1861 1865 Ft. Sumter was a manned federal fort in the port of Charleston, SC in need of resupply Lincoln announced to SC that he was only sending a supply ship; Davis threatened to attack Confederate troops under PGT Beauregard take the fort on April 14, 1861war has begun Both the North and South welcome the war with great enthusiasm Fort Sumter Before Sumter, Davis already had mobilized over 100,000 men for the Confederate army evoking the Revolutionary spirit of 1776 April 15, 1861: Lincoln called up 75,000 state militia men for a 3-month service; Many eagerly enlisted angered by the Confederates rapid mobilization, stirring strong passions of patriotism Call to Arms Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware were slave states that DID NOT SECEDE The border states undermined the Confederate cause arguing that the southern states seceded to protect their right to own slaves Some border states did not fully comply with Lincoln: Guerilla warfare broke out in Missouri Kentucky traded with Rebel Tennessee Lincoln put Maryland under martial law, arrested any Confederate sympathizers, and suspended habeas corpus to protect the capital The Border States The first battle at Bull Run Creek (or Manassas Junction) shattered both sides enthusiastic notions of the war The Union marched proudly boasting: On to Richmond! (capital of the Confederacy, less than 100 miles from Washington) Union army of 35,000 men under Gen. McDowell met the 25,000 troops of the Confederate forces under PGT Beauregard Though a strong initial effort, the Confederates broke the Union lines and forced them into an uncontrolled retreat (embarrassing the North) The war would neither be quick nor glorious, and showed how unprepared the Union was for war The Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861 Confederate General Thomas Jackson made a name for himself rallying the troops at Bull Run: There he stands like a stone wall! The North seemed to enjoy an overwhelming material advantage over the South: Population 22 million to 9 (3.5 were slaves) 9 times the industrial capacity of the South North had 71% of railroad mileage Could easily feed, clothe, and arm as many soldiers as necessary 2 million men to 800,000 However the South had its advantages as well: They had most of the nations military leaders, seasoned veterans of the Mexican War; they would be fighting a defensive war, the North would have to invade with essentially untrained troops, and the South believed that cotton would be their ace in the hole for gaining foreign support (Britain) The North v. South Lincolns first task as president was to assert control over his own Cabinet (men like Chase and Seward felt THEY should have been president), and temper the attitudes of the remaining members of Congress (former Whigs, Free- Soilers, abolitionists, and Democrats) Lincolns actions as president took on extra-legal powers: expanding the budget, calling up state militias for federal use, and issuing executive actions without consent of Congress (martial law, suspending habeas corpus) Lincoln was the first president to truly act as commander- in-chief, directing military policy, tempered by his intention to seek reconciliation with the South to rejoin the Union Lincoln Takes Charge The unprecedented mobilization of troops heralded the greatest expansion of government powers in the War Department Bond sales, taxes (first income tax), and the printing of paper money (Greenbacks) under the Legal Tender Act of 1862 National Banking Act (1863) prohibited states from issuing their own notes and forced them to comply to federal guidelines Free from Southern opposition, the Republicans doubled the tariff (Morrill Tariff Act), and chartered companies to build a transcontinental railroad Homestead Act (1862): gave settlers 160 acres of free land in exchange for living and improving it within 5 years Morrill Land Grant Act (1862): established land grant colleges (states were given public lands to build agricultural and technical colleges) Expanding the Power of the Federal Government Lincoln had to insure that foreign support would not favor the Confederacy, as the South hoped that cotton would draw Britain and/or France to their aid The British people would not give their popular support to a slaveholding nation, thus Britain never recognized the Confederacy, but the British and French allowed trade with the Confederacy Lincoln looked the other way at this, and furthermore took a nonbelligerent stance against France when they violated the Monroe Doctrine with the invasion and takeover of Mexico in 1862 Though Lincolns foreign policy (upheld by Sec. of State Seward) was clearly defined, it would remain uncertain until 1863 Diplomatic Objectives Lincoln Davis Though Davis was a skilled military leader, veteran of the Mexican War, and served as Pierces Sec. of War, he lacked the skills necessary to truly unify the Confederacy The Confederate basis for secession was states rights; each of the 11 Confederate states saw themselves as such, not as a unified nation Britain and France never recognized the Confederacy The Confederacy was hindered by runaway inflation Loyalty was a problem because most Southern whites were loyal to their STATES, not the Confederacy, as they saw centralization as the downfall of their autonomy Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Cause Anaconda Plan: initial strategy of squeezing the South with a blockade of Southern ports and the taking control of the Mississippi River Lincoln appointed Gen. George McClellan as the Union commander and ordered him to invade Virginia (The Peninsular Campaign) and take Richmond Confederate Commander Robert E. Lee countered McClellan inflicting major casualties in the Seven Days Battle and Second Bull Run (25,000 total casualties in 2 days) Davis orders Lee to invade Virginia, but McClellan holds Lee to a draw at Antietam (the bloodiest day in American history26,000 total casualties); Lee retreats and McClellan failed to pursue (Lincoln fired McClellan and instated Gen. Burnside) Union disaster at Fredericksburg (Dec. 1862) stalemated the war in Virginia Major Battles Through 1862: Virginia Confederate General Robert E. Lee General George McClellan Union General Ulysses S. Grant captured forts along the Tennessee river systems, taking control of the state and forcing Rebel troops into Mississippi A bloody Union victory at Shiloh (24,000 total casualties) showed that Davis was more concerned about Virginia than the West Union took Memphis and New Orleanscontrol of the Mississippi was only a matter of time No part of the country was untouched by the Civil War as Western territories saw guerilla fighting as Union troops put down resistance by both Confederates and Indians War in the West The superior naval power that the Union possessed tightened its grip over the South as the war progressed: (in 1862 only 8% of Rebel ships were stopped, more than 50% by the end of the war) Union seizure of coastal areas, like New Orleans were the most successful operations Ironcladding of battleships was indecisive in battle, but it would ultimately change the face of naval warfare to come The Naval War The Union treated runaway slaves as contraband, which ultimately contributed to the end of slavery By the end of the war, slaves in the South had supported the Union, leaving their masters Though Lincoln personally abhorred slavery, he opposed actions to destroy it (in order to preserve his Border State, and Democrat allies) Emancipation came out of military necessity Victory at Antietam gave Lincoln the push he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, effective Jan. 1, 1863, stating all slaves in the areas under Confederate control were free No slaves were immediately freed but the act encouraged many to seek freedom Abolitionists urged Lincoln, who would urge Congress, to pass an amendment abolishing slavery The 13 th Amendment would be quickly ratified in 1865, as Lincolns second inauguration loomed and the Southern states (still in rebellion) could not vote The Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln permitted the recruitment of African American troops, and nearly 200,000 served under white officers, many whom had been abolitionists African American troops were not treated equally and faced racism: manual labor, segregated camps, and unequal pay until 1864 (after the 54 th Massachusetts successfully protested this) Though given a heros welcome by slaves in the South, black troops faced harsh realities: The Confederates hated and feared black troops and threatened to treat captured soldiers as escaped slaves, therefore allowing execution Ft. Pillow Massacre: under Confederate Gen. Forrest, 262 black soldiers were killed in cold blood after surrendering African Americans Fight New firearms technology brought more accurate, and deadly, weapons Conventional tactics did not mesh with the new technology which resulted in massive casualties on both sides Medical ignorance and disease added heavily to the casualty rates; desertion and unauthorized absences (especially on the Confederate side) were prevalent Both the North and South were completely unprepared to handle the supply and health needs of their large armies as wounded soldiers would lie unattended for days, dying of exposure Northern women volunteered as nurses and organized their communities through the US Sanitary Commission to help provide relief; the South had no comparable organization but thousands volunteered as well Clara Barton organized nursing and distribution of medical supplies and used her influence with Congress (she was a government clerk) to enact medical reform practicesshe would go on to help form the Red Cross The Toll of War The Ten Bloodiest Battles of the Civil War The Democratic Party divided into War Democrats who supported the war, or Peace Democrats (Copperheads) who did not Democrats continually criticized the centralization of power and the efforts towards emancipation Copperhead leader Clement Vallandigham urged a negotiated peace and suggested an alliance between western democrats and southerners Lincoln responded by declaring martial law, arrested 13,000 people (including Vallandigham); Lincoln rejected all protests stating that his arbitrary actions were necessary for the survival of the Union Lincoln had to cope with the radicals and conservative factions of his own party, which he balanced Wartime Politics The war stimulated the northern economy, but not all industries profited (textiles) With over a $ billion in government contracts available, profiteers flourished The average American saw inflation and outpaced wages As workers formed unions, manufacturers hired African Americans as strikebreakers Lower class whites resented the Union draft that allowed buyouts from $300 Riots broke out in major cities, most especially in NYC (July 13-16, 1863) where 105 people were killed Urban growth and tensions contributed to the causes of these riots Anger at the draft and racial prejudice were what most contemporaries saw as the cause of violence, as African Americans were the major target of the violence Economic and Social Strains on the North Class resentment was greater in the south and high inflation left many destitute Wealthy men were exempt from the draft (if they owned more than 20 slaves), and many more wealthy southerners paid handsomely for substitutes Food riots broke out throughout the South in 1863 (prices went up 9,000%, and the rich hoarded food) Desertion rate was over 8% a month, people refused to pay taxes of southern slaves had escaped to the Union, and disobedience was increasing Peace movements were springing up (even led by Confed VP Stephens) The Failure of Southern Nationalism In May, 1863, Lee beat back an army twice his size at Chancellorsville (though Lee lost 20% of his army including Stonewall Jackson) Lee decided to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania, but is stopped by Union Gen. Meade at Gettysburg (July1-3, 1863): over 50,000 total casualties, the most costly battle in American history Lee retreated, never to mount another offensive July 4, 1863: Grant captured Vicksburg after a long siege, taking control of the Mississippi River In November, Grant took Chattanooga opening the way into Georgia, the Deep South July 1863: The Turning Point Grants successes led Lincoln to appoint him in command of the Union army (He gets things done!) Grant and Sherman conceived a plan of destroying the fabric of Southern life: bring total war to the South Grant encouraged slaves to run away while he destroyed anything that could be used by the enemy Sherman captured Atlanta in September 2, 1864, and burned it to the ground Shermans March to the Sea destroyed everything in his path capturing Savannah just in time for Christmas I will make war so terriblethat generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it. Grant and Sherman War is hell. --Gen. Sherman Gen. Ulysses S. GrantGen. William Tecumseh Sherman Lincoln didnt like his chances: his party was extremely divided, and his opponent was war hero Gen. McClellan (whom he had fired for his failure to pursue Lee and his inaction) Sherman capturing Atlanta in September (a month before the election) helped Lincolns cause Lincoln won 55% of the vote; and 78% of the troops voted for their commander-in-chief The election was evidence that northern support for Lincolns policy of unconditional surrender of the South was solidthere would be no negotiated peace Election of 1864 Grant, despite losing battles, and thousands of men, continued to pursue Lee: (18,000 at the Wilderness, 8,000 at Spotsylvania, and 12,000 at Cold Harbor!) Though grim, his war of attrition worked: the North could resupply and re-man at the ready, the South could not The South at one point contemplated freeing the slaves and enlisting them in the army (never played out) By 1865, southern support had disappeared, and Davis sent Stephens to negotiate a peacebut Lincoln would only do so if it was unconditional (Davis wanted the South to remain free) Grant Hammers Away Lee was outnumbered 2-1, he retreated to Appomattox Court House with his 25,000 troops on April 2 Starving, short of ammunition, and losing men to desertion, disease, and battle, Lee made the decision to surrender to Grant Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865 Confederate troops were given parole and sent home Confederate troops could not be tried for treason in the future Appomattox April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Fords Theater in Washington and died the next morning Joy turned into mourning The future was now uncertain as Southern Democrat VP Andrew Johnson took office With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865 Death of a President