The Road to Civil War
Missouri Compromise of 1820
Supposed to settle issue of slavery in new western territories
Compromise favored the Anti-Slave folks (Abolitionists)
It was not strictly followed
The Problem?California splits the 36º30’ line from the MO Compromise.
The Solution:1. CA enters as a Free State
2. NM has no restrictions on slavery (no duh, they are under the 36º30’ anyways)
3. Slave Trade (NOT slavery) is outlawed in DC
4. Congress will pass a more strict Fugitive Slave Law
So, what’s the next Conflict?
Let’s look at that Fugitive Slave Law
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
•It required ALL citizens to help catch runaway slaves
•The Act actually convinced more Northerners to oppose slavery
•Northern juries refused to convict those who broke the law
•But, the law did have influential supporters in the North like Franklin Pierce (President)
Next Hot Button Issue . . .KANSAS AND NEBRASKA
Let the People decide the slavery issue?
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Enter Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois
Both KS and NE wanted in as
statesBoth states are
above the 36º30’ line
Both states would therefore be free
states
The Kansas-Nebraska ActDouglas had money
tied up in the RailroadHe also wanted to
be President in the near futureHe figured he needed
Southern support for that run
So, here is the idea Douglas comes up with
Throw out the Missouri Compromise
Let the people decide the issue of slavery for themselves (popular sovereignty)
The Kansas-Nebraska ActHe figures that the
people moving into these territories will not vote for slavery
But, he’s allowed the people to
decide which the South would
supportAnd he has done away with the unpopular and
ineffective Missouri
Compromise
Bleeding KansasIn 1855, KS elects a pro-
slavery legislature with the help of thousands of Border
Ruffians, people who crossed the border just to
voteThis government kept anti-slavery
people out of office and they had no
voiceThen, the anti-slavery folks formed another government and violence erupted
Bleeding Kansas
Unfortunately, Congress was split over the issue and nothing was done
to stop the violenceFinally, troops were
sent in and order restored – sort of
John Brown and his family murdered 4 pro-slavery folks in the night but, there
was this on both sides
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who was taken
with his family to free territory and then back to the
SouthHe took his case to the Supreme Court to argue that
since he lived in “free” territory, he should be a free
manThe Supreme Court ruled against him.
Dred ScottThe Court, led by
slaveholder Roger B. Taney, ruled against Dred Scott for two
reasonsFirst was that Dred Scott was not considered a citizen (since he was a
slave) and therefore had no standing in court (could not sue).
Second was that slaves were considered property and only their owner could grant freedom. The govn’t can’t just take away your
property
The Election of 1860
The Republicans
(newly formed and anti-slavery) nominated Abraham Lincoln
Northern Democrats (popular
sovereignty decides slavery)
nominated Stephen Douglas
Pro-slavery Southern
Democrats nominated
John C. BreckinridgeConstitutional Union Party (neutral
on slavery) nominated John Bell
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln won the election without carrying a single Southern state. He wasn’t even on the ballot for most of them! He did win all Northern states.
The writing was clearly on the wall for the South. They could not overcome Northern
(anti-slave) power.
Southern Reaction
On December 20, 1860, South
Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union!
Lincoln and the Republicans promised not to disturb slavery, but many in the South didn’t trust them.
Southern ReactionThe stage was set for the formation
of the Confederate States of America when in February of 1861,
TX, LA, MS, AL, FL and GA joined SC.Later that year, AR, TN, NC and VA made it 11 states to join the CSA.
The Confederate States of AmericaWhich Is the real flag of the CSA?
The Confederate States of AmericaWhich Is the real flag of the CSA?
First flag“Stars and Bars”
Second NationalFlag
Third NationalFlag
BattleFlag
Navy Jack “Rebel” Flag
The Confederate States of America
The CSA claimed it had the right to secede
because of States RightsThe federal government, in their mind, had refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act and thus had given the CSA states the right to leave the Union.
On February 4, 1861, representatives met in
Montgomery, AL to form a new government and
elected Jefferson Davis as their
President
The Civil War BeginsBack in Charleston, the new CSA threatened to bombard Fort Sumter
South Carolina had given the
commander of the fort orders to leave
the harbor just outside of CharlestonPresident Lincoln refused to recall his
troops and SC troops bombarded the installation on April 12, 1861. The
Federal fort was surrendered on the 14th and the Civil War had begun.
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Who’s In and Who’s Out?
•The Border States of Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware stayed with the Union (some more by force than choice)
•Because of this, Tennessee, Arkansas, Virginia and North Carolina all joined the Confederacy
•Lincoln issued a call for troops in response to Fort Sumter’s surrender
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Missouri and Kentucky•Protected Union farmland to the North•They helped control the MS and OH Rivers
The Border StatesThe Border States were Slave States
but Lincoln needed them too much
Maryland•w/o it, DC would be surrounded by the CSADelaware•Protects the ports of Philadelphia
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Here’s a tough question
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Who had the advantage in Who had the advantage in the War?the War?
Union or Union or Confederacy?Confederacy?
WhWhy?y?
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Union AdvantagesThe Union had larger populationMore troops means the More troops means the Union can withstand more Union can withstand more casualties and overcome casualties and overcome poor military leadershippoor military leadershipThe Union had more
industryThis means more This means more weapons and weapons and ammunitionammunition Abraham Lincoln
Like him or not, Like him or not, the Union couldn’t the Union couldn’t have won without have won without his leadership.his leadership.
Confederate Advantages
The CSA had a causeMuch like our Revolution, Much like our Revolution, the people were fighting the people were fighting to be free from an to be free from an oppressive governmentoppressive government
Military LeadershipThe South had more The South had more trained officers and more trained officers and more trained troops who had trained troops who had just finished fighting just finished fighting against Mexican troopsagainst Mexican troops
Plus, the CSA had “home field Plus, the CSA had “home field advantage”advantage”
#1 Blockade the Confederate CoastlineThis keeps the troop This keeps the troop movement slow and keeps movement slow and keeps the South from exporting the South from exporting cottoncotton
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Union war plan – Anaconda Plan
=
=
#2 Control the Mississippi RiverThis cuts off the This cuts off the
“West” from the “West” from the rest of the CSArest of the CSA
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Union war plan
It was a simple one-part planFight a “defensive” war. Make it Fight a “defensive” war. Make it difficult enough for the Union to difficult enough for the Union to take them back, the Union would take them back, the Union would simply get tired of fighting and simply get tired of fighting and recognize the CSA as a new recognize the CSA as a new nation.nation.
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Confederate war plan
Besides, they didn’t have Besides, they didn’t have the troop numbers to go the troop numbers to go on the “offensive.”on the “offensive.”
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Who were these two sides?
The Confederates were broken into two major Armies
The Army of Tennessee•This was the combination of the Armies of Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee•was headed by a few different Generals•Fought mostly in the Western Campaigns
The Army of Northern Virginia
•Eventually was headed by Robert E. Lee•Fought mostly in the Eastern Campaigns
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Who were these two sides?
The Union was broken into two major Armies as well
The Army of the Tennessee
•Fought in the Western Theater•Most notably headed by Generals Grant and Sherman
The Army of the Potomac•Lincoln’s main Army•Fought mostly in the Eastern Campaigns•Headed by a bunch of men - finally Grant
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Early Years (1861-1862)
Some Early Battles and their importance
DateWho Won?
Battle Significance
July 1861
CSA
First Bull Runor Manassas
First major battle of Civil WarBoth sides disorganizedStonewall Jackson - Confederate heroCSA can’t capitalize on Union retreat
April 1862
Union Shiloh
General Grant emerges as leader in WestCSA wins 1st day, but reinforcements from Nashville help Union pull it outFrom here, the Union takes Corinth, MS and Memphis – starts control of MS River
April 1862
UnionNew Orleans
David Farragut – Union Naval heroUnion capture of city gives them total control of MS River and keeps the CSA from using it to ship goods
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Early Years (1861-1862)
Some Early Battles and their importance
DateWho Won?
Battle Significance
March
1862CSA
Peninsular Campaign
McClellan wastes too much time training and building his troopsRobert E. Lee takes command of CSA troops – Army of VirginiaUnion fails to capture Richmond
August
1862CSA
2nd Bull Run or Manassas
Stonewall Jackson / Lee vs John PopeRichmond safe for nowCSA pushes to 20 miles from DC
Sept. 1862
UnionAntietam (Maryland)
Lee goes on the offensive to try to get aid from England or France with a winMcClellan had actually found Lee’s plans, but was too cautious to act on themUnion wins (barely), but McClellan replaced
Death
Tolls
Death
Tolls
Top 5 Battles in Terms of Casualties
Date Death Toll Battle / Total
Sept. 17 1862
12,410 U
13,724 C
Antietam26,134
May 8-19
1864
18,399 U 9,000
C
Spotsylvania27,399
May 1-4 1863
17,278 U
12,821 C
Chancellorsville30,099
Sept 19-20 1863
16,170 U
18,454 C
Chickamauga34,624
July 1-3 1863
23,049 U
28,063 C
Gettysburg51,112
Did You Know?Did You Know?
Dog Tags came
from the Civil War
Because the death toll was so high, soldiers printed their names and addresses on handkerchiefs or paper, which they pinned to their clothing before going into battle.
Civil War Firsts that you may not have known!
These things occurred for the first time during our Civil WarMachine gunSteel ShipsSubmarineSnorkel breathing deviceAnti-aircraft fireCigarette TaxCommissioned Army ChaplainsDepartment of Justice (CSA)Electronically exploded bombsFlame Throwers
Medal of HonorNaval TorpedoesBlack US Army Officer (Major M.R. Delaney)
Battle Battle PhotographyPhotographyRepeating RiflesRepeating Rifles““Taps”Taps”Income TaxIncome TaxUS Secret ServiceUS Secret ServiceAnesthesia for Anesthesia for surgerysurgery
NO, YOU DIDN’T KNOW THEM ALL!!!!
According toThe Civil War: Strange and Fascinating Facts
by Burke Davis
Lincoln and his
commanders
Irvin McDowellToo Inexperienced
George McClellanTOO SLOW Ambrose Burnside
Guess what we got from him?
Joe Hooker
Not your most upstanding figure
Lincoln and his commanders
George MeadeHe was the last realCommander of the
Army of the Potomac
And Finally in 1864And Finally in 1864Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Commander of Federal TroopsCommander of Federal Troops
Abraham Lincoln The Great
Emancipator
Early Views on Slavery
Remember that Lincoln and most Remember that Lincoln and most Republicans were for a gradual Republicans were for a gradual end to slavery.end to slavery.His main concern was with the His main concern was with the Border States who still owned Border States who still owned slaves.slaves.As the war moved on, the North As the war moved on, the North saw slavery as helping the saw slavery as helping the Confederate cause.Confederate cause.
Abraham Lincoln The Great
Emancipator
The Times They are a Changin’
There was growing pressure There was growing pressure from Free Blacks and from Free Blacks and Abolitionists in the North.Abolitionists in the North.Lincoln also needs a way to Lincoln also needs a way to keep England and France out of keep England and France out of this war.this war.He also wanted the President to He also wanted the President to make a stand on slavery, not make a stand on slavery, not the Congress.the Congress.
Abraham Lincoln The Great
Emancipator
The Emancipation Proclamation
After victory at Antietam, After victory at Antietam, Lincoln announced his intention Lincoln announced his intention to free the slaves of the South. to free the slaves of the South. On January 1, 1863 he issued On January 1, 1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the Emancipation Proclamation, stating:stating:“. . . all persons held as slaves
within any state . . . in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”
Emancipation Proclamation
What did it do?
DID IT FREE THE SLAVES IN THE UNION?NO! The Border States kept
their slaves because they weren’t “in rebellion.”
DID IT FREE THE SLAVES IN THE SOUTH?NOT REALLY Remember, the
CSA isn’t listening to Lincoln because they are “in rebellion” DUH
Emancipation Proclamation
What did it do?
DID IT GIVE BLACKS AND SLAVES HOPE?
YES, any slave who made it to Union controlled territory was set free and over 100,000 did just that.Furthermore, there were about 200,000 African Americans who served in the Union Armies and Navies.
You may have seen this movie which is about the 54th Massachusetts A regiment that was All-Black (except the commanding officers)
Many of them were killed leading a failed Union raid of Fort Wagner outside of Charleston, SC in 1863.
Emancipation Proclamation
What did it do?
Slaves wouldn’t get freedom until much laterIn the 13th Amendment, slavery
was ended, but that was in 1865.
And yet, this may be Lincoln’s most brilliant maneuver in the Civil War?
YOU BET! England and France couldn’t sell support of the CSA to their own people who were also against slavery.
Without freeing a single slave, Abraham Lincoln had officially changed the Civil War into being about ending slavery.
The Civil War (1861-1865)
Things are going good for the Confederates, or are they?
Fredericksburg (December 1862)
The Confederates are outnumbered, but easily defeat Ambrose Burnside. He resigns after the loss.Chancellorsville (May 1863)
Now, Lee takes on Joseph Hooker. The CSA wins, but Stonewall Jackson is wounded by his own men and dies a week later. BIG LOSSThese help Lee feel he should invade the North – it
may bring in Britain and France
The Civil War (1861-1865)
The Blue Years (1863-1865)
Battles that begin the end and their importance
DateWho Won?
Battle Significance
July1863
UnionGettysbur
g
This was the heaviest loss in lives of the Civil War (over 51,000)Known for Pickett’s Charge – a very costly military mistakeWith this loss, Lee would never be able to invade the North againBIG TURNING POINT IN THE WAR
May – July1863
Union Vicksburg
Grant lays siege on the town for a monthUnion victory gains control of the MS RiverCuts off TX & AR – The CSA Food Source
Nov1863
UnionChattanooga
Braxton Bragg (CSA) loses the important rail center, but plans to starve the Union forces out
The Civil War (1861-1865)
The Blue Years (1863-1865)
Battles that begin the end and their importance
DateWho Won?
Battle Significance
July – Sept1864
Union Atlanta
Start point for Sherman’s March to the Sea (Savannah) – introducing the idea of Total War
Aug1864
UnionMobile
Bay
David Farragut leads Union Navy into bay and finally gives Union total control of the Gulf of MexicoNews of this victory helps Lincoln win the 1864 election
1864-1865
UnionPetersbur
g
Grant attacks this important rail center near Richmond for monthsEventually forces retreat of Lee’s troops
April 9,
1865Union
Appomattox Court House
Lee surrenders to GrantOther CSA armies will surrender soon