The Civil War
The Two Sides
Early Years of the War
A Call For Freedom
Life during the Civil War
The Way to Victory
The Two Sides
• Choosing Sides
–
–
–
–
Border States: Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware
Slave states unsure whether to join Union or Confederacy
These states decide to remain in the Union
Virginia splits in half when West Virginia is formed
The Two Sides
Northern Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
1. Large population, more industry
2. Larger and more efficient railway
network
3. Better banking system
4. More ships
The Two Sides
Northern Weaknesses
1. Difficult task to bring South back into
Union
2. Public divided over war in North
The Two Sides
Southern Strengths and
Weaknesses
Strengths
1. Strong support from
white population
2. Fight in familiar
territory
3. Military leadership
superior to north
Jefferson Davis
The Two Sides
•
•
•
•
Southern Weaknesses
Material disadvantages
Smaller population
Few factories to make weapons and
supplies
Less than 1/2 the railroad tracks of north
The North
Ulysses S. Grant
Robert E. Lee
VS.
The South
George McClellan
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
The Two Sides
•
•
•
•
Northern Strategies
Bring Union back together (not focused on
Slavery at first)
Blockade Southern ports – cut off supply
lines
Gain control of the Mississippi River –
split confederacy
Capture Richmond
The Anaconda Plan
The Two Sides
Southern Strategies
• Win recognition as an independent nation
• Defend homeland by “wearing” out Union forces
• South expected Britain and France to offer aid
Early Years of the War
The First Battle of Bull Run
• Early battle fought near
Manassas Junction at the
Bull Run river
• Although at first driven
back by Union soldiers,
led by “Stonewall”
Jackson, the
Confederates fought back
• North is shocked and
realize this could be a
long and bloody war
Early Years of the War
War at Sea
• Lincoln plans to blockade Southern ports
• Blockade runners sail in and out of blockade
• Blockade reduced southern trade by 2/3
• Monitor vs. Merrimack: First naval battle between to
ironclads
Early Years of the War
Early Battles
• Fighting stalls as each side struggles to train new
recruits
• Union General McClellan and his Army of the
Potomac showed hesitation when faced with task
of attacking in a battle
• Union goal: Capture Richmond
• Instead of attacking via land, McClellan
approached by sea
• Failed to capture Richmond
Early Years of the War
Early Battles Continued…
• The Battle of Antietam – Confederates confident
after initial victories
• After finding Lee’s orders dropped accidentally
in Maryland, the Union knew when, where, and
how many troops to expect at the next battle
• McClellan still delayed attacking and Lee was
able to gather his troops
• Although the Union claimed victory, Lincoln
fired McClellan
A Call for Freedom
Emancipation
– Lincoln knew ending
slavery would divide the
nation further
– Many believe slavery keeps
the South motivated
because slaves are
backbone of southern
economy
– By 1862 Lincoln had
decided to Emancipate all
slaves
– January 1, 1863:
Emancipation
Proclamation
A Call for Freedom
Effects of the Proclamation
– Since the Proclamation only effected areas
controlled by the Confederacy, no slaves were
actually freed
– Lincoln hoped once word spread, slaves would
begin to run away
– Congress passes the 13th Amendment in 1865
and legally abolished slavery
A Call for Freedom
African Americans Help
– Although southerners did
not trust slaves enough to
become soldiers, they
became so desperate for
soldiers by the end of the
war that they did consider
it
– 54th Massachusetts
Life During the Civil War
The Lives of Soldiers
– In the beginning both sides rushed to join war, but the
enthusiasm quickly ended
– Camp life was often dull between battles and
sometimes the soldiers forgot what side they were on
– New rifles and trench warfare made the Civil War
extremely deadly
– Medical facilities could not keep up with demand
– Many soldiers deserted
– Starving confederate soldiers often invaded an area
simply because it had food that they could steal
Life During the Civil War
Women and the War
– New responsibilities:
•
•
•
•
Teachers
Office workers
Worked in factories
Manages farms
Life During the Civil War
Role of Women
– Some women served as
spies
– Some disguised themselves
and became soldiers
– However, most became
nurses- Clara Barton
– Many doctors felt nursing
was too harsh for women’s
nerves, or felt that they
were doing men’s work
Life During the Civil War
Opposition to the War
Two northern groups:
1. Lincoln Supporters
2. “Peace Democrats” – opposed Lincoln
•
Newspapers compared these democrats to poisonous snakes and nicknames
“Copperheads”
•
Some of these Copperheads actively supported the Confederate army
Life During the Civil War
Declining enlistments lead
to draft
– As war continues, both N.
and S. numbers drop
– Both sides start drafting,
requiring men between 18
and 35 to enlist for at least
3 yrs
– A person could hire a
substitute
– The north tried to bribe
men to volunteer, but even
that failed
Life During the Civil War
Resistance to Draft
– Riots erupted in several Northern cities
– The worst in New York when angry mobs began
burning, looting, and killing
– The south did not experience such protests, but many
tried to “dodge” the draft
Life During the Civil War
War and the Economy
• North better able to cope with demands
because of better resources
• Both sides had to borrow money, increase
taxes and print paper money
• Northern economy actually doing well
• RR traffic increase
• Need for food helped farmers prosper
• Production of coal, iron and clothing increased
Life During the Civil War
•
•
•
•
War and the Economy
Southern economy suffers
Southern landscape ruined
Northern blockade caused shortage of
essential goods
Prices rose 9,000% during war
The Way to Victory
Southern Victories
– 1862-1863: Lee’s army seems
unbeatable
– Battle of Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville
• Although Union had larger army,
Confederates were entrenched and were
ready for all Union attacks
• Union army regrouped and attacked again
at Chancellorsville
• Lee won another victory by dividing his
army and attacking from multiple
positions
• Very deadly battle: Stonewall Jackson was
killed accidentally by one of his own
soldiers
The Way to Victory
The Tide of War Turns
– Lee decides to try and invade the North
– As the Union army begins to track Lee’s advancing
forces they meet on July 1, 1863 in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania
– Union troops surprised rebel soldiers as they were
raiding the town for shoes
– After three days of attacking and counter-attacking,
Lee’s final bold move proved fatal when his troops
were caught marching across an open field
The Way to Victory
Union seizes Mississippi
River
– Decisive Battle of
Vicksburg allows Union to
gain control when
Confederate fort
surrenders
– At same time, Lincoln
delivers the famous
Gettysburg Address, which
inspired both the Union
and Confederacy
Unfinished Confederate Grave
The Way to Victory
Final Phases of War
– After losses and Gettysburg and Vicksburg,
the South begins to lose ground
– President Lincoln asks Ulysses S. Grant to
help with the final phases of war
– They plan to attack the rebel army at all fronts
as once
– Union General Sherman would begin his
legendary march Atlanta, Georgia
Union Officers
Ulysses S. Grant
William T. Sherman
The Way to Victory
The Election of 1864
– Both sides wish to negotiate for peace
– Lincoln’s chances for re-election are slim
because he refuses to stop until slavery is
abolished and the Union and reunited
– After the North began winning battles in late
1863, Lincoln easily wins re-election
– Sherman captured Atlanta and South realizes
the end is near
The Way to Victory
Total War
– Leaving Atlanta in ruins, Sherman began his historic “March to
the Sea”
– Sherman’s army lived off the land as it tore through Georgia
– They began destroying everything in their path (animals, homes,
fields, RR lines)
The Way to Victory
Victory for the North
– Early 1865, Richmond falls
to Union when weak, sick
rebel soldiers are unable to
hold their line
– Union troops burnt
Richmond to the ground
– Surrender at Appomattox
• April 9: Lee surrenders to
Grant at Appomattox
Courthouse in Virginia
• Terms: Lay down their
arms and go home
John Wilkes Booth