Stacey Burkhardt
SS5H1 The student will explain the causes, major events, and consequences of
the Civil War.
A) Identify/Relate to the Civil War:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin- a novel written by Harriett Beecher Stowe in 1852 that succeeded in
bringing the abolitionist message to a new and much larger audience than ever before. This was
partly because it was turned into a very popular play. The book was extremely controversial
because some believed it to be inauthentic. In short, Uncle Tom’s Cabin significantly broadened
awareness of the reality of slavery in the South.
*John Brown’s Raid/ Harper’s Ferry- John Brown, an abolitionist zealot, attacked and
seized control of a United States arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, VA, with eighteen other followers.
The raid was supposed to spark a slave uprising, but instead ten of his followers were killed and
Brown surrendered. This event convinced much of the South that whites were not safe living in
the Union, and many believed John Brown’s raid had the support of the Republican Party
(though this was untrue).
*This was the second of two attacks lead by John Brown. The first was a massacre, also known
as the Pottawatomie Massacre, during the Kansas-Nebraska controversy (see term labeled
“Bleeding Kansas” below).
B) Discuss issue of state’s rights and slavery increased tensions:
Because of the southwestern expansion of the United States, many issues arose over
what each territory was to be considered: slave or free. The Missouri Compromise already
stated that anything north of the southern boundary of Missouri would be admitted as a free
state, while anything south of the boundary would be admitted as a slave state. But problems
arose when the US bought territory from Mexico (this included California and Texas).
Southerners moving westward in these new territories believed that “all Americans had equal
rights in the new territories, including the right to move their slaves (which they considered
property) into them.” In this crisis, Henry Clay proposed The Compromise of 1850. In this,
California would be admitted as a free state, the rest of the territory would not have restrictions
on slavery, and the slave trade would be abolished in the District of Colombia. The Compromise
was accepted, but the issues were still not resolved.
A few years after the Missouri Compromise, Stephen Douglas introduced the KansasNebraska Act. Douglas asked that the new territory west of Iowa and Missouri be organized and
open to white settlement. He also inserted a provision saying that the status of slavery in the
territory would be determined by the territorial legislature. He later agreed to divide the area
into two territories- Kansas and Nebraska, and Douglas added a clause specifically repealing the
Missouri Compromise. The act was accepted as law after much debate. This law fueled a war
between those opposed to slavery and those against it throughout the Kansas and Nebraska
area. It then became a bloody race to fill the territories with the voters of either stand (John
Brown’s massacre on five settlers in Kansas started the guerrilla-like warfare throughout the
territories- an event coining the term “Bleeding Kansas”).
As tensions mounted, many other events sparked an even larger separation between
the North and South. In the court decision of Dred Scott v. Sandford, Chief Justice Taney
declared that Scott, a former slave suing for his freedom because he now lived in a free state,
could not bring a suit in federal courts because he was not a citizen at all but property. Taney
said with that in mind, Congress had no right to deprive a person of their right “property.” Soon
after, Kansa was entered into the Union as a free state, but not without argument. John Brown
returned with an even more dramatic massacre at Harper’s Ferry (see above) and Abraham
Lincoln, an Illinois senator who believed slavery was morally wrong, was elected President of the
United States. The presidential election of 1860 was the last straw for most white southerners.
Within weeks after Lincoln took office six southern states- Mississippi, Georgia, Florida,
Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas- had withdrawn from the Union.
C) Identify Major Battles/Campaigns:
Fort Sumter- General P.T. Beauregard of the Confederate army ordered forces to take
the fort after Lincoln specifically said in his inaugural address that federal property in the
seceded states would remain in the possession of the federal Union government. This seizure of
a federal property marked the beginning of the American Civil War.
Gettysburg- the Battle of Gettysburg, PA, is known as one of the most celebrated battles
of the war. After Confederate soldiers, lead by Robert E. Lee, charged the Union army, lead by
George C. Meade, only 5,000 out of 15,000 survived (also known as Pickett’s Charge). Never
again was the Confederate army able to seriously threaten the Northern territory.
Atlanta Campaign- Known as the last stage of the Civil War, William T. Sherman
advanced east through Atlanta, only to with little resistance. Gen. Joseph E. Johnson of the
confederate forces in Atlanta, GA, tried to delay Sherman at the Battle of Kennesaw. Though
Johnson saw a great victory, he was still unable to stop Sherman from advancing toward Atlanta.
Johnson was replaced by John. B. Hood, who also could not draw Sherman out of Atlanta.
Sherman then burned the city and headed to Savannah, GA (a sixty-mile track known as
Sherman’s “March to the Sea”- see below.
Sherman’s March to the Sea- Sherman desolated Georgia in order to not only deprive
the Confederate Army of their supplies, but to also “break the will” of the Southern people.
After Sherman reached Savannah, the Confederate Army surrendered two days later.
Appomattox Courthouse- General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S.
Grant in the small town of Appomattox Court House, VA, because Lee saw that further
bloodshed would be futile. Nine days later Johnston surrendered to Sherman in Durham, NC.
Later Jefferson Davis was captured in Georgia. This event marked the official end to the Civil
War.
D) Describe Roles:
Abraham Lincoln- President of the Union during the Civil War. Lincoln believed slavery
was morally wrong, yet favored a lenient reconstruction policy after the war ended. During the
war Lincoln used his presidential powers boldly by disregarding large parts of the US
Constitution. For example, he sent troops into battle without asking Congress for a declaration
of war, he increased the size of the Union army without receiving legislative authority, and he
also suspended the rights of “habeas corpus,” or the right to speedy trial. Lincoln was
assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor fervently committed to the South, at the Ford’s
Theatre in Washington D.C. April 14th, 1865, less than a week after the war ended.
Robert E. Lee- Famous General of the Confederate Army. Lee was known to be a great
war strategist. His men looked up to him as a great leader and one who took many risks in
battle. See “Gettysburg” and “Appomattox Court House” above for further information.
Ulysses S. Grant- Famous general who shared Lincoln’s belief in making enemy’s armies
and resources as a target, instead of territories. Grant was responsible in planning the last stage
of the Civil War, which included Sherman’s march to Sea and the Atlanta Campaign. In the end,
Lee surrendered to Grant in Appomattox Court House (see above).
Jefferson Davis- President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was considered a
moderate secessionist before and unlike Lincoln, believed legal and constitutional requirements
were not flexible. Davis did little to inspire leadership qualities for the Confederacy, but instead
spent most of his time doing routine items. When Lee surrendered to Grant, Davis was captured
soon after in Georgia.
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson- The famous and highly respected Confederate general.
Jackson marched his men into Gen. McClellan’s army through the Shenandoah Valley, as if
preparing to cross the Potomac and attack Washington D.C. In about a month Jackson defeated
two Union armies and managed to escape before Gen. McDowell’s army, sent by McClellan to
protect the Union capital, could catch him.
E) Effects of War on the North and South:
North- The war produced an unchallenging Republican rule over politics. Two land treaties, the
Homestead and Morrill Acts, proved the start of rapid development in the West. The Homestead Act
permitted any citizen to purchase 160 acres of public land for a small fee after living on the land for at
least five years; the Morrill Act transferred a great amount of public land to the building of new state
colleges and universities. Congress passed tariff bills that raised the duties of foreign items. This made
domestic industries stronger while harming the trade for farmers and consumers alike. The
transcontinental railroad was finished and the creation of a national banking system was established. To
many, it seemed the North was doing better than ever before, but it was still difficult to finance the war
itself.
The government levied taxes, borrowed money, and issued paper currency. The new currency,
or “greenbacks,” was not backed by gold or silver, simply by good faith. In short, most of the financial
solutions did not bring results, so loans from banks and large financial interests became the main source
of financial aid. As the war treaded on, the growing and ever-popular ideology of nationalism
aggressively promoted economic development throughout the North.
On the war front volunteers raised Union armies at first, but soon after enthusiasm for the war
efforts declined. Congress began to draft males, though men could escape service by hiring someone to
go in their place or by paying the government $300. Because men were being drafted, women began
their new place in society as a worker outside of the home. Even African Americans joined the cause and
started their own black regiments. As the war waged on, Northern society continued to prosper, despite
many efforts.
South- The new Confederate Constitution and government looked exactly as the Union government,
except for a few important differences. The emphasis on states’ rights proved that the national level had
very little power. The war was financed by individual states, but each state was reluctant to tax their
citizens, so congress enacted an income tax. The result was little help so borrowing became much more
successful. The government issued many bonds and tried to borrow from countries in Europe, but it was
still no use. Instead the Confederacy issued their own money which sparked inflation.
The efforts to enlist soldiers didn’t fair any better either. At first volunteers were high, but soon
that number declined. Because of this, congress began drafting all white males between eighteen and
thirty-five years old. As time dragged on, the economic effects and number of Confederate soldiers
declined.
In the end, most of the war was fought in the South. Because of this, farmlands, towns, cities,
and railroads suffered the most. Shortages and inflation caused a serious decline in Southern society.
Most of the south consisted of ghost plantations, burned down cities, and towns full of women and
children. This forced many women out of the house and into employment. In short, by the time the
South surrendered at Appomattox Court House, they felt more anguish of economic and social loss than
did the Union.
References:
Brinkley, A. (2010). The unfinished nation (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Central Design Lab (2011). Harriett Beecher Stowe American Civil War woman author.
Retrieved from http://americancivilwar.com/women/hbs.html
Son of the South (2008). Robert E. Lee biography. Retrieved from
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/About%20the%20General.htm
Son of the South (2008). Stonewall Jackson. Retrieved from
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Stonewall_Jackson.htm
All images take from http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi