Civil War Plans and Early Battles Essential Question: How did each side’s resources and strategies affect the early battles of the war?

Terms and People blockade – military tactic in which a navy prevents vessels from entering or leaving its enemy’s ports Robert E. Lee – military leader from Virginia who left the Union army to command the Confederate army Anaconda Plan – a Union military plan for defeating the South by blockading seaports and controlling the Mississippi River border states – four states that bordered southern states and allowed slavery, but did not join the Confederacy

Terms and People (continued) Stonewall Jackson – Confederate military hero who refused to yield to the Union army at Bull Run George B. McClellan – second leader of the Union army Ulysses S. Grant – successful Union general who eventually became the leader of the Union army Shiloh – tragic 1862 Tennessee battle in which 25,000 soldiers were killed or wounded

At stake was the survival of the United States. How did each side’s resources and strategies affect the early battles of the Civil War? The bitter struggle over slavery erupted into a long and costly war beginning in 1861 when the Confederate forces fired on an unarmed supply ship. At stake was the survival of the United States. Overall, the agrarian South was at a disadvantage against the industrialized North. 4

The North had many resource advantages over the South, having a larger population, more factory production, and more railroads.

The North’s strengths The South’s strengths Factory production Railroad miles An established navy A representative functioning government Recognition from European nations A psychological advantage: fighting to preserve their way of life Strong military tradition: inspiring leaders such as General Robert E. Lee Strategic advantage: fighting a defensive war on familiar ground

The war strategies of the Confederacy They planned a long war to erode the Union’s will to fight. They planned only to methodically defend their own territory rather than invade the North. They approached France and Britain for aid. 7

The war strategies of the North were known as the Anaconda Plan. The plan was to blockade southern ports with its navy and gain control of the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy in two. Successful with the capture of the Port of New Orleans, the port on the Gulf of Mexico, early in the war.

The goals of Lincoln’s war strategy was initially to preserve the Union was aimed at keeping the four border states in the Union, even though they allowed slavery. He thought this was crucial to winning the war would later changed to include the abolition of slavery 9

The border states did not join the Confederacy The border states did not join the Confederacy. They stayed in the Union.

The first battle in the war occurred three months after Fort Sumter fell. The war lasted four years and eventually stretched across the continent. Attack on Fort Sumter

Early battles of the Civil War occurred in three areas of the North American continent. The East—Manassas and later Richmond, Virginia The West/The Mississippi Valley— western Kentucky, Tennessee, and then Shiloh and the port of New Orleans The Southwest—New Mexico

In the East In July 1861, a battle was fought in Manassas, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. The battle, known as the Battle of Bull Run in the North and the Battle of Manassas in the South, resulted in a Union defeat by Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. Lincoln appointed a new commander, George B. McClellan. In March 1862, McClellan attacked Richmond, but the large Union force was beaten back by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. This battle was so shocking because it was more brutal than people expected. The North expected this to be a quick, easy war.

In the Mississippi Valley General Ulysses S. Grant drove Confederate forces from much of western Kentucky and nearly all of Tennessee. Grant tried to take Vicksburg, along the Mississippi River. This was a strategic location for a Union Victory because they could control the Mississippi River from Vicksburg. But they lost a bloody battle in southwestern Tennessee at Shiloh. The high death rate from the battle at Shiloh horrified both the North and South.

In the Mississippi Valley The Union navy captured the port of New Orleans days after the battle at Shiloh.

In the Southwest In early 1862, a Confederate force tried to drive Union forces from New Mexico. They were defeated. 16

A deadly stalemate developed with McClellan’s retreat from Richmond. The Henry repeating rifle and the cone-shaped minié balls were part of the new, more deadly technology of warfare used during the Civil War. Both the North and the South were shocked by the large number of dead and injured from the battles.