. Gettysburg permanently turned the tide of the war for the North.

From that point on Lee’s army was hurting.

Matthew Brady’s photos of Civil War battlefields Matthew Brady’s photos of Civil War battlefields presented the horrors of the war to the public presented the horrors of the war to the public

in a way they had never seen before.in a way they had never seen before.

Gettysburg Address: 272 words that Gettysburg Address: 272 words that provide hope for liberty worldwideprovide hope for liberty worldwide

Meanwhile….Meanwhile….Out WestOut West

Battle of Shiloh, TN—Battle of Shiloh, TN—April 1862April 1862

Shiloh was a particularly gory northern “victory.”

Casualties from the entire Revolutionary War: 4,500Casualties from two days at the Battle of Shiloh: 23,500

Battle of New Orleans, spring Battle of New Orleans, spring 1862—Farragut commands the 1862—Farragut commands the

Union troopsUnion troops

Battle of Vicksburg, 1863Battle of Vicksburg, 1863in Mississippiin Mississippi

Goals: control of the Mississippi Goals: control of the Mississippi River and cutting off Confederate River and cutting off Confederate supply routessupply routes

Grant—N general; Pemberton—S Grant—N general; Pemberton—S generalgeneral

Vicksburg factsVicksburg facts Siege ended July 4, 1863Siege ended July 4, 1863 Confederate garrison was so hungry that Confederate garrison was so hungry that

men were eating rats and mules to men were eating rats and mules to survivesurvive

Union victory came one day after the Union victory came one day after the victory at Gettysburg and victory at Gettysburg and ended any ended any hope that the Confederacy had of hope that the Confederacy had of getting foreign aid from England or getting foreign aid from England or FranceFrance

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant Grant’s victory at Grant’s victory at

Vicksburg gave the Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Union control of the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.

Grant was an Grant was an aggressive military aggressive military leader and always leader and always wanted to push his wanted to push his army forward.army forward.

The North’s most The North’s most effective general.effective general.

Atlanta and Sherman’s Atlanta and Sherman’s March to the SeaMarch to the Sea

Facts about the MarchFacts about the March

Sherman’s men captured Atlanta in Sherman’s men captured Atlanta in September 1864 and burned the citySeptember 1864 and burned the city

They then cut a 60-mile-wide path of They then cut a 60-mile-wide path of destruction during their 250 mile destruction during their 250 mile journey southeast to Savannahjourney southeast to Savannah

Soldiers burned buildings, tore up Soldiers burned buildings, tore up railroad tracks and shaped them into railroad tracks and shaped them into pretzels, and ran off with souvenirs pretzels, and ran off with souvenirs after looting townsafter looting towns

ShermanSherman

Ruins in Charleston, SCRuins in Charleston, SC

As the Union reached As the Union reached Victory. . .Victory. . . Grant fought a “war of Grant fought a “war of

attrition” and pressed on attrition” and pressed on until the South ran out of until the South ran out of men, supplies and the men, supplies and the will to fightwill to fight

The Wilderness The Wilderness Campaign (Grant vs. Campaign (Grant vs. Lee) led to high numbers Lee) led to high numbers of casualties and brutal of casualties and brutal guerilla warfare as the guerilla warfare as the Union tried to capture Union tried to capture Richmond, Virginia Richmond, Virginia

Appomattox Courthouse, April Appomattox Courthouse, April 9, 18659, 1865

Lee Surrenders at Lee Surrenders at AppomattoxAppomattox

Lee meets with Grant to sign terms of Lee meets with Grant to sign terms of surrender in Appomattox Courthouse, surrender in Appomattox Courthouse, VirginiaVirginia

Lee thought Grant’s terms were Lee thought Grant’s terms were generous.generous. The Confederate Army had to turn over The Confederate Army had to turn over

its arms and provide lists of its men.its arms and provide lists of its men. After that, all Confederate soldiers After that, all Confederate soldiers

could go home.could go home. Officers could keep their side-arms, Officers could keep their side-arms,

horses and baggage.horses and baggage. 40 hours after Jefferson Davis fled 40 hours after Jefferson Davis fled

Richmond, Lincoln sat in his office and Richmond, Lincoln sat in his office and walked the streets of the former walked the streets of the former Confederate capital.Confederate capital.

SIX OBJECTIVES SIX OBJECTIVES OF UNION STRATEGYOF UNION STRATEGY

Blockade the coastBlockade the coastLiberate slaves/undermine economy of the Liberate slaves/undermine economy of the SouthSouthCut Confederacy in half by seizing Cut Confederacy in half by seizing Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverChop the Confederacy to pieces by Chop the Confederacy to pieces by sending troops through Georgia and the sending troops through Georgia and the CarolinasCarolinasCapture Richmond, the Confederate Capture Richmond, the Confederate capitalcapital

Roles played by African-Roles played by African-AmericansAmericans

180,000 served in the Union army, made up 10% of 180,000 served in the Union army, made up 10% of enlistmentsenlistments

Participated in about 500 engagementsParticipated in about 500 engagements Won 22 Congressional Medals of HonorWon 22 Congressional Medals of Honor Extremely heavy casualties; about 38,000 died, and Extremely heavy casualties; about 38,000 died, and

if captured, were often executedif captured, were often executed Fort Pillow massacre in Tennessee as they tried to Fort Pillow massacre in Tennessee as they tried to

surrendersurrender Some slaves served as spies and scouts for the Some slaves served as spies and scouts for the

UnionUnion South enlisted African-Americans during the last South enlisted African-Americans during the last

month of the war as an act of desperationmonth of the war as an act of desperation About 500,000 escaped to the NorthAbout 500,000 escaped to the North

5454thth Massachusetts Massachusetts

In the North, all black regiments were being formed. The 54th Massachusetts gained military fame for leading the failed assault on Fort Wagner. Casualties were at 50%

Election issues in 1864Election issues in 1864 Democratic party split: War Democrats are Democratic party split: War Democrats are

pro-Lincoln, Peace Democrats want to end pro-Lincoln, Peace Democrats want to end the war, and Copperheads support the the war, and Copperheads support the SouthSouth

Radical Republicans resent Lincoln’s use of Radical Republicans resent Lincoln’s use of power and want to run Salmon Chasepower and want to run Salmon Chase

UNION party formed by Republicans and UNION party formed by Republicans and War DemocratsWar Democrats

Democrats run McClellan vs. LincolnDemocrats run McClellan vs. Lincoln Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat, is Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat, is

chosen as Lincoln’s running mate to help chosen as Lincoln’s running mate to help gain victorygain victory

Lincoln’s death and its impactLincoln’s death and its impact

Shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC on April 14, Theater in Washington, DC on April 14, 18651865

Made things worse for the South and Made things worse for the South and intensified the struggle over intensified the struggle over Reconstruction; Lincoln had been a Reconstruction; Lincoln had been a moderate and skilled at the political game moderate and skilled at the political game in ways that Andrew Johnson would prove in ways that Andrew Johnson would prove not to benot to be

Casualties of warCasualties of war

Casualty rates for many Civil War battles were at 50%. Nowadays a 10% casualty rate is considered a “bloodbath”

Some regiments that began with around 1,500 men would be reduced to less that 300 in a year.

Toll the war took on the countryToll the war took on the country Over 600,000 people died, which is almost as many Over 600,000 people died, which is almost as many

as the deaths in all other US wars combinedas the deaths in all other US wars combined

$15 billion in losses$15 billion in losses

Southern economy paralyzed; the impact of this Southern economy paralyzed; the impact of this lingers todaylingers today

No more ideas about secession and nullificationNo more ideas about secession and nullification

End of slaveryEnd of slavery

Despite the destruction, the war served as Despite the destruction, the war served as inspiration for the champions of democracy in the US inspiration for the champions of democracy in the US and around the world….though the road to equality and around the world….though the road to equality would be difficult for African-Americanswould be difficult for African-Americans