Chapter 17 Section 1
“The Conflict Takes Shape”
The
United
States
of America
The
Confederate
States
of America
Misconceptions About the War
• Both sides felt that their cause was just. The south believed that
the north was trampling on its rights. They were fighting to
preserve the southern way of life.The north felt that the south had
no right to leave the union. They fought to preserve the Union.
• Each side, though, thought that the war would only last a few
weeks at the longest.
• In the beginning of the war, abolishing slavery was NOT a goal of
the north.
The Border States
• As the war began, the question
became which states would
secede. Seven of the states
that allowed slavery had already
seceded, but there were eight
left. Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee and Arkansas all
joined the Confederacy (the
south). Kentucky, Missouri,
Maryland and Delaware were
southern states that sided with
the union (the north). We call
these states the border states.
• Some people living in the border
states that were loyal to the
south attacked Union troops in
Maryland. Lincoln declared
martial law – or rule by army
instead of elected officials do
deal with them.
Review Questions
• What was Lincoln’s one and only goal at
the beginning of the Civil War?
• What do we call those states?
• Explain what martial law is and why
Lincoln declared martial law?
Southern
Advantages &
Disadvantages
• Each side in the Civil War had its
strengths and weaknesses. The 2
big advantage for the South was
that it was going to be fighting a
defensive war and that it had
better military leadership. This
means that the south got to wait for
the north to come to them.
Another advantage is that
southerners knew their land very
well. They knew good places to
hide and set up forts.
• The South, however, also had
some disadvantages in the war.
The south had few factories to
produce weapons and other vital
supplies. It also had few railroads
to move troops and supplies. Also,
the south had a much smaller
population than the north.
Another major disadvantage was
that the south had no navy. Lastly,
the southern population was about
9 million to the northern 22 million,
and many counted in the southern
population were slaves.
Northern Advantages &
Disadvantages
• The north had advantages and
disadvantages as well. The
north had almost four times as
many free citizens as the
south. They had many
factories that could make their
supplies. The north also had
the majority of the railroad
lines. The north also had a
strong Navy.
• The north had two big
disadvantages. They were
going to have to go and attack
the south. This would mean
fighting a war in a land that
northerners were not familiar
with. Also, the north, at times,
had poor military leadership.
Review Questions
• Describe two advantages that the south
had during the civil war?
• Who chose to fight a defensive war?
• What advantages did the north have going
into the Civil War?
Take Me To Your Leader
•
•
Many people thought the southern
president, Jefferson Davis, would
be a better leader than Lincoln
because he had more military
experience. Lincoln, though,
would prove himself time and time
again as more than capable to do
the job.
Lincoln offered command of the
Union Army to a Virginian named
Robert E. Lee. Lee refused when
Virginia seceded from the union.
Instead, Robert E. Lee became
the leader of the Confederate
Army. Many of the army’s best
officers served the Confederacy.
As a result, President Lincoln had
trouble finding generals to match
those of the South.
Review Questions
• Describe one strength and weakness of
Abraham Lincoln?
• Describe one strength and weakness of
Jefferson Davis?