The Civil War
1861-1865
U5.2.2 Make an argument to explain the reasons why the North won the Civil War by
considering the:
U5.2.2a Critical events and battles in the war
U5.2.2b The political and military leadership of the North and the South
U5.2.2c The respective advantages and disadvantages, including geographic,
demographic, economic and technological
U5.2.3 Examine Abraham Lincoln’s presidency with respect to:
U5.2.3a His military and political leadership
U5.2.3b The evolution of his emancipation policy (including the Emancipation
Proclamation)
U5.2.3c The role of his significant writings and speeches, including the Gettysburg
Address and its relationship to the Declaration of Independence
U5.2.4 Describe the role of African Americans in the war, including black soldiers and
regiments, and the increased resistance of enslaved peoples
U5.2.5 Construct generalizations about how the war affected combatants, civilians (including the
role of women), the physical environment, and the future of warfare, including technological
developments.
(McDougall Chapters 16, 17)
The Civil War (U5.2.2)
Most destructive war in U.S. History
A Nation Divided
Comparative chart on page 450
Northern (Union) flag: “stars and stripes”
MN, WI, IA, KS, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, MA, ME, CT, RI, NJ, DE, OR, CA,
MO, KY, WV, MD (joined Confederacy after 1861)
Led by President Abraham Lincoln
Patient but strong leader; good planner
Felt they were fighting for Union independence
STRENGTHS
Many factories to produce weapons and needed supplies
More railroads to move troops and supplies
Higher population than South (22 million compared to 9 million)
Consistent government (favored central authority over states rights)
Strong Navy
Got help/aid from the resistant slaves in the south
WEAKNESSES
Had to enter unfamiliar land that covered large area
On the offensive (on the attack)
INITIAL UNION PLANS
Surround the south with infantry and Navy
Create Navy blockade of Southern Ports (hurt economy)
Seize Richmond, VA (Confederate capitol)
Seize control of Mississippi River to cut off southern transport
Southern (Confederate) flag: “stars and bars”
TX, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, TN, VA, NC (joined Confederacy after 1861)
Led by Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Considered a strong military leader; served at West Point; Very confident, yet stubborn
Robert E. Lee (VA) was commander of Confederate Army
Considered by some, the greatest military leader of the War
Stonewall Jackson- led victory at Battle of Bull Run
STRENGTHS
Fought a defensive war; “fight, or lose everything”
Hunting skills (good at shooting in the woods)
Good with horses and guns; many great military leaders from the south
South felt they had the right to leave the Union (Southern Independence); wanted to keep
slavery
Home-field advantage
WEAKNESSES
Few factories to produce weapons and other supplies
Few railroads to move troops and supplies
Lower population than North (9 million compared to 22 million)
1/3 of population were slaves who could not serve in war
Inconsistent government (favored states rights over central authority)
INITIAL CONFEDERATE PLANS
Fight/hold off the North until they lost will to win (war of attrition)
Events of the War
Fort Sumter (SC)- April 1861
Rebel Confederates open fire on Fort Sumter (and win) and create a naval blockade.
April 1861- President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer soldiers to serve in
campaign against the south.
First Battle of Bull Run (VA)- July 1861
Many expected Union to win easily
Confederate Army stood firm (led by Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson) and won
Showed that both sides needed better training; war would be bloody
After the Union was defeated at Bull Run, Lincoln appointed Gen. George McClellan as
commander of Union army.
Very organized, but a bit too patient and reserved
Battle of Shiloh (TN)- April 1862
Union won
Started the legacy of Ulysses S. Grant
Did not turn away after being initially defeated by South
After this victory, Union Navy captured Memphis, TN and New Orleans, LA, thus giving the
Union control of the Mississippi River.
New Orleans was major sea port for the South- needed for their economy.
Second Battle of Bull Run- August 1862
(McDougall pg. 527)
Confederates won (under Stonewall Jackson) and Union troops retreated to Washington.
Battle of Antietam (MD)- September 1862
Gen. Lee (Confederate) planned to march north into Maryland
Lee’s battle plans were lost and recovered by Union soldiers
McClellan (Union) eventually attacked Lee’s troops. 23,000 total troops (from both sides) were
wounded or killed.
The North was considered the “winner” only because Lee ordered his troops to retreat.
Bloodiest/costliest battle of the Civil War
McClellan was ridiculed for NOT pursuing the South and Lincoln replaced him with
Gen. Ambrose Burnside.
Battle of Fredericksburg (VA)- December 1862
Confederates won MIGHTILY (Lee defeated Burnside)
Lured the Union troops in and forced them to retreat six times.
Battle of Chancellorsville (VA)- May 1863
Confederates won, but paid a price
Gen. Stonewall Jackson was shot by his own troops, mistaking him for a Union soldier
Battle of Vicksburg (MS)- July 1863
Needed to control this area in order to safely use the Mississippi without facing Confederate
attack.
Grant and his Union troops headed in to attack from the west (Jackson, MS), then turn and attack
Vicksburg from the rear (sneak attack).
Union won a long, arduous battle; Confederate troops ran out of food and supplies
Battle of Gettysburg (PA)- June 1863
Gen. Lee and his Confederate troops planned to move North to Gettysburg to take the Union
troops by surprise. Then, they would turn south and try to take Washington D.C.
At the start, Confederacy drove Union troops out of Gettysburg. Lee decided to continue
to attack and called on Gen. George Pickett to charge against the center of the Union line.
Waiting Union troops blasted Confederate army and took the lives of many Confederate
troops.
Lee admitted his blunder and the South surrendered and never attacked the North again.
Marked turning point of War
Taking Richmond (VA)- April 1865
Grant and his Union troops, though suffering health hardships eventually forced the Confederate
troops (led by Lee) move out.
They moved to Appomattox Courthouse (VA), where they were trapped. Knowing they would
be slaughtered if they continued to fight, Lee realized defeat and surrendered on April 9th, 1865.
Once the war was over, Grant acknowledged that “the rebels are our countrymen again”.
Abraham Lincoln’s Presidency (U5.2.3)
McDougall Chapter 15
Military leadership
Chose Ulysses S. Grant to lead the final (successful) charges of the war
Ordered the capture of Atlanta
Political leadership
A Republican, won the election of 1860 to become President.
Helped put an end to slavery; always felt slavery was a “moral, social, and political wrong”; Felt
nation would always be divided by slavery unless something was done.
Had to exert strength of Presidency and the federal government. Wanted to maintain the Union
and avoid war. Held firm that the Union would stay in tact. Also reassured the south that they
would NOT go to war with them unless the southern states started it.
Southern states had already started seizing northern forts and thus declaring war.
At end of the war, encouraged both sides to come together and rebuild to become the strongest
nation in the world
Emancipation Policy
Wanted to preserve the Union above all. But, felt in order to keep support from Union states, he
needed to defeat the slavery issue.
1862- Issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed any slave living in the Confederate
states.
Slaves would not be freed in:
The four loyal slave states
Lands already captured by the Union, such as city of New Orleans
Lincoln knew that getting rid of slaves would hurt southern economy and force the
Confederates to rejoin the Union. He hoped to weaken the South’s ability to fight the
war.
Waited until after a Union victory to announce his plan (to avoid the appearance of a
desperate move)
Gained political support (for the Union) from Europe
Significant Writings and Speeches
Gettysburg Address (and its relationship to the Declaration of Independence)
Claimed this war was a test of whether or not a democratic nation could survive.
Reminded all that this country was found on belief that “all men are created equal”
Assured that this great nation would never perish
The Role of African Americans in the War (U5.2.4)
Wanted to serve in Union army (to help defeat slavery)- many volunteered
Assigned to all-black units (commanded by white officers)
At first, they were only used for non-combat duties
Once conditions got a little more desperate, they were fighting in major battles
By 1864, War Dept. said all soldiers would get equal pay
54th Massachusetts Regiment
All-black regiment of African American soldiers from all across the north
Frederick Douglass- famous Abolitionist who helped recruit these troops
Held their ground in battle at Fort Wagner- earned much respect
Known for being extremely brave and fighting for a cause
Resistance in the South
Slaves in the south slowed their work or refused to work in the hopes that it would weaken the
South and once Union troops came, they would be freed.
Others escaped to the North, where they KNEW they would be free
Some slaves in the South helped guide and aid the Union troops to help with unknown territory.
Also served as spies.
Effects of the War (U5.2.5)
The Civil War affected:
Combatants
Drilled and marched long, hard hours
Slept on ground in rain/snow
Saw friends die; many were wounded
Poor medical treatment
Wounds were either amputated or got infected; many died
More died from infections, disease, or starvation
360,000 Union soldiers died
250,000 Confederate soldiers died
Civilians
Had to work harder in factories and on farms to support the war effort.
Draft was put in place
If called, had to serve in war (or pay $300 or hire someone to serve in your place)
This led to protesting riots
Led to racism (especially in the North) out of fear that African Americans would take jobs
Toward end, Union waged total war against the South. This meant that they destroyed all
supplies (including food) that could help the enemy; Farms and livestock were destroyed.
Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was ordered to destroy Atlanta (GA), including
livestock, railroads, and other useful resources, then march to the Atlantic.
Increased tensions between northerners and southerners
Brought freedom to African Americans
Role of Women
Supplied troops with food, bedding, clothing, and medicine
Held fundraisers to raise money for supplies
Some disguised themselves as men to serve in the war; some served as spies
Nursing the wounded: Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Sojourner Truth
Economy
Led to nation’s first income tax
Led to inflation- rise in prices and decrease in value of money
Due to large circulation of money, value of dollar got less and less
Due to the increased need of supplies, work in factories increased (GOOD for NORTH)
War HURT the SOUTHERN economy, as cotton trade decreased and blockades were put on
southern trade
This made it tougher (took longer) for supplies to be shipped to the South; many civilians
faced starvation due to food shortages
The physical environment
Much of the southern landscape was destroyed or burned
The future of warfare, including technological developments
Ironclad Naval warships (Merrimack and Monitor)
Cone-shaped bullets made shots more accurate
More powerful cannons (could fire further; shells covered wider range)
LINKS
General Civil War Resources
http://americancivilwar.com/
Civil War Timeline
http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html