US Civil War

1861-1865

A. Fort Sumter1. One of 2 federal forts still in

south.2. Supplies at Ft. Sumter

running low – Lincoln had 2 choices – both bad

a. No supplies to fort=surrender and ruin his reputation.

b. Send in reinforcements = act of war and North would be seen as the aggressor.

c. SOLUTION= Lincoln sent supplies ONLY, let SC know there were no weapons or troops.

3. Fort bombarded 3 days later (April 12, 1861) with 70 cannon for 34 hrs. – no casualties4. April 15 – Lincoln calls for blockade of Southern ports – seen as act of war.

B. Border States (MD, MO, KY and DE)1. Slaves states that stayed with Union because they were not the aggressors.2. Crucial to Union cause – contribute 300,000 troops.3. West Virginia secedes from VA to join Union in mid 1861.4. Contained over 50% of South’s white population and the fewest slaves.5. Lincoln promises that main purpose of the war is to preserve the Union,

not free the slaves.

C. Confederate Assets

1. Needed only a stalemate to “win”2. On the defense; north had to

invade and conquer3. Had the stronger moral cause

(initially) of self – determination, culture and homeland.

4. Superb military leadersa. Robert E. Leeb. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

5. Strong cavalry and infantrymen

D. Confederate Drawbacks1. South still very agricultural –

lacked industrial capacity to wage war.

2. Border states did not secede.3. Did not get much needed

foreign support.4. Only 9 million ppl in South

(3.5 mil of which were enslaved)

5. Slaves not enlisted to fight until 1 mo. before end of war.

6. Union blockade devastated southern economy.

E. Northern Advantages

1. 22 million people – 3:1 advantage over South.

2. Possessed ¾ of nation’s wealth.

3. Possessed ¾ of nation’s railroads.

4. Controlled sea though blockade of Southern ports.

5. Border states

F. Northern Disadvantages

1. Ineffective generals.2. “Copperheads” in

north supported South.

3. Robber barons becoming wealthy off of war at expense of war effort.

G. Union War Strategy1. Union originally thought war would be over in 90 days.2. Union suffers major losses in 1861 – early 1862.

a. First Bull Runb. Peninsula Campaignc. Vicksburgd. Chancellorsville

3. Initial losses a wake-up call for the North – this was going to be a long, hard fought war.

4. War develops into 4 Stages:a. Strangle the south with

blockade – “Anaconda Plan”

b. Control the Mississippi and divide the South in 2.

c. Destroy the South by cutting a swath through Georgia and turn northward.

d. Capture Richmond

H. Antietam and Emancipation Proclamation

1. Sept 17, 1862 – arguably the most important battle of the war – and the bloodiest

2. Lee invades MD hoping to take it from the Union and gain foreign support.

3. Ended in stalemate, Lee retreats4. McClellan should have won or

pursued Lee in retreat – did neither and was removed as commander of Union Army.

5. 25% of southern troops died in battle, yet never so close to victory.

6. Foreign gov’ts decide NOT to intervene on South’s behalf

7. 52:20 on Ep 3

7. Lincoln got the victory he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation

a. Issued on Sept 22, 1862 but to go into effect on Jan. 1. 1863.

b. Only frees slaves in “states in rebellion”, not the 4 border states that fought for the Union and still had slavery.

c. North had new moral purpose and needed boost in morale.

d. Some northerners thought it went too far, others thought it did not go far enough.

I. War Rages On

1. Western Theatera. Led by US Grant, Lincoln’s

most able general.b. Wins at Fts Henry and

Donelson c. Wins at Shiloh in April 1862.

2. Eastern Theatera. South more successfulb. Lincoln goes through string

of generals – Burnside, Hooker, Meade…

c. Gettysburgi. July 1-3, 1862ii. Lee moves into North again in hopes

of peace settlement OR foreign support.

iii. 3 days of fighting ends in Lee retreating, Meade allows him to retreat – war could have been over.

d. Vicksburgiv. South surrenders the following day

(July 4th) after 7 mo. Siege at Vicksburg, TN

v. North gains control of Mississippi - South split in two

vi. Grant promoted to General of the East

vii. Boost in Union moraleviii. Ep 5

J. Sherman’s March1. William T. Sherman

pushed his way through Georgia and captured Atlanta in Sept 1864.

2. Cut 60 mi wide swath and got to Savannah by Dec.

3. Determined to inflict horrors of war on civilians to break its will to fight = TOTAL WAR.

4. Despite brutality of campaign, it probably shortened the war.

K. Election of 18641. Elected to 2nd term vs. Geo B. McClellan (former general).2. Cites “with malice towards none and charity for all” in his 2nd

inaugural address – showing mercy for reconstruction of south.3. His election a crushing blow to south – total war would

continue.

L. Appomattox1. South tried to negotiate

a “peace between two countries” – Lincoln would accept nothing but “unconditional surrender”.

2. Confederate Army surrounded near Appomattox Court House in VA

3. Lee surrenders April 9, 1865 – 30,000 captured allowed to go home and keep horses for spring planting.

M. Assassination1. 5 days after surrender, Lincoln

assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theater.

2. Died at the height of his popularity.

3. South cheered initially but soon realized that it spelled disaster for them

a. Lincoln’s Reconstruction moderate compared to what radical Republicans had in mind

b. North now more bitter towards South after Lincoln’s death – wanted them to pay.

Questions for Discussion

• Why did the South lose? Was it because of a loss of will or something more?

• What was the turning point of the war?• Lincoln is perennially ranked as the best (or

second best) President of the 43 we’ve had – is this deserved or is his reputation inflation because he was assassinated?