The Civil War Missouri Compromise • Both the North and the South had a balance in Congress with 11 free states and 11 slave states • Missouri wanted to be admitted into the United States as a slave state which would upset the balance • Henry Clay suggested admitting Missouri as slave state, but at the same time, admit the territory of Maine as a free state • This would keep the balance in Congress and it became known as the Missouri Compromise • Congress drew a line across Missouri’s southern border and prohibited slavery above the border Slavery in the Territories • Northerners did not want slavery to extend into any of the western territories and tried to get the Wilmot Proviso passed through Congress which would have banned slavery in all the territories, but it did not pass the Senate • Bother Northerners and Southerners argued over the issue of slavery in the west • Some moderates suggested extending the Missouri Compromise line all the way to the Pacific Ocean • Others suggested that people living in the territories could vote for themselves whether or not to allow slavery • A new political party called the Free Soil party was formed to keep slavery out of the West California • When California applied for statehood, there were 15 slave states and 15 free states. • California wanted to be admitted as a free state and this would upset the balance • Southerners feared that if California were to enter the United States as a free state, then all of the western territories would be admitted as free states and the South would be hopelessly outnumbered in Congress • Some extremists even hinted that the South should consider secession as an option The Great Compromiser • Henry Clay had been nicknamed the Great Compromiser for working out numerous compromises to keep the North and the South happy • Clay wanted to find a permanent solution or he feared the Nation could be torn apart Clay vs. Calhoun • John C Calhoun refused to compromise on any issue. • He insisted that slavery be allowed in the West and furthermore, runaway slaves that had escaped to the North should be returned Compromise of 1850 • Henry Clay came up with the Compromise of 1850, but he had become ill and Stephen Douglas of Illinois helped push it through Congress • The Compromise of 1850 had 5 parts • 1. California would be admitted as a free state • 2. The rest of the western territories would use popular sovereignty and decide for themselves whether to have slavery • 3. The slave trade was outlawed in Washington D.C. • 4. A strict fugitive slave law would be enforced • 5. A border dispute between Texas and New Mexico was settled Fugitive Slave Act • The Fugitive Slave Act part of the Compromise required that all runaway slaves who had escaped to the North would be returned to slavery in the South Uncle Tom’s Cabin • In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe, a woman from New England wrote the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin which told the story of a slave’s brutal treatment at the hands of a slave owner • The book was extremely popular in the North and helped to boost the Abolitionist Movement • Southerners felt the book was unfair propaganda • The book increased tension between Northerners and Southerners Kansas-Nebraska Act • Stephen Douglas introduced a bill that would divide the Kansas-Nebraska territory into two territories : Kansas and Nebraska • Stephen Douglas proposed that Popular Sovereignty be used to decide the slavery issue • Both pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces flooded the Kansas territory with settlers hoping to cast their vote Bleeding Kansas • Both elected their own governments and violence soon erupted • Kansas Became known as “Bleeding Kansas” as armed gangs from both camps clashed in numerous attacks across the Kansas territory • John Brown led a gang of abolitionists. He said it was God’s will that he punish all slave holders. He murdered several pro-slavery people resulting in retaliations and more violence Dred Scott vs. Sanford • Dred Scott was enslaved to a slave owner who had moved to the free territory of Wisconsin • After they moved back to Missouri, Scott’s owner had died. Lawyers for Scott argued that since Scott had lived in the free territory, for several years, he should be legally free • In the case of Dred Scott vs. Sanford, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that since Scott was a slave and therefore not a citizen, he could not file a case • The Court further ruled that Congress did not have the power to outlaw slavery in any of the territories The Republican Party Emerges • In 1854 in Michigan, a group of Free Soilers, Whigs, and former Democrats met to form a new political party that would take a stronger stance against the spread of slavery • They formed the Republican Party Lincoln/Douglas Debates • Abraham Lincoln ran on the new Republican ticket for the office seat of Senator from Illinois • Running for re-election for the same seat on the Democrat ticket was Stephen Douglas • Lincoln challenged the very popular Stephen Douglas to a series of debates to be held across the state of Illinois • People and Newspapers from all over came to these public debates • Lincoln argued that slavery should not be allowed at all in the Western territories • Douglas said that the issue of slavery in the Western territories should be decided by Popular Sovereignty • Stephen Douglas barely won his re-election • Lincoln, however, became well known across the country because he was very good at speaking to large groups of people and he delivered many memorable speeches John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry • The radical abolitionist John Brown plotted to raid a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry Virginia for weapons to be used in a slave revolt that he would lead • Brown managed to capture the arsenal, but he himself was later captured by the federal army John Brown’s Trial • The trial of John Brown became a media event. • Throughout the trial, John Brown carried himself with a calm demeanor and behaved with dignity even after he was sentenced to death • John Brown quickly gained many admirers in the North and after his execution, he became a martyr Lincoln is Elected • Lincoln was chosen by the Republican Party to run for President in the election of 1860 • The Democrats were split between Northern Democrats and Southern Democrats • Stephen Douglas ran on the ticket for the Northern Democrats while John Breckinridge ran on the ticket for the Southern Democrats • Southerners knew that if a Republican won, slavery would be finished in the West • Lincoln’s name was even kept off the ballot in 10 Southern states • The Northerners outnumbered the Southerners, however, and Lincoln won the Presidency • Many Southerners now felt that the new President and Congress were against the interests of the South • They felt that an abolitionist was now in the White House Secession • Southern states felt they had no choice left but to secede from the Union. On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede. By February, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi also seceded • Lincoln faced a very dangerous situation when he took office. He warned that no state had the right to leave the Union. He stated that there would be NO civil war, however, unless the South started one • …..“In YOUR hands my dissatisfied fellow countrymen and not in MINE is the momentous issue of civil war”…….. Fort Sumter • Fort Sumter was a federal fort located within the borders of South Carolina. • Since South Carolina was no longer a part of the United States, they felt the fort now belonged to them. • They demanded that Fort Sumter surrender • When Major Robert Anderson refused to surrender Ft. Sumter to South Carolina, the confederates fired upon the fort • These were the first shots of the Civil War Differences between the North and South • North=UNION • 91% Factory production • 71% Total population • 71% Railroads • 75% Farmland • 4% Cotton production • 189 million in bank deposits • 56 million in gold • Large navy and trading fleet • Poor military leaders • South=CONFEDERACY • 9% Factory production • 29% Total population • 29% Railroads • 25% Farmland • 96% Cotton production • 47 million in bank deposits • 27 million in gold • Small navy and trading fleet • Strong military leaders Civil War Leaders • Jefferson Davis became the President of the Confederacy. Davis was widely respected as a leader, however, he often worried about small matters and spent much time arguing with advisors • Lincoln at first had people worrying about his inexperience and abilities to be an effective leader, but he very quickly proved to be a strong leader and a good war planner. He gained the respect of his advisors • Lincoln knew that the obvious choice for commander of the Union Army was Robert E. Lee • Lee was considered by many to be the greatest military generals ever • When Lincoln asked Lee to take command of the army of the Potomac (The main army of the United States), Lee declined • Lee stated that he could not go against his home state of Virginia Battle of Bull Run • Many Northerners expected a quick and easy victory for the Union because they knew that the Union army greatly outnumbered the Confederate army • Union troops strolled with confidence to meet the Confederate army at the small stream in Virginia known as Bull Run Creek. Many northern civilians accompanied the army hoping to see a great show. • Commanding the Confederate army was General Thomas Jackson • At first the sheer number of the Union troops appearing caused the Confederate army to panic and break up • Spectators began cheering saying “The war is already over!” • But Thomas Jackson did not move. He stood his ground like a stone wall earning him the nickname Stonewall Jackson • The Confederate army rallied behind Jackson • A bloody battle ensued and in the end, the Union army panicked and fled the field of battle • Many spectators who had not been killed also fled alongside Union soldiers • The Battle of Bull Run showed that the Civil War should be taken seriously • It showed that the War would be long, costly and it indicated that there would be many casualties on both sides both military and civilian Early Years of the War • Lincoln placed George McClellan to be Union commander after the disaster at Bull Run • Because the Union had invaded Virginia, Robert E Lee offered his services to the Confederacy who promptly made him commander of the Confederate army • The Union Army continued to meet defeat after defeat at the hands of the Confederate army. • This was due largely to the fact that the Confederate army had excellent military leaders such as Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, George Picket, Jeb Stuart and of course Robert E. Lee • Union Generals such as McClellan preferred to use caution when dealing with the Confederate Army. They wanted to get better trained • Most Union generals were scared of the Confederate generals especially Robert E Lee The Virginia and the Monitor • With a superior navy, the Union was able to set up a naval blockade of all the Southern ports preventing the Confederacy from trading with anyone. • The Confederacy needed a ship that could break through the naval blockade • Confederates too a Union ironclad named the Merrimack and renamed it the Virginia • Iron plates were fitted all around the ship making it practically impervious to cannon fire. • It was successful at breaking through the blockade and tore through traditional wooden war ships • The Union responded with another ironclad ship named the Monitor • It rested low in the water and had a unique rotating turret with twin cannons • Both ships eventually clashed in battle off the coast of Virginia • Neither ship was able to damage the other • Eventually both ships withdrew from the battle ending in a draw • This battle proved the effectiveness of the new metal steam powered war ships and it ushered in the age of the ironclads Battles of the Civil War • The Confederates still managed to defeat the Union forces time and time again at many battles including Chancellorsville and the worst Union defeat of the war: Fredericksburg. Plus many more • Union generals were proving to be weak leaders • Lincoln replaced McClellan with Ambrose Burnside • Burnside was replaced later by Joseph Hooker…who was also later replaced • There were a few Union victories such as the battle of Shiloh and Antietam, but these victories came at a heavy cost of thousands of lives Emancipation Proclamation • In the middle of the war, Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all the slaves in the Confederate states. • Slaves in the Union states would remain slaves • Although Lincoln felt that slavery was wrong, he did not want to anger slave holding Union states that had remained loyal to the United States • Lincoln did not want the Emancipation Proclamation to seem like a desperate act, so he waited until the Union had a few big victories before issuing it. (like Antietam) African American Contributions • The Union army decided to form an all black regiment called the 54th Massachusetts. At first they were used only as labor, but the commander, Colonel Shaw worked to get them into battle • The regiment proved their courage in battle and won many engagements • On the attack at the Confederate Ft. Wagner, the 54th led the charge. They lost over half their number, but opened the doors for African American soldiers • Ft. Wagner was never taken • In the South, as the Union army pushed into the South, slaves were liberated and left the plantations to freedom Women’s Contributions • Women on both sides played large roles in aiding the war effort. As men left for the battlefield, Women took over factories an businesses, plantations, etc. • On both sides women acted as nurses tending to the wounded and the sick • Like in wars from the past, such as the Revolution, some women also disguised themselves as men so that they could take part in battles Battlefield Conditions • On both sides MOST soldiers were under the age of 21. Many were mere teenagers • These young boys became hardened by their experiences, sleeping on hard ground in all weather conditions and learning to face enemy fire and stand their ground • New weaponry made the battlefield even more horrific. • Cone shaped bullets replaced musket balls. These mini balls, as they were called, were far more accurate and deadly • Rifled muskets fired shots that could go much farther and were much more accurate • Cannon accuracy was significantly improved as well during the Civil War. • Explosive shells were more deadly and precise than ever before • During the Civil War, the Gatling Gun was invented and deployed to the battlefield. • It was the worlds first machine gun and increased casualty rates immensely • In most all the battles, one fourth to half of all the soldiers engaged perished Medical Care • Medical care was very crude and many wounded soldiers faced unheard of horrors in the hospital tents. • Minor wounds often became infected and limbs usually were amputated Disease • Diseases such as malaria, dysentery, cholera, and influenza killed just as many soldiers as did bullets and cannons Prisoners Of War • Prisoners of War on both sides were treated inhumanly • They experienced the worst the Civil war had to offer • Many were neglected and starved to death Draft Laws • As the war dragged on, public support dwindled. Many young men stopped volunteering for the army. • Congress decided to enlist a draft which would require all able bodied males between the ages of 20 and 45 to serve in the army • However if one could pay $300, then he could avoid the draft • Many felt this was not fair, because only the wealthy could afford the $300 pay off • As a result draft riots broke out in many cities across the North to protest the draft The Tide Turns • As the war stretched on, the South was beginning to suffer economically • The South could not keep up with the North in factory production, which produced badly needed supplies • The Northern naval blockade of Southern ports prevented the South from selling cotton, or trading with anyone • Wile both sides were losing thousands of young boys every month, the Union had the population to replace its losses • The south could not replace its losses so the Confederate army continued to shrink • After years of bad leadership, the Union was finally getting strong military leaders such as Generals George Meade, William T. Sherman, Winfield Hancock, and Ulysses S. Grant Gettysburg • Lee came up with a plan to invade the North, lure the Union army out in the open and destroy it, thus bringing an end to the war • He invaded Pennsylvania and began a march toward Washington D.C. • A small detachment of the Confederate Army went into the town of Gettysburg looking for shoes when they encountered a Union detachment also in Gettysburg. They immediately began fighting and reinforcements gradually arrived until it was a full engagement between the Union Army (George Meade commanding )and the Confederate Army (Robert E Lee Commanding) • The Confederate Army was able to drive the Union Army from the town, but the Union Army took a defensive position on excellent ground along Cemetery Ridge outside of the town • Three days of savage fighting resulted as the Confederate army tried to dislodge the Union army from its position. • The first attempt was at the southern flank at the battle of Little Round Top. • The Union miraculously held off the Confederate attack • Each attempt by the Confederate army failed to dislodge the Union position • Lee decided on one last charge straight up the center of the Union lines. General Pickett was chosen to coordinate the attack • Pickett coordinated a 15,000 strong attack force for over a mile straight at the Union Center. As Pickett’s charge advanced, they were under such intense cannon and gunfire that only a few thousand made it halfway • The charge ended in absolute Confederate failure. • This battle broke the invincible back of the Confederate army • The Confederate Army was forced to retreat from Gettysburg • More than 50,000 were killed or wounded at Gettysburg • It was the turning point of the Civil War Gettysburg Address • A ceremony was given to commemorate the Union soldiers who had died at Gettysburg. Lincoln attended the ceremony and delivered his speech now famously known as the Gettysburg Address. In his speech he reminded Americans that this country in a struggle • He reminded Americans that this country was based on the principle that all men are created equal. He said that the Civil War was a test to see if a democratic nation could survive. • He stated that … “A government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth” Total War • After Gettysburg, things went badly for the Confederacy • Generals Grant and Sherman adopted a policy of “Total War”. This meant that nothing would be spared as their armies invaded the South • Death and destruction followed them as they burned their way through the South eastward toward Richmond. • This was Sherman’s March to the Sea Last Months • As the Union Army pressed on through the South, they continued to meet heavy resistance and fight bloody battles with the remainders of the Confederate army • Thousands upon thousands of Union soldiers were killed in these assaults, but they were continually replaced with new recruits. • The Confederate army did not get replacements as their army continued to shrink The Fall of Richmond • The capital of the Confederacy, Richmond Virginia, was under siege and being bombarded. • Lee’s army was forced to abandon the city, and the Union took the Confederate capital (after its near destruction) Appomattox Court House • Finally, faced with overwhelming odds, General Robert E. Lee decided to surrender the Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. • Lee met Grant for the first time to discuss terms of surrender • Grants terms for surrender were considered to be quite generous and very simple • All confederate soldiers were required to turn over their weapons, renounce loyalty to the Confederacy, and go home and be citizens of the United States once again • On April 9, 1865, the Civil War came to an end Civil War Ends The costs of the war were tremendous. Over 360,000 Union casualties Over 250,000 Confederate casualties No other war in history resulted in as many Americans dead • The war resulted in freedom for all men • • • •