THECIVIL WAR1861 - 1865

I. Early EventsA. “Bleeding Kansas” (1856)

“Free Soilers” competed with “Ruffians” to control Kansas.

In response to an attack on abolitionists, John Brown led raids on pro-slavery settlements killing five men.

John Brown became the face of abolition to slave supporters & a wanted man.

I. Early EventsB. Election of 1856

Candidates: Democrat – James Buchanan of Pennsylvania Republican – John C. Fremont

Despite Buchanan’s victory, Fremont’s campaign slogan “Free Speech, Free Soil, & Fremont” & the tight race showed the increased support for abolishing slavery.

I. Early EventsC. Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that Scott did not have the right to sue for his freedom, the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, and that Congress had no right to exclude slavery from the territories.

The Supreme Court’s decision defended slavery & intensified the slavery debate rather than end the slavery controversy.

BAD MOON RISING

New York Tribune:

“We are not one people. We are two peoples. We are a people for Freedom and a people for Slavery. Between the two, conflict is inevitable”.

I. Early EventsD. Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

A series of debates between Illinois senator Stephen Douglas & Republican challenger Abraham Lincoln brought the controversy of slavery national.

Despite his defeat, Lincoln used his belief that “. . . A house divided against itself cannot stand” to challenge the unchecked extension of slavery granted by the Dred Scott decision.

These debates established Abraham Lincoln as a legitimate Republican candidate for President.

VS.

I. Early EventsE. Raid at Harper’s Ferry (1859)

John Brown believed that only through insurrection could the “slave-cursed Republic be restored to the principles of the Declaration of Independence”.

Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in an attempt to incite a slave uprising in the south.

The failure of this raid caused many to consider violence the only option to solve the slavery crisis.

THE IMPENDING CRISIS"I...am now quite certain that the crimes of

this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."

- John Brown prior to his execution

II. Immediate CausesA. Election of 1860

This election signified the “sectional” differences that existed in our country at this time.

Political Party Candidate Position on SlaveryRepublican Lincoln No slavery in territoriesNorthern Democrats Douglas Popular SoveirgntySouthern Democrats Breckinridge Supported Dred Scott

DecisionConstitutional Union Bell Save the Union

Abraham Lincoln won the election, which directly leads to southern leaders decision to secede from the Union.

II. Immediate CausesB. End of the Union (1860-1861)

On December 20, 1860 South Carolina became the first of many southern states to secede from the Union.

Despite the absence of a popular consensus, by the end of 1861 eleven southern states had seceded from the Union.

The Confederate States of America was formed with Jefferson Davis serving as President.

II. Immediate CausesC. Attack on Fort Sumter (1861)

At 4:30 am, on April 12, 1861 Confederate forces led by Gen. Pierre Beauregard fired on Fort Sumter & forced federal troops led by Major Robert Anderson to surrender.

The battle lasted for 33 hours, yet no fatalities occurred.

III. Underlying CausesA. Differences in Lifestyles North vs. South Urban vs. Rural Industrial vs. Plantation Federal Rights vs. State Rights

III. Underlying CausesB. Sectionalism Each section of the nation were only looking

out for its own interest.

C. Slavery How to decide the issue of slavery?

IV. Advantages A. Union (North) More Population & States

21 million to 7 million, 24 to 11 More Manufacturing Capacity & Access to Food. Better Transportation More Money More Ships to Blockade the South Slaves Sympathized with the North

IV. AdvantagesB. Confederacy (South) Home Field Advantage

Allowed the Confederacy to fight a defensive war More Capable Army Officers Foreign Assistance

Countries such as Great Britain & France would be more willing to aid the Confederacy because of their dependence on King Cotton

V. War StrategiesA. Union (North) – Goals: Blockade the Southern coastline to cut

off supplies to the Confederacy. Split the Confederacy in two by taking control

of the Mississippi River & capture interior railroads.

Capture the Confederate capital of Richmond & join Union forces moving east from the Mississippi.

V. War StrategiesB. Confederacy (South) – Goals: Fight a defensive war so that a war-weary

Union would agree to Confederate peace terms.

Two exceptions: Capture the Union capital Washington D.C. Strike northward through the Shenandoah Valley

through Maryland & Pennsylvania, which would split the Northeast from the Midwest & disrupt lines of communication.

VI. Changes in the NorthA. Raising An Army Two million soldiers served in the Union forces. Troops were recruited through volunteer enlistments,

then a conscription act was passed & later a bounty system was established.

VI. Changes in the NorthB. Raising Northern Finances Morrill Tariff Act (1861) – raised import duties an average

of 25%. National Banking Act (1863) – provided for the

sale of war bonds Income Tax – first tax on national wages. Greenbacks – new paper money.

VI. Changes in the NorthC. Economic Expansion Manufacturers increased factory production, which

resulted in some profiteering. Labor saving machines & inventions were patented:

Sewing & Shoemaking Machines Canned Foods & Camera

Agricultural Expansion – more food was produced using new farm machinery.

Growth of Railroads – Government subsidies helped pay for new rails.

VI. Changes in the North

D. Political Problems Great Britain sold warships to the Confederacy to try

to break the Union Blockade. Copperheads – a radical wing of the Democratic

Party, led by Clement Vallandigham, opposed Union efforts in the North & South.

Women in the War – some women provided needed medical services on the battlefields such as Clara Barton the founder of the American Red Cross.

Freedman in the Union Army - were first excluded from enlisting, but later served yet they were still discriminated against.

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led one of the first official black units on an assault of Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina.

Their courage & bravery encouraged other African-American enlistments on the Union side.

Their story is depicted in the film “Glory”.

VII. Changes in the SouthA. Raising an Army The confederates first allowed enlistments, but then went to

conscription.

B. Raising Southern Finances Money was raised through Confederate War Bonds. More than one billion in bank notes were printed.

VII. Changes in the SouthC. Southern Industry Factories in the confederacy could not supply the needs

of the army or civilians. The northern blockade proved to be very effective

D. Agriculture & Transportation There was enough food production & labor to work the

farms & plantations to supply the army. The biggest problem was lack of transportation as there

were too few rail lines & a lack of adequate railroad equipment.

VII. Changes in the SouthE. Political Problems Many southerners insisted on the principle of states’

rights on such issues as conscription. When President Davis suspended the writ of habeas

corpus, South Carolina threatened to secede from the confederacy.

VII. Early Land BattlesA. First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas)

Hopes for a quick northern victory were dashed as the Confederates led by Gen. Joseph Johnston & Gen. Pierre Beauregard defeated General Irvin McDowell & the Union Army in August 1862.

Why two different names for the same battle?

VII. Early Land BattlesB. Battle of Antietam (1862)

Union Gen. George B. McClellan defeated Gen. Robert E. Lee in the bloodiest single day of the war, but Lincoln dismissed McClellan for not pursuing Lee.

Lincoln’s Major Goal

“If I could save the Union without freeing any slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”

- President Abraham Lincoln August 1862

IX. Emancipation Proclamation September 22, 1862

A. After the Union victory at Antietam, President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation as a propaganda tactic.B. On January 1, 1863 the Proclamation freed the slaves of the rebel states as a war measure & an “act of justice”, but it only became official with the adoption of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

IX. Major Sea BattlesA. Battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia

USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia – the Northern Ironclad Monitor held off the former USS Merrimack, which ended Confederate attempts to break the Union blockade – March 1862.

B. Battle of New Orleans Capt. David Farragut & Union Gunboats captured the

city along the Mississippi, which split the confederacy in two – April 1862.

X. Later Events (1863 – 1865)

A. Battle of Gettysburg Union Gen. George Meade defeated Gen. Robert E.

Lee in the last major offensive in the North – July 1863.

This battle proved to be the turning point of the war in the Union’s favor.

X. Later Events (1863 – 1865)

B. Gettysburg Address In this historic address, President Lincoln dedicated

the battlefield to all the soldiers that fought there.

Why did Lincoln dedicate the battlefield to all soldiers?

X. Later Events (1863 – 1865)

C. Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi Gen. Ulysses S. Grant forced a Confederate surrender

at Vicksburg giving the North complete control of river traffic in the Mississippi River – July 1863.

X. Later Events (1863 – 1865)

D. Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee Tennessee was cleared of Confederates, which

opened Sherman’s invasion of Georgia – November 1863.

Lincoln rewarded Grant by naming him General-In-Chief of the Union Army.

X. Later Events (1863 – 1865)

E. Election of 1864 Lincoln is re-elected with a new running mate Andrew

Johnson

F. Sherman’s March to the Sea Gen. William T. Sherman burned Atlanta, then

marched to Savannah using the scorched-earth policy.

Sherman’s Total War"We are not only fighting hostile armies, but

a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.“

- Gen. Sherman justifying his actions

Results of the War Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse

in Virginia on April 9, 1865. The Confederacy was defeated & the nation

was reunited. Slavery ended & one million lives were lost or

wounded