Preparing to Visit The Root House: Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction History, 1861-1871

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OverviewThis PowerPoint introduces key concepts, historical figures, and events during the Civil War and Reconstruction Eras in Marietta, Georgia, from 1861-1871, as preparation for Root House tour..

Marietta square, 1864

Table of Contents

• Civil War• Emancipation• Reconstruction

CIVIL WAR—1861-1864

Concepts, Figures, and Events:

General Sherman, “March to the Sea,” Battle of Kennesaw, Atlanta Campaign, Confederate Army, Union Army

General Sherman and the “March to the Sea”

• General William Tecumseh Sherman led the Union Army through Georgia

• His leadership brought about the end of the war and a Union victory.

• Sherman’s “March” was from May-December 1864, went through Marietta, ended in Savannah, and left a trail 60 miles wide as his army conquered and occupied Georgia.

Battle of Kennesaw and Atlanta Campaign

• The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, was a key site in the Atlanta Campaign, 1864. When the Confederate Army lost after a week of fighting, the fall of Atlanta was inevitable.

• The Atlanta Campaign is the military operations in North Georgia in 1864. The South hoped to win by not losing Atlanta. Sherman’s strategy was to conquer Atlanta.

Confederate Army, Union Army

The Confederate Army was made up of soldiers from the eleven seceding states: SC, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX, VA, AR, TN, and NC. Many soldiers were untrained, lived off the land, and wore distinctive gray uniforms.

The Union Army was made up of soldiers of states remaining in the United States. Soldiers generally had good supplies. African-American soldiers also served in the Union Army.

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee

Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant

EMANCIPATION—1863

Concepts, Figures, and Events:

Freedmen, Freedmen’s Bureau, Emancipation, literacy laws, education

Freedmen and the Freedmen’s Bureau

• “Freedmen” were men and women freed from slavery due to the Emancipation Proclamation.

• The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was established in 1865 to assist freed peoples with clothing, medicine, food, and legal issues. Emancipation after slavery was immensely difficult for freedmen as well as the whole country, especially the South.

Emancipation• Abraham Lincoln’s

1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Confederacy (but not slaves in the Union).

• Legal freedom did not ensure jobs, education, land, health care, voting rights, or respect.

Literacy Laws and Education• Many Confederate

states had “literacy laws” that made it illegal for slaves to read or write, or for citizens to teach slaves reading and writing.

• After Emancipation, education was a key goal for freedmen. Colleges like Fisk University, Howard University, Spelman College, Clarke Atlanta University, and the Tuskogee Institute started during this time.

RECONSTRUCTION—1865-1875

Reconstruction, Andrew Johnson, presidential pardon, railroads , food shortage

The General, part of the Great Train Chase, Marietta 1862

Reconstruction

• Reconstruction included economic, physical, and social rebuilding of land, government, cities, schools, businesses, banks, farms, transportation, and the daily lives of individuals.

Destruction of Atlanta, 1864

Andrew Johnson and Presidential Pardons

• Andrew Johnson took office as the U.S. President after Lincoln’s assassination. He oversaw the occupation of the South—when the Union Army stayed to ensure the South did not secede again.

• A Presidential Pardon is official “forgiveness” for an illegal act. To aid recovery, Johnson issued pardons to Confederate citizens who had fought for and aided the South in the Civil War—allowing them to vote, own land, and earn a living again.

Railroads and Food Shortage• Railroads are essential to

transport supplies, medicines, food, and people. During the war Sherman destroyed the Western and Atlantic through Georgia. • After the Civil War ended,

the North Georgia region was in danger of starvation because of food shortage. The Union Army rebuilt the railroad to help transport supplies.

Discussion

• What questions do you have about these key concepts from the Civil War, Emancipation, and Reconstruction?

• What concept, historical figure, picture, or situation was most interesting to you and why?

Conclusion

The information you’ve learned will help you understand how the Marietta area

experienced these events.

Enjoy your visit to the Root House Historic Site and Museum!