the american civil war, 1863-1865

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The American Civil War, 1863-1865

War Comes to Georgia

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I. First two years: – Naval blockades– North controlled the mouth of the Savannah River– Fort Pulaski taken– Burning of Darien– Andrew’s Raiders- tried to cripple the Western & Atlantic railroad in

the “Great Locomotive Chase”

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II. 1863- Union army captures Chattanooga, a few miles north of

Georgia

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III. 1863- Battle of Chickamauga- Confederates turn back Union

troops just south of Chattanooga

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IV. War comes to Georgia

A. Why did the North want to destroy Atlanta?– Largest industrial center– Largest railroad center

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IV. War comes to Georgia• B. Battle of Atlanta- Led by General William T.

Sherman, Atlanta was captured after some of the fiercest fighting of the war from an under-manned, under-equipped, demoralized and tired Confederate Army.

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Results of the Battle of Atlanta– After three weeks, the

Confederates surrendered and evacuated the city.

– Sherman and his men then stayed in Atlanta for several weeks.

– Atlanta was laid to waste (city burned and all military supplies destroyed).

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March to the Sea– Sherman then turned from

Atlanta toward Savannah destroying everything in path 50 miles wide—this became known as “Sherman’s March to the Sea”

– Sherman presented Savannah to President Lincoln as a ‘Christmas gift’

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The War Ends– General Sherman turns to North and South

Carolina after the capture of Savannah (burned Columbia, S.C., South Carolina’s state capital)

– In Virginia, General Lee continues to fight, but his men are starving and weary.

– Lee wants to meet with General Grant to discuss ending the war. Lincoln says he must surrender.

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A. April 9, 1865- General Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

– Terms of surrender:1. Starving

Confederates soldiers given food

2. Allowed to return home with horses and mules “to put in crops”

3. Officers allowed to keep swords and weapons

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Some Southerners continued to feel resentment and blamed President

Lincoln• April 15, 1865- John Wilkes Booth

assassinates President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

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Results of the War• A. Cost of War

– Lives in the South- 94,000 killed in combat; 164,000 died from disease, wounds, or while in prison

– Financial- $20 billion (whole nation) • B. Beginning of Modern Warfare• C. End of Slavery• D. Preservation of the Union