Background Information on the Eve of the Civil War The North vs. The South

Other Names Union, United States of America, Federals, USA Confederacy, Confederate States of America, CSA

Flag Stars and Stripes Stars and Bars, and a separate battle flag

Number of States 23 states11 states

Population 22,000,0009,000,000 3,500,000 were slaves

Industrial Development 92% of the Nation’s industries were in the North Very little industrial development; mostly an agrarian (farming) economy

Railroad Mileage 75% of the nation’s railroad miles were in the North Many fewer miles of railroads in the South The map on the next slide shows American railroads in 1851

Financial Resources Had 75% of the nation’s wealth in banking, manufacturing and shipping industries Most of the wealth was in land and slaves

Leadership Abraham Lincoln –Experience as a lawyer, limited experience in Congress, and virtually no military experience Jefferson Davis –Senator from Mississippi and Secretary of War –Military experience in the Mexican War

Generals West Point Military Academy graduates Few Union Generals were effective in leading Union Armies until Ulysses S. Grant’s rise in Perhaps the South’s greatest advantage Brilliant, bold military leaders from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), West Point and other academies

Northern Fighting Strategies Bring the South back to the Union ASAP Never recognize the South’s independence Strangle the South with a naval blockade (Anaconda Plan) Defeat Rebel Armies, split the South in two and capture the capital (Richmond, VA)

Southern Fighting Strategies Fight a defensive war until the Union no longer has the will to fight Stress how succession is a parallel with the 13 colonies pulling out of the British Empire in 1776 Capture Washington, D.C.

Capital Cities Washington, D.C. Richmond, Virginia

Naval Power Large navy which grew even larger as the war progressed Virtually no navy at the start of the war

Cause for Fighting To preserve the Union- at first Later the emancipation of slaves became a cause To gain independence To save “The Southern Way of Life” which included slavery

Slang Names for Troops Federals, Yanks, Billy Yanks, Yankees, Blues, Bluebellies Rebels, Rebs, Confederates, Graybacks, Butternuts, Johnnies, Gray

Northern Miscellany Battles were fought away from home Less skilled in the military arts Thousands of immigrants were fighting for no purpose that made sense to them Farm Acreage: 65%; dominant crops- wheat and corn Divided politically into at least four groups

Southern Miscellany Traditionally protecting their homes and way of life Fought on their own land, which they therefore knew better than their opponents Military tradition: nearly every male citizen skilled at riding horses and using rifles skillfully Violence was a traditional aspect of Southern Society