US History Week 6 PacketTeacher: Givens or Monty

Name:_________________Class Period:_____Ch. 17- The Civil War

In November 1860, voters elect Abraham Lincoln, a self-educated lawyer from Illinois, president of the United States. Even before Lincoln is inaugurated, South Carolina and six other Southern states secede from the Union. As he waits to take office, Lincoln sees the nation he is to lead spiral downward toward civil war—a war that will prove to be the deadliest in U.S. history.

Lincoln does not give up. He believes “[a] house divided against itself cannot stand,” and he guides the nation through until it is once again united.

In this chapter you will read and learn about two very different sides: the goals and strategies of both the North & South. The outcome of major battles including early successes of the confederacy and wrapping up the events ending the war.

Standards: SS.8.A.5.3; SS.8.A.5.4; SS.8.A.5.5; SS.8.A.5.7; SS.8.G.6.2; SS.8.A.5.3; SS.8.A.5.5; SS.8.A.5.6  SS.8.G.2.2 SS.8.A.1.3;

SS.8.A.5.3; SS.8.A.5.5; SS.8.A.5.6; SS.8.A.5.7; SS.8.A.5.3; SS.8.A.5.5; SS.8.A.5.6; SS.8.A.5.7

Learning Goal: What: Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the North & South; outcome of battles; Eman. Proc.; Gettysburg; African Americans (54th Regiment); Events ending the war

How: Using informational texts, primary & secondary sources.Why: To see the impact of these characteristics on the war and the toll it took on

both sides.

DIRECTIONS: watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LObskCXyHK0 ) first that will give you an overview of the entire war, hitting major battles and generals! It’s really good!Day 1: do lesson 1Day 2 & 3: do lesson 2Day 4, 5 & 6: lesson 3 (recruitment poster)Day 7 & 8: do lesson 4Day 9 & 10: do lesson 5

Read the pages provided and answer the RED questions!

LESSON 1: The Two Sides ( day 1) ( Read the following and answer the questions as you go along. Type or write your answers in the space provided & email back).

The war divided many families. Neither side imagined, however, that the four years of fighting would lead to so much suffering. By the end of the war, 600,000 Americans had lost their lives. Many thousands more were wounded in battle.

Division in the Border StatesFor most states, choosing sides in the Civil War was easy. The border states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, however, were bitterly divided. Slavery existed in all four states, though it was generally not as widespread as in the Confederate states. All four of these states had ties to both the North and the South.

The border states remained vital to the strategy of the Union. Missouri could control parts of the Mississippi River and major routes to the West. Kentucky controlled the Ohio River. Delaware was close to the key Union city of Philadelphia. Maryland, perhaps the most important of the border states, was close to Richmond, the Confederate capital. Most significantly, Washington, D.C., lay within the state. If Maryland seceded, the North's capital would be surrounded.

In the end, Lincoln was successful. Still, many border state residents supported the Confederacy. The president had to work hard to restrain these opponents of the war.

Strengths and WeaknessesWhen the war began, each side had advantages and disadvantages compared to the other. How each side used its strengths and weaknesses would determine the war's outcome.

The North had a larger population and more resources than the South. The South had other advantages, such as excellent military leaders and a strong fighting spirit. Also, because most of the war was fought in the South, the Confederacy knew the land and had the will to defend it.

The Goals of WarEach side had different goals in fighting the Civil War. The Confederacy wanted to be an independent nation. To do this, it did not have to invade the North or destroy the Union army. It just needed to fight hard enough and long enough to convince Northerners that the war was not worth its cost.

In contrast, the North wanted to restore the Union. Its forces had to invade the South and force the breakaway states to give up their quest for independence. Although slavery helped drive a wedge between Northerners and Southerners, President Lincoln's original aim was not to defeat slavery.

About how Many times larger was the Union army than the Confederate army?

Confederate StrategiesThe Confederacy's basic strategy was to conduct a defensive war. This meant that it would hold as much territory as possible. Southerners felt that if they showed determination to be independent, Northerners

would tire of the war.

The South also tried to win the support of Britain and France, whose economies suffered when the war disrupted the export of Southern cotton. Southerners hoped the British and French might pressure the North to end the war.

Union StrategiesThe North's war plan came from General Winfield Scott, hero of the war with Mexico. He knew that the North would have to defeat the South completely.

To do this, Scott proposed the so-called Anaconda Plan, which took its name from a type of snake that squeezes its prey to death. First, the Union would blockade, or close, Southern ports. This strategy would keep supplies from reaching the Confederacy and prevent the South from exporting its cotton crop. Second, the North would seek to gain control of the

Mississippi River. This would split the Confederacy in two and cut Southern supply lines. Another goal of the Union forces was the capture of Richmond, Virginia—the Confederate capital.

How would you summarize the status of the North & South at the start of the war?

In what areas did the North have the greatest advantage over the South?

Americans Against AmericansThe Civil War was more than a war between the

states. It turned brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor. Kentucky senator John Crittenden had two sons who became generals. One fought for the Confederacy, the other for the Union. Even President Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, had relatives in the Confederate army.

Men of all ages rushed to enlist (ihn • LIHST) in, or join, the Union or Confederate army. Some did so out of patriotism. Others thought they would be called cowards if they did not serve. Still others were looking for excitement. The sister of William Stone of Louisiana wrote that her brother was eager: Though the average Civil War soldier was in his mid-20s, many recruits on both sides were hardly adults. Tens of thousands of soldiers were under 18. Some were younger than 14. To get into the army, many teenagers ran away from home or lied about their ages.

Although teenage boys were accepted into service, one group of men was not allowed to fight in the early days of the war. The Union refused at first to let free African Americans enlist. Union leaders worried that white troops would not accept African American soldiers.

Later in the war, the Union army changed this policy. The Confederacy refused to consider having African Americans fight until the war's final, desperate days. They did not want to give enslaved people weapons.

High HopesWhen the war began, each side expected a quick victory. Northerners could not imagine the Confederates holding out for long against the Union's greater resources. Confederates believed that the North could never subdue the fighting spirit of the South. Both sides were wrong. In the end, the war lasted far longer than most Americans could have guessed.

Who Were the Soldiers?Soldiers came from every region of the country and all walks of life. Most came from farms. Almost half of the North's troops and more than 60 percent of the South's had owned or worked on farms.

By the summer of 1861, the Confederate army had about 112,000 soldiers. They were sometimes called Rebels. The Union had about 187,000 soldiers, also known as Yankees. By the end of the war, about 900,000 men fought for the Confederacy and about 2.1 million men for the Union. The Union army included just under 200,000 African Americans. About 10,000 Mexican Americans served in the war.

A Soldier's LifeSoldiers of the North and the South described what they saw and how they felt in letters to family and friends. Many wrote about their boredom, discomfort, sickness, fear, and horror.

Most of the time the soldiers lived in camps. Camp life had its pleasant moments of songs, stories, letters from home, and baseball games. At other times, a soldier's life was a dull routine of drills, bad food, marches, and rain.

Between battles, soldiers on both sides sometimes forgot they were enemies. A private described his wartime experiences:

"A part of Co [company] K and some of the enemy came together and stacked arms and talked for a long time. Our men cooked coffee

and treated them and [afterward] . . . each one took up his position again and they began to fire at each other again, but not as hard as

before." —from The Life of Billy Yank

The Horrors of War In spite of fleeting moments of calm, the reality of war was always close by. Thousands of casualties overwhelmed medical facilities. After the Battle of Shiloh, the wounded lay in the rain for more than 24 hours waiting for treatment. A soldier recalled, "Many had died there, and others were in the last agonies as we passed. Their groans and cries were heartrending."

Faced with these terrible realities, many men deserted. About one of every eleven Union soldiers and one of every eight Confederates ran away because of fear, hunger, or sickness.

How did the expectations of the war compare with the reality for both sides?

Lesson 2: Early Years of War (day 2 & 3) War on Land and at Sea: Fighting between the Union and Confederacy began in April 1861. As both sides assembled armies, the Union began to blockade Confederate ports. The war would be fought both on land and at sea.

First Battle of Bull Run : The first major land battle of the Civil War took place during the summer of 1861. Troops from both sides gathered in northern Virginia, near Bull Run River. The battleground was close to the Union capital. Spectators from Washington, D.C. traveled to the battle site and could see the fighting. At first, Union troops pushed back Confederate soldiers. However, Confederate General Thomas Jackson rallied his troops. Another Confederate general described Jackson holding his position “like a stone wall.” This gave Jackson his nickname—“Stonewall.” The rebels began a fierce counterattack. They broke through Union lines and the Yankees retreated. The North had lost the first major battle of the war. Northerners were shocked. They now realized the war would be long and difficult. President Lincoln, for his part, remained determined. He appointed a new general to head the army— George B. McClellan. The president also called for the enlistment of 1 million army volunteers.

Control of the West: The Union wanted to control the Mississippi and its tributaries, or smaller rivers that fed into it. The goal was to stop the shipment of supplies from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Controlling the river also meant that the Union could move its own troops and supplies into the South. In February 1862, Union naval commander Andrew Foote and general Ulysses S. Grant began the assault in the West. They soon captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Grant would accept no terms from the Confederates besides “unconditional and immediate surrender.” As a result, Grant became a hero to the North.

Explain why the Union wanted to control the Mississippi River?

A Battle Between Ironclads: The Confederacy wanted to break the Union’s blockade of Southern ports. To do it, they would need a new

weapon. The Union had abandoned a damaged frigate called the Merrimack. The South fixed it and covered it with iron, making it an ironclad. They renamed the ship, calling it the Virginia. The South used the Virginia to attack Union shipping in Chesapeake Bay on March 8, 1862. Union ships could not stop it. Fearing the Virginia might attack Washington, D.C., the Union deployed an ironclad of its own. A ship called the Monitor steamed southward. On March 9, the two ironclads fought to a tie. It was an inspiring battle for both sides.

Why do you think neither ship won?

The Battle of Shiloh: In the west, General Grant and about 40,000 Union troops were close to reaching Corinth, Mississippi. In early April 1862, they camped near Shiloh Church, 20 miles (32 km) from Corinth. They waited for other Union troops to join them. Confederate leaders decided to make a surprise attack. After two days of fighting, the Union won. It was a narrow and costly victory. The casualties—killed, wounded, or missing soldiers— on both sides reached more than 23,000. The Union forced Confederate troops to withdraw from the area. On May 20, the Union took Corinth. Northern forces captured Memphis, Tennessee, a few days later.

Capturing New Orleans: On April 25, David Farragut led Union naval forces in taking New Orleans, Louisiana. This represented a huge victory for the North. New Orleans was the largest city in the South. It sat strategically at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The Confederacy could no longer use the river to move its troops and supplies. This left Vicksburg, Mississippi, as the only major western port still under Confederate control.

How did the loss of New Orleans affect the Confederacy?

War in the Eastern States: The Confederate army was more successful in the East than it was in the West. The Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, was close to Washington, D.C. This made Richmond a prime target, but the South fought hard to defend it.

Confederate Victories: Under General Robert E. Lee and General Jackson, the Confederacy enjoyed several important victories in the East. Confederate forces were outnumbered. However, Jackson and Lee knew the land well. They could move troops quickly. In 1862, the Confederacy won a series of battles in Virginia. They defeated the Union at the Seven Days’ Battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, and Fredericksburg. These victories darkened the mood in the North.

The Battle of Antietam: As Lee moved into Maryland, Union general George McClellan followed. Lee divided his army into four parts. He then ordered each to go in a different direction, hoping to confuse McClellan. Unfortunately for Lee, one of his officers lost his copy of the battle plan. It was found by two Union soldiers and brought to McClellan. Inexplicably, McClellan did not attack, and allowed Lee time to gather his troops. On September 17, 1862, the two armies battled at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Union won. It was a key victory, but came at a terrible cost. Some 6,000 were dead, 17,000 more were wounded. It was the deadliest single day of fighting in the war. After the battle, Lee retreated to Virginia.

The Emancipation Proclamation: At first, President Lincoln was concerned only with saving the Union. Toward the end of 1862, however, Lincoln realized he had to rethink the role of slavery in the war.

The Debate Over Ending Slavery: Lincoln and many in the North hated slavery. They also knew that ending slavery would be a blow to the South. However, most white Northerners did not want to risk their lives to end it. In addition, Lincoln knew that if he moved against slavery, he risked losing the border states to the Confederacy. Abolitionists, on the other hand, wanted the war to be a fight to end slavery. Frederick Douglass and newspaper editor Horace Greeley tried to convince Lincoln to do just that. They argued that slavery was morally wrong. They pointed out that the disagreement over slavery was the root cause of the war. Finally, they argued that France and Great Britain would be less likely to support the South if it meant supporting slavery.

What was one reason why Lincoln kept slavery?

Lincoln realized he had to act on the issue of slavery, what a reason he wanted to abolish it?

A Call for Emancipation: The Constitution gives the president power to take property from enemies in wartime. On September 22, 1862, Lincoln used this power to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The order freed all slaves in rebel-held territories beginning January 1, 1863. Lincoln’s proclamation did not affect all enslaved people. The border states, who were not in rebellion, could continue to hold slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was important nonetheless. It meant that if the Union won the war, slavery in the United States would end.

Watch the video (link below) to learn what really happened after the Eman. Proclamation. Explain if people were really free, citing specific examples.

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/bf10.socst.us.indust.blckwhte/blacks-and-whites-in-the-new-south/

Lesson 3: (Day 4, 5 & 6) During this lesson we’d like for you to develop a recruitment poster for the civil war! You may hand draw this or use clip art and develop “YOUR OWN PICTURE” with all of the elements includedCreate a poster recruiting one of the following (choose one)

1. Union Soldier2. Confederate Soldier3. African American Union Soldier4. Woman Spy5. Women Nurses

The Poster must include the following

1. Catchy Title2. Slogan to attract 3. Illustration 4. At least a paragraph, using what you’ve learned in previous chapters thus far to support why they

should join.

Lesson 4: The Strain of War (Day 7 & 8) Southern Victories: Under the able leadership of Generals Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson, the Confederacy often defeated the larger Union army in the East. Both men knew the land on which they fought and were able to inspire their men.

The Battle of Fredericksburg: After the battle at Antietam, Lee moved his troops into Virginia. Union troops under General Ambrose Burnside marched toward the Confederate capital of Richmond. Lee intercepted Burnside near Fredericksburg. The Confederate troops dug trenches in hills outside the city. The entrenched soldiers had the advantage of higher ground. As a result, the Confederates easily won the battle.

Victory at Chancellorsville In May 1863, Lee’s troops battled General Joseph Hooker’s forces in Chancellorsville, Virginia. Hooker had twice as many troops, but Lee had a daring plan. Lee divided his forces. Some attacked Hooker from the front. Meanwhile, Stonewall Jackson led the rest of the Confederate troops to attack the Union army on its flank, or its side. Hooker and his troops were forced to withdraw. The Confederate victory came at a great cost. By mistake, “Stonewall” Jackson was shot by his own men. He died a week later.

Problems With Union Leadership: In the North, Lincoln was disappointed with his military leaders. General McClellan was overly careful and slow to act. He had led Union forces to victory at Antietam in March 1862. However, he ignored Lincoln’s order to follow Lee’s retreating army and destroy it. McClellan’s replacement, General Burnside, was defeated at the Battle of Fredericksburg In December 1862. Then, a few months later, General Hooker had lost the Battle of Chancellorsville. Despite its smaller size and limited resources, the Confederacy continued to win in the East. Lincoln then appointed Major General George Meade as his new military commander. It was just three days before one of the war’s great battles—Gettysburg.

Why was Lincoln frustrated with the Union soldiers?

African Americans in the Civil War: African Americans were initially barred from serving in the Union and Confederate armies. In the North, however, this soon changed.

Excluded in the South: Around one-third of the population in the South was African American. Although in need of volunteers, the South refused to let African Americans fight for the Confederacy. They feared once given guns, African Americans might attack men in their own units or start a general revolt.

Enlisted in the North: Early on, President Lincoln opposed letting African Americans serve in the army. He thought it would create problems in the border states. However, the North needed more troops, and African Americans were willing to fight. In July 1862, Congress passed a new law. The law permitted the creation of all African American regiments. African American soldiers were in a difficult position. Some white Union soldiers resented them. Many thought African Americans could not fight well. Southerners especially hated African American soldiers. Confederates often targeted African Americans on the battlefield. By the end of the war, one of every ten Union soldiers was African American. Some were free men from the North. Others had escaped slavery in the South. African American soldiers were brave and loyal. They fought effectively throughout the war. Why did Lincoln hesitate to enlist African Americans?

The 54th Massachusetts: The 54th Massachusetts was the best-known African American regiment. They attacked Fort Wagner in South Carolina in July 1863. More than 300 African American men were killed in the fierce battle. Though they did not take the fort, the 54th became famous for their bravery. Later, the 54th would also fight at the Battle of Olustee in Florida. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muH41irF9VU In the video how does Melvin Morris’ story compare to that of William Carney of the 54 th Regiment?

The Tide Turns: In the spring of 1863, the Confederacy was winning. The South’s victory at Chancellorsville had kept the Union from attacking Richmond. General Lee felt confident. He decided to invade the North again, hoping to impress France and Britain. France and Britain wanted goods, especially cotton, which Southern farmers supplied. Since the war had started, however, that supply had dried up. If Lee was successful in the North, then France and Britain might support the Confederacy.

The Battle of Gettysburg: In July 1863, the Union and Confederate armies fought one of the most decisive battles of the war in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle was almost an accident. Gettysburg itself had no strategic importance. Lee’s troops entered the town looking for food and other supplies. There they encountered Union forces.

For three days, the fighting was fierce. On the second day, outnumbered Union troops held their positions on hills called Round Top and Little Round Top. On the third day, Confederate General George Pickett led a charge of thousands of soldiers. It was a risky move. Pickett’s soldiers would be directly in the line of fire as they advanced across an open field

to Cemetery Ridge.

At first, Pickett’s Charge seemed like it was working. The Confederates broke through the first line of Union soldiers. In the end though, the Union held strong. Half the men who charged with Pickett lay dead or wounded on the field. On July 4, Lee was forced to retreat. The Confederates left Gettysburg having suffered 25,000 casualties. The Union, though victorious, suffered 23,000 casualties.

After Gettysburg, there was no hope of France or Britain supporting the Confederacy. The South had planned to use two British ironclads to destroy Union ships in the Atlantic. In October 1863, Britain decided not to send the ships.

Where did the Confederates concentrate their attack?

What about the Union position as shown in the map might have given the Union forces an advantage?

The Siege of Vicksburg: The Confederacy suffered other losses around the time of Gettysburg. In April 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, Mississippi. For 47 days, Grant prevented food and supplies from reaching the Confederates. Vicksburg fell to the Union on July 4, the same day Lee retreated from Gettysburg. A few days later, the Union also took Port Hudson in Louisiana. This had been the South’s last stronghold on the Mississippi. The South was now split in two. Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas were isolated. The Union was finally winning the long and difficult war.

How did the events at Vicksburg change the tide of the war?

Lincoln’s Address at Gettysburg: On November 19, 1863, Lincoln spoke at a ceremony to dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg. His speech was 272 words long and lasted only two minutes. Despite this, the Gettysburg Address remains one of the greatest speeches in American history. In the speech, Lincoln expresses the idea that no one could honor Gettysburg more than the men who fought and died there. The last line of the address encourages fellow Americans to make sure these soldiers did not die in vain, so that “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Lesson 5: The War’s Final Stages (Day 9 & 10) The Union Closes In: By 1864, Union forces surrounded the South. Union forces controlled Confederate port cities, stopping trade and shipping. The Union also controlled the Mississippi River, dividing the western and eastern Confederacy. The Union needed a plan to deal the South a final blow. General Grant wasted little time in drawing one up.

General Grant Takes Charge: General Ulysses S. Grant had led Union troops to important victories at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga. In March 1864, President Lincoln put Grant in charge of all Union troops. Grant’s plan was to attack the Confederacy from all sides. Grant attacked Lee’s army near Richmond. The Union won a series of three battles. Each time, the Confederates fought fiercely, but Grant was relentless. Though the Union suffered heavy casualties, Grant refused to give up until the Confederacy surrendered.

Grant Moves South to Richmond: May and June 1864 were the bloodiest months of the war. It began with the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864. The Wilderness was halfway between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. General Lee led 60,000 Confederate troops against more than 100,000 Union soldiers under General Grant. Soldiers could hardly see through the dense woods of the area. Losses on both sides were terrible. The battle had no clear winner. Despite the losses, Grant pressed on towards Richmond. The armies clashed again at Spotsylvania Court House and at Cold Harbor. By early June, more than 50,000 Union troops had died. The Confederate army had similarly suffered. Lee’s army would not last much longer.

Compare & Contrast: How was Grant’s campaign to take Richmond different than previous attempts by Union generals and how was it similar?

Siege at Petersburg: Grant marched south of Richmond to Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg was an important railroad center. Control of the railroad would give the Union a huge advantage. It would cut the supply lines to Richmond. Grant laid siege to Petersburg. However, Confederate troops refused to stop fighting.

Sherman in Georgia: Meanwhile, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman marched toward Georgia. In early July 1864, Sherman attacked Atlanta. Confederate soldiers under General John Hood put up fierce resistance. However, Sherman drove them out by September 1. White Southerners began to fear the Confederate cause was lost.

Farragut Blockades Mobile Bay: David Farragut was a leader in the Union navy. In August 1864, he led a Union fleet of 18 ships into Mobile Bay in Alabama. Confederate forts lined the channel that led to the bay. The South had mined the bay with torpedoes. Farragut shouted, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” and succeeded in taking the bay. Union ships now blocked the last Confederate port east of the Mississippi.

CREATING TIME LINES: Create a time line that shows four key events that took place in the summer of 1864. List the events below. Be sure to place the events in the correct order on your time line. Key Battles/Events of 1864:

May:

June:

August:

September:

Battles in Florida: The Union’s mission in Florida was to cut Confederate supply lines. In February 1864, Union forces arrived in Jacksonville. 5,500 Union soldiers marched west through the countryside. About 13 miles (21 km) east of Lake City, they met 5,200 Confederate troops at Olustee Station. The battle was brief but bloody. 2,000 Union troops and 1,000 Confederates were killed, wounded, or captured. The battle was known as the Battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond. The remaining Union soldiers were forced to retreat. Late in the war, Union and Confederate forces met again in Florida. The Battle of Natural Bridge was fought in southern Leon County in March 1865. Union troops landed near St. Mark’s Lighthouse and moved toward Tallahassee. Men of all ages defended the capital successfully. The battle was one of the last significant Confederate victories of the war. Tallahassee was the only capital east of the Mississippi River to not be taken by Union forces.

Was the Union’s campaign in northern Florida successful? Explain your answer.

The Election of 1864: Lincoln’s chances of reelection seemed unlikely for most of 1864. Many Northerners believed that the Confederacy would eventually succeed and become an independent nation. However, the Union victories in Atlanta and Mobile Bay changed peoples’ opinions. Lincoln was easily reelected in 1864, beating the Democratic candidate, General George B. McClellan. Lincoln’s victory seemed to suggest that people wanted a permanent end to slavery. On January 31, 1865, Congress passed the historic Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery in the United States.

The War Ends: One of the Union’s main goals was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond. When Grant forced Lee’s army out of Petersburg after a nine-month siege, the goal was within reach. Richmond was sure to fall to the Union.

Sherman’s March to the Sea: The Confederacy continued to fight. To break the South’s will, General Sherman engaged in total war. Total war meant attacking not only the enemy’s army, but also the land and people. Sherman began by burning the city of Atlanta in November 1864. Sherman then started his March to the Sea. As his men marched across Georgia, they destroyed cities, towns, and farmland. Sherman then turned north to march through the Carolinas and meet Grant’s army near Richmond. Sherman’s troops continued to wreak destruction. They took food, tore up railroad lines, and killed livestock. Many African American slaves left their plantations and followed Sherman’s army. Sherman’s march horrified white Southerners. To African American slaves it meant freedom.

PREDICTING CONSEQUENCES: What might have been the effects of Sherman’s March to the Sea and the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment once the war was over?

Richmond Falls: In March 1865, General Grant marched on Richmond. General Lee knew the end had come. He and his men fled the city on April 2, 1865. By April 4, President Lincoln walked through the streets of the former enemy capital.

A Meeting at Appomattox Court House: On April 7, General Grant wrote to General Lee, urging him to surrender. Lee wanted to keep fighting. Then Union troops captured a train carrying food and other supplies to Lee’s starving soldiers. Lee’s army was totally surrounded. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, and the war was officially over. When they met, the two generals shook hands. Grant told Lee the terms of the surrender. Confederate soldiers were allowed to keep their small firearms and horses. The Confederate army would also

be given 25,000 rations of food to feed the hungry soldiers. Grant promised no one would bother the soldiers as they traveled home.

The Toll of War: The Civil War was the deadliest in American history. It cost billions of dollars and left the South in ruins. However, the North had saved the Union. The outcome made clear that the federal government was more powerful than the states. The war also set free millions of enslaved African Americans. Many problems still faced the nation. Americans struggled to solve these problems as the Reconstruction era began.

Why did Lee final ly surrender?