Chapter 11 Section 1
The Civil War Begins
Main Idea
The secession crisis ultimately resulted in the American Civil War between the North and
the South from 1861-1865.
The Civil War
Begins
1. Fort Sumter – an island fort in Charleston, South Carolina
a. South Carolina demanded that the U.S. army surrender the fort
b. April 12, 1861 – South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter, U.S. forces surrendered
c. The significance of Fort Sumter was that it was the opening confrontation of the
Civil War, led Lincoln to call for 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion and
preserve the Union
 caused Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee to secede
from the Union and join the Confederacy
2. Anaconda Plan – Union strategy for victory in the Civil War
a. Union navy would blockade southern ports to prevent trade
b. Union would take control of the Mississippi River, cutting the CSA into 2 parts
c. Union armies would capture Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia
 This was a difficult objective to accomplish due to the leadership of
Robert E. Lee - Confederate commander of the Army of Northern
Virginia who opposed secession but felt loyalty to his home state of
Virginia
3. “On to Richmond” – Union efforts to capture Richmond in early in the war were
unsuccessful
a. Union losses at Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days’ Fight, 2nd Bull
Run
Chapter 11 Section 2
The Politics of War
The Politics of
War
1. The Battle of Antietam – September 17, 1862
a. George B. McClellan (U.S.) vs. Robert E. Lee (C.S.) in Maryland
b. Bloodiest single day in American History – 23,000 casualties
c. The significance of this battle was that Lee’s army retreated to Virginia,
Lincoln able to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
2. The Emancipation Proclamation – issued by Lincoln - January 1, 1863
a. Freed slaves located in “rebelling” states (states that had seceded and were
still in rebellion against the U.S. government)
b. The significance of the Proclamation were:
 made the end of slavery a Northern war aim/goal
 discouraged European powers (like Great Britain and France) from
supporting the Confederacy
 allowed for the enlistment of African-American soldiers in the
Union Army
Name: __________________________ Date: __________________________
USVA History- Jackson
SOL Wrap Up
Chapter 11.1 and 11.2
The Civil War Begins & the Politics of War
1. Abraham Lincoln was the President of the United States during the American Civil War,
and insisted that the Union be held together, by force if necessary.
2. The opening confrontation of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor
when Confederate forces from South Carolina fired on federal forces.
3. Abraham Lincoln’s call for 75,000 federal troops in 1861 to put down the rebellion led to
the sucession of Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
4. Robert E. Lee was a southern general who was opposed to the idea of secession but
ultimately remained loyal to his home state of Virginia when it seceded.
5. Robert E. Lee became the Confederate commander of the Army of Northern VA, which
defeated northern forces repeatedly early in the war.
6. The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in U.S. history, and was viewed as a
northern victory when Lee’s army ultimately retreated to Virginia.
7. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln following the
Battle of Antietam.
8. The Emancipation Proclamation made the destruction of slavery a northern war goal.
9. The Emancipation Proclamation allowed for the enlistment of African Americans soldiers
in the Union army
Word Bank
secession
Army of Northern VA
African American
Fort Sumter
Antietam
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln
Robert E. Lee
slavery