AMERICAN HISTORY I

The Civil War

Strengths… and Weaknesses

North No clear military

leader Naval advantage

(3/4 of officers, most shipyards, warships)

22 million people 80% of nation’s

factories Well-established

distribution lines

South Strong military

tradition – and Gen. Robert E. Lee

9 million people (1/3 enslaved!)

Only one foundry; no ordnance production

Plenty of food … but no way to

distribute it efficiently

Financial PositionNorth

Financial center – large cash reserves!

Controlled national treasury

Tariff revenue Legal Tender Act

(1862) “greenbacks” Inflation – but not

as severe (80%)

South Southern debt –

couldn’t sell bonds! Smaller banks had

less cash in reserve Blockades limited

trade revenue Resistance to

tariffs! Printing more paper

money led to rampant inflation (9,000%)

Government and Politics Lincoln’s first priority – save the Union!

Northern Democrats divided “War Democrats” supported war, wanted status quo

antebellum “Peace Democrats” against war, wanted negotiation –

Republicans called them Copperheads

Different views on conscription (“drafting”) Republicans favored it, supported militia law Democrats thought it a violation of civil liberties Lincoln suspended writs of habeas corpus to quiet

dissent

The Confederacy Struggles Confederate states independent, by new constitution

Weak central government; difficult to get all to look past own interests and agree

Davis pursued similar measures to Lincoln’s to build military, keep order, limit dissent

Confederacy sought support from Europe Some planters refused to sell cotton until recognized Foreign intervention might help break blockade? North wanted Britain, France to stay out of internal affairs

Britain, France took a wait-and-see approach Confederate emissaries boarded British vessel Trent Union warship San Jacinto captured Trent, arrested emissaries Lincoln released emissaries to avoid conflict with Britain “Trent Affair” raised international awareness – but no recognition

Military Tactics and Strategy

First “modern” war – much larger armies and newer, more deadly weapons

Conoidal (cone-shaped) bullets Armies used trenches, barricades – not columns

A war of attrition – each side waited for the other to run out of supplies, resources, troops

High casualty rates less of a problem for the North Official Confederate position to fight a defensive war

to wear out the North …but for many Southerners, this wasn’t honorable –

so offensive attacks led to heavy casualties

“The Anaconda Plan”

General Ulysses S. Grant General Robert E. Lee

Early Battles First battle at Bull Run (Manassas Junction)

“Stonewall” Jackson’s stand prevents Confederate retreat

Union defeat – no quick victory, more men needed!

David Farragut secured port, lower Mississippi River for the Union at New Orleans

Despite horrific casualties, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s victory for the Union at Shiloh established his reputation, earned Lincoln’s support

War in the West, 1862 - 1863

More Early Battles Lee outsmarted McClellan at the Second Battle

at Bull Run – bringing Confederate troops within 13 miles of D.C.!

Lee sought a victory on Union soil at Antietam - but it was the Union’s victory in the bloodiest one-day battle of the war

South lost possibility of European support (British government decided not to intervene as mediator)

Lincoln determined to end slavery in the South!

The Emancipation Proclamation Republicans torn over the issue of slavery

Abolitionists believed it had to end Moderates (like Lincoln) did not want to alienate border states

having slaves, but still in the Union

Northern opinion shifted as war dragged on Slavery had to end to punish the South Give purpose, meaning to the sacrifices of so many Lincoln: if Union victorious at Antietam, he would issue

proclamation ending slavery

Emancipation Proclamation freed those enslaved in all states in rebellion against the Union on January 1, 1863

Did not address slavery in border states Re-focused purpose of war – now a war to end slavery!

Economic Challenges Confederacy struggled to stay financially afloat

Union disrupted supply lines, occupied agricultural territory

Lack of food, concern over families’ safety led to desertions

North enjoyed an economic boom due to wartime demand

Women kept industrial production going while men on the battlefields

Machinery required fewer workers for farming, textiles Government contracts made some industrialists quite

wealthy!

African-Americans in the Military

After emancipation, many African-Americans enlisted in the Union army, navy

Served in segregated regiments Frederick Douglass: military service could help break

racial prejudices? Possibly enslaved, killed if captured by Confederacy!

54th Massachusetts regiment one of the first, and best-known, African-American regiment

Still suffered discrimination in terms of supplies, pay Bravery, heroism opened the door for other

regiments to be formed

Battlefield Hardships For both sides, food supplies inconsistent

Soldiers would forage for food, or take produce, livestock from farms along the way

Hardtack, beans, dried meat were staples

Confederate soldiers lacked shelter, blankets, shoes

Medical care primitive by today’s standards Illness (dysentery, smallpox, pneumonia, typhoid) Infection (amputations, gangrene, no sterile instruments)

Too many prisoners of war to provide for! Prisoner exchanges stopped due to Confederate treatment of

African-American soldiers Confederate Andersonville Prison notorious for neglect, illness

The Fall of Vicksburg Vicksburg, Mississippi the last remaining

Confederate town on the river

Taking Vicksburg would cut Confederacy in two – and secure the Mississippi for the Union

Grierson’s cavalry created a diversion while Grant’s men traveled quickly to the west and south of town

Union soldiers pushed Confederates back into Vicksburg, put town under siege

Starving Confederates surrendered nearly six weeks later, on July 4, 1863

The Battle of Gettysburg Lincoln thought McClellan ineffective –

perhaps intimidated by Lee? McClellan fired, but next two generals

(Burnside and Hooker) not impressive either Union suffered defeats at Fredericksburg,

Chancellorsville (VA)

Lee wished to exploit weakness…

Launched invasion of North into Pennsylvania (and obtain supplies!)

A Southern Defeat… New Union General George

Meade pushed them south, confronted them at Gettysburg

Union troops did not give ground; held Cemetery Ridge

“Pickett’s Charge” disastrous – Confederates retreated

Lee lost about a third of his entire army in this one battle!

Turning point – from this point on, a defensive war for the Confederacy

The Gettysburg AddressNovember 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

The Union Secures Chattanooga Chattanooga (TN) a key railroad hub, and a vital supply line

for the Confederacy Union Gen. Rosecrans pushed Confederates out, but turned back

from further advance at Chickamauga Forced to wait at Chattanooga for reinforcements

Lincoln sent 12,000 of Meade’s men to help, with Grant in command of the battle

Confederates held high ground on Missionary Ridge Foolish to attack directly? Grant sent General William T.

Sherman to attack from the north Gen. George Thomas’ men to lead diversionary attack - but charged

up the ridge! Surprised Confederate troops scattered; Union took the city

The Final Campaigns Union unable to break Confederate lines at the Wilderness

and Cold Harbor in Virginia

Grant’s men found Petersburg, VA well-defended City fortified by barricades, trenches, cannon No direct attack possible – so Grant laid siege to it

Admiral Farragut sealed off the Confederate port at Mobile, AL

“Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” Closed Mobile Bay to blockade runners trying to supply the Confederacy

General Sherman headed to Atlanta for the final strike “Sherman neckties” crippled southern rail lines “March to the Sea” demoralized Southerners, destroyed anything of

military value Burned, looted many towns in South Carolina, where the war had begun

The War Ends Lincoln faced Democrat challenge from (fired) General

George McClellan Sherman’s capture of Atlanta bolstered war support Lincoln won easily – and saw election as mandate to end

slavery for good

13th Amendment passed in January 1865, banning slavery in the United States

Lee’s troops forced to retreat from Petersburg, fled west

Union troops blocked them at Appomattox Courthouse

Lee surrendered there on April 9, 1865

The Death of Lincoln In the immediate aftermath of the war, Lincoln

spoke about reunification Expected African-Americans to serve in government in

the South John Wilkes Booth took great offense at this idea

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 He was attending a play at Ford’s Theater with his wife Booth shot the president in the head, and briefly

escaped (although Booth died during capture)

Lincoln’s death left many unanswered questions – what should we do now?