The American Civil War

3 million were slaves!

Secession South Carolina leaves the Union in December of 1860 By February 1861, six more states leave the Union to form the Confederate States of America President Buchanan takes no action to stop them President-Elect Lincoln disagrees!

April 1861- South seizes Fort Sumter The War Begins! April 1861- South seizes Fort Sumter Lincoln calls for troops to put down rebellion Four more states secede- including Virginia

Military Strategy - South Attack Union repeatedly inflicting casualties and wearing it down Hoped to gain aid and diplomatic recognition from Great Britain and France who both relied on Southern Cotton– never happens

Key Confederate Leaders

Well respected Confederate General Fought in Mexican-American War Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia Won many key battles for the South Robert E. Lee

President of the Confederate States of America Served as Secretary of War under President Pierce (1853-1857) Imprisoned for treason after Civil War (later released) Jefferson Davis

Controversial Tactics at Gettysburg “Old War Horse” Significant contributions to the Battles of Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg Controversial Tactics at Gettysburg James Longstreet

Military Strategy - North Superior resources and technology Blockaded Southern ports- prevented importing food and supplies

Key Union Leaders

16th President of the United States “Preserve the Union at all costs” Man of many personal battles Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth Abraham Lincoln

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain College Professor from Maine Volunteered to join Union Leads 20th Maine with a Bayonet Charge at Gettysburg (Battle of Little Round Top) Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Leads Union to victory in many key battles such as Vicksburg His efforts lead to the Surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Later becomes 18th President of United States Ulysses S. Grant

Human Cost Over 600,000 Americans died from old military tactics and new diseases Families often fought each other Bloodiest day- Battle of Antietam- 23,000 casualties Costliest Battle- Battle of Gettysburg- over 50,000 casualties

July 2, 1863 (Day 2)

Pickett's Charge July 3, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation Freed all slaves in those areas still in rebellion against the Union Symbolic value- Union could not enforce it African American enlistees soared

The War Ends Robert E. Lee surrenders Confederate Army after the Battle of Appomattox. Civil war brought hardships on the home front such as: Southern devastation, a bitter Union, and the assassination of President Lincoln

Effects Woman and African Americans work in Northern factories and farms- production increases South lacked industrial support South left devastated and in ruins

Civil War Photos

Charleston, SC

Columbia, SC