Shortly after the first seven states seceded
from the United States and formed the
Confederate states of America, four other
states decided to join the Confederacy.
They were Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, and Arkansas.
The southern states firmly believed that
they had the right to leave the Union, and
the northerners felt that they had to fight
to save the nation.
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Some states with slavery stayed loyal to the
Union or United States.
These were
Kentucky,
Missouri,
Maryland,
and
Delaware. Of these, Maryland may have
been the most important because
Washington D.C., the capital, is located
between Maryland and Virginia which had
seceded.
Advantages in the South
(The Confederates)
many of the best trained military 
officers were from the South.
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fighting a defensive war.
soldiers were familiar with the land.
defending homeland/homes.
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Advantages in the North
(The Union)
many factories to produce goods.
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large population of whites to volunteer
as soldiers.
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many railroads to move troops and 
supplies.
many farms to grow food to feed army.
strong Navy of the United States.
Disadvantages in the South
(The Confederates)
few factories to produce weapons and
supplies for the army.
few railroads to move troops and supplies.
Railroads are not connected to each other;
they only led from one location to
another.
Most plantations growing cotton and
tobacco instead of crops to feed the army.
small population to volunteer as soldiers.
Disadvantages in the North
(The Union)
fighting an offensive war with a huge
area of land to capture.
inexperienced military leader (Lincoln).
less experienced volunteers for the
army needed more training.
The War’s Leaders
Union leader, Abraham Lincoln, had little
experience as a politician or a military leader.
Some feared that his inexperience would lose
the war for the Union, but he turned out to be
a good war planner and earned their respect.
Confederate leader, Jefferson Davis was an
officer trained at West Point Military Academy,
had served in the army, and had served as
Secretary of War under President Franklin
Pierce. He was respected for his courage and
honesty.
Military Leaders –
Generals Choose Sides
Many of the most experienced and well
trained generals and officers chose to fight
for the Confederacy because they were
born and raised in Confederate states and
did not want to fight against their
homelands, friends, and family.
General Robert E. Lee
At the start of the Civil War,
Abraham Lincoln asked Robert E.
Lee to command the Union
forces. However, when Virginia
seceded, Lee told Lincoln that he
resigned from the army and
went to fight for the South. He
eventually became the head
general of all of the Confederate
(Southern) forces.
The War’s leaders
Some slave states (border states)
stay loyal to the Union
More states join the
Confederacy
Generals choose sides
Confederate Disadvantages
Confederate Advantages
Robert E. Lee’s difficult decision
Union Disadvantages
Union Advantages