The U.S. Civil WarThe U.S. Civil War

Stephen Arnold DouglasStephen Arnold Douglas

In 1854 Illinois In 1854 Illinois Senator Stephen A. Senator Stephen A. Douglas pushed the Douglas pushed the Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act through the United through the United States Congress. States Congress.

The act said that The act said that residents of the two residents of the two territories should territories should decide for decide for themselves whether themselves whether slavery should be slavery should be legal.legal.

President LincolnPresident Lincoln Soon after Abraham Soon after Abraham

Lincoln's election as Lincoln's election as president of the United president of the United States, seven Southern States, seven Southern states seceded from the states seceded from the Union because they Union because they feared that Lincoln would feared that Lincoln would abolish slavery.abolish slavery.

Four more states had Four more states had followed by the time followed by the time Lincoln delivered his first Lincoln delivered his first inaugural address on inaugural address on March 4, 1861.March 4, 1861.

U.S. in 1861 before Civil U.S. in 1861 before Civil WarWar

Civil War BeginsCivil War Begins South Carolina was South Carolina was

the first state to the first state to secede from the secede from the Union on December Union on December 20, 1860. It was 20, 1860. It was also the site of the also the site of the first battle of the first battle of the American Civil War.American Civil War.

On April 12, 1861, On April 12, 1861, Confederate Confederate artillery shelled artillery shelled Fort Sumter in Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.Charleston Harbor.

Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis During the American During the American

Civil War (1861-1865), Civil War (1861-1865), Jefferson Davis served Jefferson Davis served as the president of the as the president of the Confederate States of Confederate States of America. America.

Davis was a pro-Davis was a pro-slavery advocate who slavery advocate who initially opposed initially opposed secession. However, secession. However, when his state when his state withdrew from the withdrew from the Union, he resigned Union, he resigned from the U.S. Senate from the U.S. Senate to support the South.to support the South.

Giant Mobile MortarGiant Mobile Mortar

Confederate troops Confederate troops pose with a giant pose with a giant flatcar-mounted flatcar-mounted mortar. mortar.

Railroads greatly Railroads greatly increased the ability increased the ability of both sides to of both sides to transport troops, transport troops, supplies, and supplies, and weapons during the weapons during the American Civil War American Civil War (1861-1865).(1861-1865).

Confederate CurrencyConfederate Currency

The Confederate The Confederate States of America States of America issued its own issued its own paper currency paper currency throughout the throughout the American Civil War American Civil War (1861-1865). (1861-1865).

Shown here are Shown here are Confederate bills Confederate bills ranging in value ranging in value from 5 to 100 from 5 to 100 dollars.dollars.

Stonewall JacksonStonewall Jackson One of the most One of the most

famous generals of famous generals of the American Civil the American Civil War (1861-1865), War (1861-1865), Thomas Jonathan Thomas Jonathan Jackson served Jackson served under Confederate under Confederate General Robert E. General Robert E. Lee. Lee.

During the First During the First Battle of Bull Run, or Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, JacksonManassas, Jackson’’s s brigade was brigade was victorious though it victorious though it faced overwhelming faced overwhelming odds.odds.

Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee was a Robert E. Lee was a brilliant general who brilliant general who commanded the commanded the Confederate Army Confederate Army during the American during the American Civil War (1861-1865).Civil War (1861-1865).

He was known for his He was known for his leadership, dignity, leadership, dignity, and calm manner, and calm manner, even in times of stress.even in times of stress.

Monitor and VirginiaMonitor and Virginia Ironclad ships Ironclad ships MonitorMonitor

and and VirginiaVirginia fire fire cannonades at one cannonades at one another at point-blank another at point-blank range during the historic range during the historic battle of Hampton battle of Hampton Roads in March, 1862. Roads in March, 1862.

The Union The Union MonitorMonitor was was smaller and lighter than smaller and lighter than its Confederate its Confederate counterpart. The battle counterpart. The battle was considered a draw.was considered a draw.

Union Battery near Yorktown, Union Battery near Yorktown, VirginiaVirginia

Union General George B. Union General George B. McClellan occupied McClellan occupied Yorktown, Virginia, in May Yorktown, Virginia, in May 1862. Northern forces 1862. Northern forces built batteries and built batteries and earthworks such as the earthworks such as the one pictured here to one pictured here to protect their armies. protect their armies.

McClellan used the McClellan used the Yorktown area to prepare Yorktown area to prepare a planned march on a planned march on Richmond, the Richmond, the Confederate capital.Confederate capital.

Abraham Lincoln at AntietamAbraham Lincoln at Antietam

After the Battle of After the Battle of Antietam on September Antietam on September 17, 1862, President 17, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln visited Abraham Lincoln visited Union commanders on Union commanders on the battlefield. the battlefield.

The battle marked the The battle marked the bloodiest one-day battle bloodiest one-day battle of the American Civil of the American Civil WarWar——casualties from casualties from both sides mounted to both sides mounted to about 23,000. In the about 23,000. In the end, however, the Union end, however, the Union army emerged army emerged victorious.victorious.

George Brinton McClellanGeorge Brinton McClellan

A brilliant strategist, A brilliant strategist, organizer, and trainer of organizer, and trainer of troops during the troops during the American Civil War (1861-American Civil War (1861-1865), General George 1865), General George McClellan was praised as a McClellan was praised as a ““young Napoleon.young Napoleon.””

However, his timidity on However, his timidity on the battlefield caused the battlefield caused President Abraham Lincoln President Abraham Lincoln to replace him as leader of to replace him as leader of the Union forces.the Union forces.

Union Casualties at GettysburgUnion Casualties at Gettysburg During the American Civil During the American Civil

War, the Battle of War, the Battle of Gettysburg began on July Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, when a 1, 1863, when a Confederate brigade Confederate brigade searching for a badly searching for a badly needed supply of shoes in needed supply of shoes in the small town of the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, ran into Union cavalry.ran into Union cavalry.

After the three days of After the three days of battle were over, Union battle were over, Union forces claimed victory, forces claimed victory, although both sides although both sides suffered heavy casualties. suffered heavy casualties.

Union General Ulysses S. GrantUnion General Ulysses S. Grant

During the American During the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was one of the Grant was one of the Union ArmyUnion Army’’s most s most successful generals.successful generals.

President Abraham President Abraham Lincoln selected Grant Lincoln selected Grant to lead the Union to lead the Union forces on March 9, forces on March 9, 1864, following a 1864, following a string of unsuccessful string of unsuccessful commanders.commanders.

Atlanta in the American Civil Atlanta in the American Civil WarWar

This photograph This photograph depicts Atlantadepicts Atlanta’’s s Peachtree Street Peachtree Street after the Union army after the Union army under General under General William Sherman William Sherman took the city on took the city on September 2, 1864, September 2, 1864, during the American during the American Civil War. Civil War.

Sherman burned the Sherman burned the city two months later city two months later before embarking on before embarking on his march to the sea.his march to the sea.

American Civil War DestructionAmerican Civil War Destruction

In 1864, during the In 1864, during the American Civil War, Union American Civil War, Union troops led by General troops led by General William T. Sherman William T. Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia. captured Atlanta, Georgia. From there, Sherman split From there, Sherman split his forces and marched his forces and marched them in a parallel route them in a parallel route southeast to the Atlantic southeast to the Atlantic Ocean and then through Ocean and then through South Carolina. South Carolina.

Along the way, ShermanAlong the way, Sherman ’’s s troops destroyed everything troops destroyed everything in their path, including in their path, including civilian property that could civilian property that could be of use to the be of use to the Confederates. Confederates.

William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman One of the UnionOne of the Union’’s s

best generals during best generals during the American Civil War the American Civil War (1861-1865), William (1861-1865), William T. Sherman marched T. Sherman marched an army through the an army through the South, destroying the South, destroying the last of the Southlast of the South’’s s economic resources.economic resources.

Because he waged an Because he waged an economic war against economic war against civilians, he has been civilians, he has been called the first modern called the first modern general.general.

Siege of PetersburgSiege of Petersburg In 1864, Northern In 1864, Northern

troops tried to troops tried to capture Petersburg, capture Petersburg, Virginia, during the Virginia, during the American Civil War.American Civil War.

After being After being defeated in battle, defeated in battle, they surrounded the they surrounded the city, blocking food city, blocking food and supplies from and supplies from entering. Almost a entering. Almost a year later, the city year later, the city surrendered in April surrendered in April 1865. Here, 1865. Here, Northern soldiers sit Northern soldiers sit in the trenches in the trenches surrounding surrounding Petersburg.Petersburg.

Andersonville Prison, Andersonville Prison, GeorgiaGeorgia

Prisoners of war of Prisoners of war of both sides both sides suffered greatly.suffered greatly.

In the Confederate In the Confederate prison at prison at Andersonville, Andersonville, more than 13,700 more than 13,700 Union soldiers died Union soldiers died of starvation and of starvation and disease out of disease out of almost 50,000 almost 50,000 men.men.

Company E: Company E: 4th U.S. Colored Infantry4th U.S. Colored Infantry

Virtually all black Virtually all black soldiers fought on soldiers fought on the side of the the side of the Union during the Union during the American Civil War American Civil War (1861-1865).(1861-1865).

They served in They served in segregated all-black segregated all-black units, like the one units, like the one pictured here, and pictured here, and fought in nearly 500 fought in nearly 500 engagements. engagements.

Surrender at Surrender at Appomattox Court HouseAppomattox Court House

On April 9, both On April 9, both generals met at a generals met at a private home in the private home in the small town of small town of Appomattox Court Appomattox Court House.House.

Grant offered Grant offered generous terms, generous terms, which Lee which Lee graciously graciously accepted. With accepted. With that, the American that, the American Civil War ended.Civil War ended.

Assassination of Abraham Assassination of Abraham LincolnLincoln

President Abraham President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Lincoln was shot in FordFord’’s Theater, s Theater, Washington DC, on Washington DC, on April 14, 1865 by John April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth, a Wilkes Booth, a Southern sympathizer.Southern sympathizer.

Lincoln was taken to a Lincoln was taken to a boarding house across boarding house across the street. Doctors the street. Doctors worked on him worked on him throughout the night throughout the night but Lincoln died the but Lincoln died the next morning.next morning.