Lincoln and Secession
Today’s Objective

After this lesson, we will be able to…
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Describe Lincoln’s views on slavery and how they changed over
time
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Explain secession – both the questions surrounding the idea and
the process of how secession came to be.
Lincoln Quote

“The philosophy of the school room in one generation
will be the philosophy of government in the next”

What did Lincoln mean when he said these words?
Homework Review

What were Lincoln’s personal views of slavery and social equality
for African-Americans? Why did Lincoln not seek the abolition of
slavery?

Why were the Lincoln Douglas Debates such important events?
How did the views of Lincoln and Douglas differ?

What happened to the Democratic Party during the 1860 election?

Which event do you believe was the single most important cause
for secession?
Homework Review

How was the Confederacy’s government similar to and different from
that of the United States?

What was the Crittenden Compromise? Why did attempts to find
compromises to save the nation fail?

What was the first state to secede the Union?

True or False: In some state conventions, between 30 and 40 percent
of the delegates voted against secession

In Lincoln’s inaugural address, he promised to bring an end to slavery
in the states where it existed
Lincoln’s Path to the Presidency
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Failed 1st business venture (1827)
Defeated for the Legislature (1832)
Failed 2nd business venture (1833)
Elected to the Legislature (1834)
Had a nervous breakdown (1836)
Defeated for Speaker (1838)
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Defeated for Elector (1840)
Defeated for Congress (1843)
Elected to Congress (1846)
Lost seat in Congress (1848)
Defeated for the Senate (1857)
Elected President (1860)
Lincoln, Secession, and
the Outbreak of War
Today’s Objectives

After this lesson, we will be able to…

Describe how and why Lincoln’s views regarding slavery
changed

Explain the causes for secession as well as the process of
secession

Compare and contrast the strengths, weaknesses, and
strategies of the North and South
Lincoln’s Letters

What do the letters tell us about Lincoln’s
personality? Motives? Decisions? Relationships?
Politics?

In what ways did Lincoln’s view of slavery change
over time?

How did Lincoln change the presidency?
Expansion of Federal Power

The Civil War fundamentally changed how
federalism worked in the US.

Irony – the war for states’ rights became the war
that vastly expanded federal powers
Jefferson Davis

“These States endeavored in every possible form to exclude the
idea that the separate and independent sovereignty of each State
was merged into one common government and nation, and… to
impress on the Constitution its true character – that of a compact
between independent states….

Strange indeed… the rise and growth in the Northern States of a
political school which has persistently claimed that the government
thus formed was not a compact between States, but was in effect
a national government, set up above and over the States.”
Lincoln’s Response

“the central idea of secession, is the essence of
anarchy. A majority, held in restraint by constitutional
checks, and limitations, …is the only true sovereign of a
free people. Whoever rejects it, does, of necessity, fly to
anarchy or to despotism”

“we are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may
have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection”
Changes in Federalism
View of Jefferson Davis
1789
State Power
The Outbreak of War
Today’s Objectives

After today’s lesson, we will be able to…

Explain the causes for secession as well as the process of secession

Compare and contrast the strengths, weaknesses, and strategies of the
North and South
Are we still a divided nation?

Do the North and South still have differences?

Cultural?
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Political?
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Economic?
Changes in Federalism
As a result of
the Civil War
Today
Attack on Fort Sumter

Why did President Lincoln tell the South that he was only
sending food and nonmilitary supplies?

Inauguration speech
 Make
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the South the aggressors
What is the significance of the attack on Fort Sumter?
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Start of the Civil War
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Lincoln’s call for troops leads to more secession
Border States

What were the Border States?
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Delaware
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Maryland
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Kentucky
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Missouri
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Why didn’t they secede?
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What tactics did Abraham Lincoln use
Strengths and Weaknesses
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North Strengths
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South’s strengths
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Population
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More men enlisted
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Industrial advantage
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Produce all food needed
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More railroad
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More trained officers
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Controlled Navy
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Fighting on the defensive
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Higher morale
North’s Weaknesses
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Lack of military leaders
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Had to invade and conquer the South
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South’s weaknesses
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9 million people
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No industry
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Blockaded by North
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No means of transportation
The Civil War
Today’s Objectives

After this lesson, we will be able to…
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Discuss the significance of important battles
Civil War Strategies
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General Winfield Scott’s
Anaconda Plan
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Blockade southern ports
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Divide the South
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Pro-Union Southerners rise
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Problems?
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“On to Richmond!”
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South
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Defend home turf
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Cotton Diplomacy
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What is Cotton Diplomacy?
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Problems?
Weapon Technology
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The last of the old-time wars and the first of the modern ones
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Minie Ball
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Rifling
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Shrapnel and Canister Cannon Shot
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Observation Balloons
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Camouflage
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Machine Guns
Battle of First Bull Run (Manassas)
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July 1861
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Commanders:
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Union: Irvin McDowell
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Confederate: PGT Beauregard and Thomas “Stonewall”
Jackson
Outcome and Significance
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Chaos: Union retreats and Confederates disorganized
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Ended hopes for a short war (no more picnics)
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Lincoln calls for more volunteers
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McDowell replaced with George McClellan
Battle of Shiloh (“Place of Peace”)
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April 1862
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Commanders:
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Union – Ulysses S. Grant & Don Carlos Buell
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Confederate – Albert Sidney Johnston & PGT Beauregard
Outcome and Significance
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Confederates retreat
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Extremely bloody battle
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Ended Northerners’ hopes that rebellion would collapse
on own
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Gained valuable land in pursuit of the control of the
Mississippi River Valley
Battle of 2nd Bull Run
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August 1862
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Commanders:
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Union – John Pope
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee
Outcome and Significance
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Another Union loss
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Pope replaced with McClellan
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Morale in the North continues to drop
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Robert E. Lee ready to invade North
Battle of Antietam
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September 1862
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Commanders:
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Union – George McClellan
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee
Outcome and Significance
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Bloodiest single-day battle
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Lee lost 1/3 of his army
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Confederates retreat, McClellan delays
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McClellan replaced with Ambrose Burnside
Battle of Fredericksburg
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December 1862
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Commanders:
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Union – Ambrose Burnside
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee
Outcome and Significance
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Burnside lacks good judgment and loses fight
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Union is slaughtered
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North mired in gloom
Battle of Chancellorsville
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May 1863
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Commanders:
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Union – Joseph Hooker
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson
Outcome and Significance
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Lee outsmarts Hooker
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Union retreats
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Jackson killed
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Northern morale continues to decline
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Lee decides to invade again
Battle of Gettysburg
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July 1863
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Commanders
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Union – George Meade
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee
Outcome and Significance
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Largest Battle (3 Days)
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Confederates retreat, Lee doesn’t succeed in getting victory in the
North
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Large number of casualties
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Turning Point
Siege of Vicksburg
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May – July 1863
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Commanders:
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Union – Ulysses S. Grant
Outcome and Significance
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48 day siege of the city
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Blockade and constant shelling
Surrender gives Union control of the Mississippi
Battle of Atlanta and
Sherman’s March
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July – December 1864
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Commanders
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Union – William Tecumsah Sherman
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Confederate – Joseph Johnston & John Hood
Outcome and Significance
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Sherman’s captures Atlanta – a major railroad hub
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Helped Lincoln’s reelection
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Destroys the South – further resistance not worth it
Richmond and Appomattox
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April 1865
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Commanders:
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Union – Ulysses S. Grant
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Confederate – Robert E. Lee
Outcome and Significance
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Confederates depleted in supplies
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Grant takes Richmond
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Lee surrenders at Appomattox
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End of the war (basically)
Conclusion of the War and After
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Factors of South’s defeat:
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Blockade caused supply shortages
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Confederacy unable to obtain foreign aid or recognition

General Sherman’s March to the Sea ended hopes for
continued fight
13th Amendment (1865)

Ended slavery throughout the United States
The Emancipation Proclamation

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

Freed slaves living in rebel states (not if Union controlled)
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War measure – used to weaken the Confederate effort