AMERICAN HISTORY I
The Civil War
Strengths… and Weaknesses
North No clear military
leader Naval advantage
(3/4 of officers, most shipyards, warships)
22 million people 80% of nation’s
factories Well-established
distribution lines
South Strong military
tradition – and Gen. Robert E. Lee
9 million people (1/3 enslaved!)
Only one foundry; no ordnance production
Plenty of food … but no way to
distribute it efficiently
Financial PositionNorth
Financial center – large cash reserves!
Controlled national treasury
Tariff revenue Legal Tender Act
(1862) “greenbacks” Inflation – but not
as severe (80%)
South Southern debt –
couldn’t sell bonds! Smaller banks had
less cash in reserve Blockades limited
trade revenue Resistance to
tariffs! Printing more paper
money led to rampant inflation (9,000%)
Government and Politics Lincoln’s first priority – save the Union!
Northern Democrats divided “War Democrats” supported war, wanted status quo
antebellum “Peace Democrats” against war, wanted negotiation –
Republicans called them Copperheads
Different views on conscription (“drafting”) Republicans favored it, supported militia law Democrats thought it a violation of civil liberties Lincoln suspended writs of habeas corpus to quiet
dissent
The Confederacy Struggles Confederate states independent, by new constitution
Weak central government; difficult to get all to look past own interests and agree
Davis pursued similar measures to Lincoln’s to build military, keep order, limit dissent
Confederacy sought support from Europe Some planters refused to sell cotton until recognized Foreign intervention might help break blockade? North wanted Britain, France to stay out of internal affairs
Britain, France took a wait-and-see approach Confederate emissaries boarded British vessel Trent Union warship San Jacinto captured Trent, arrested emissaries Lincoln released emissaries to avoid conflict with Britain “Trent Affair” raised international awareness – but no recognition
Military Tactics and Strategy
First “modern” war – much larger armies and newer, more deadly weapons
Conoidal (cone-shaped) bullets Armies used trenches, barricades – not columns
A war of attrition – each side waited for the other to run out of supplies, resources, troops
High casualty rates less of a problem for the North Official Confederate position to fight a defensive war
to wear out the North …but for many Southerners, this wasn’t honorable –
so offensive attacks led to heavy casualties
“The Anaconda Plan”
General Ulysses S. Grant General Robert E. Lee
Early Battles First battle at Bull Run (Manassas Junction)
“Stonewall” Jackson’s stand prevents Confederate retreat
Union defeat – no quick victory, more men needed!
David Farragut secured port, lower Mississippi River for the Union at New Orleans
Despite horrific casualties, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s victory for the Union at Shiloh established his reputation, earned Lincoln’s support
War in the West, 1862 - 1863
More Early Battles Lee outsmarted McClellan at the Second Battle
at Bull Run – bringing Confederate troops within 13 miles of D.C.!
Lee sought a victory on Union soil at Antietam - but it was the Union’s victory in the bloodiest one-day battle of the war
South lost possibility of European support (British government decided not to intervene as mediator)
Lincoln determined to end slavery in the South!
The Emancipation Proclamation Republicans torn over the issue of slavery
Abolitionists believed it had to end Moderates (like Lincoln) did not want to alienate border states
having slaves, but still in the Union
Northern opinion shifted as war dragged on Slavery had to end to punish the South Give purpose, meaning to the sacrifices of so many Lincoln: if Union victorious at Antietam, he would issue
proclamation ending slavery
Emancipation Proclamation freed those enslaved in all states in rebellion against the Union on January 1, 1863
Did not address slavery in border states Re-focused purpose of war – now a war to end slavery!
Economic Challenges Confederacy struggled to stay financially afloat
Union disrupted supply lines, occupied agricultural territory
Lack of food, concern over families’ safety led to desertions
North enjoyed an economic boom due to wartime demand
Women kept industrial production going while men on the battlefields
Machinery required fewer workers for farming, textiles Government contracts made some industrialists quite
wealthy!
African-Americans in the Military
After emancipation, many African-Americans enlisted in the Union army, navy
Served in segregated regiments Frederick Douglass: military service could help break
racial prejudices? Possibly enslaved, killed if captured by Confederacy!
54th Massachusetts regiment one of the first, and best-known, African-American regiment
Still suffered discrimination in terms of supplies, pay Bravery, heroism opened the door for other
regiments to be formed
Battlefield Hardships For both sides, food supplies inconsistent
Soldiers would forage for food, or take produce, livestock from farms along the way
Hardtack, beans, dried meat were staples
Confederate soldiers lacked shelter, blankets, shoes
Medical care primitive by today’s standards Illness (dysentery, smallpox, pneumonia, typhoid) Infection (amputations, gangrene, no sterile instruments)
Too many prisoners of war to provide for! Prisoner exchanges stopped due to Confederate treatment of
African-American soldiers Confederate Andersonville Prison notorious for neglect, illness
The Fall of Vicksburg Vicksburg, Mississippi the last remaining
Confederate town on the river
Taking Vicksburg would cut Confederacy in two – and secure the Mississippi for the Union
Grierson’s cavalry created a diversion while Grant’s men traveled quickly to the west and south of town
Union soldiers pushed Confederates back into Vicksburg, put town under siege
Starving Confederates surrendered nearly six weeks later, on July 4, 1863
The Battle of Gettysburg Lincoln thought McClellan ineffective –
perhaps intimidated by Lee? McClellan fired, but next two generals
(Burnside and Hooker) not impressive either Union suffered defeats at Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville (VA)
Lee wished to exploit weakness…
Launched invasion of North into Pennsylvania (and obtain supplies!)
A Southern Defeat… New Union General George
Meade pushed them south, confronted them at Gettysburg
Union troops did not give ground; held Cemetery Ridge
“Pickett’s Charge” disastrous – Confederates retreated
Lee lost about a third of his entire army in this one battle!
Turning point – from this point on, a defensive war for the Confederacy
The Gettysburg AddressNovember 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The Union Secures Chattanooga Chattanooga (TN) a key railroad hub, and a vital supply line
for the Confederacy Union Gen. Rosecrans pushed Confederates out, but turned back
from further advance at Chickamauga Forced to wait at Chattanooga for reinforcements
Lincoln sent 12,000 of Meade’s men to help, with Grant in command of the battle
Confederates held high ground on Missionary Ridge Foolish to attack directly? Grant sent General William T.
Sherman to attack from the north Gen. George Thomas’ men to lead diversionary attack - but charged
up the ridge! Surprised Confederate troops scattered; Union took the city
The Final Campaigns Union unable to break Confederate lines at the Wilderness
and Cold Harbor in Virginia
Grant’s men found Petersburg, VA well-defended City fortified by barricades, trenches, cannon No direct attack possible – so Grant laid siege to it
Admiral Farragut sealed off the Confederate port at Mobile, AL
“Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” Closed Mobile Bay to blockade runners trying to supply the Confederacy
General Sherman headed to Atlanta for the final strike “Sherman neckties” crippled southern rail lines “March to the Sea” demoralized Southerners, destroyed anything of
military value Burned, looted many towns in South Carolina, where the war had begun
The War Ends Lincoln faced Democrat challenge from (fired) General
George McClellan Sherman’s capture of Atlanta bolstered war support Lincoln won easily – and saw election as mandate to end
slavery for good
13th Amendment passed in January 1865, banning slavery in the United States
Lee’s troops forced to retreat from Petersburg, fled west
Union troops blocked them at Appomattox Courthouse
Lee surrendered there on April 9, 1865
The Death of Lincoln In the immediate aftermath of the war, Lincoln
spoke about reunification Expected African-Americans to serve in government in
the South John Wilkes Booth took great offense at this idea
Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 He was attending a play at Ford’s Theater with his wife Booth shot the president in the head, and briefly
escaped (although Booth died during capture)
Lincoln’s death left many unanswered questions – what should we do now?