Advantages & Disadvantages going into the Civil War

Advantages for the South They had great leaders, Like Robert E. Lee. They were fighting a defensive war. Northern supply lines would be stretched and tested. Because Southern soldiers are defending their homeland, their will to fight was sometimes stronger than the North.

Advantages for the North The North had 22 million people, much more than the South. About 85 percent of the nation’s factories were in the North. The North had more than double the railroad mileage of the South. Most of the naval power and shipyards were in the North. Most importantly, the North had Abraham Lincoln.

Disadvantages for the South The South only had 9 million people, of which 3.5 million were slaves. The South only had about 15 percent of the nation’s factories. The South only had a quarter of the nation’s railroads. The South would have to build a navy from scratch.

Disadvantages for the North They struggled to find a military leader who was willing to invade the South and put pressure on the Confederates. They were fighting often in unfamiliar land. They struggled to train and supply their armies. Northerners were very impatient with lack of success, so in a way the North had more pressure on them than the South.

As you can see most of the Civil War was fought in the South with one really notable exception: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Important Leaders for the South Important Leaders for the South. The South was also called the Confederacy, Rebels, Rebs, The Gray and The Confederate States of America.

Robert E. Lee Was the son of a famous revolutionary war hero, “Light- horse” Harry Lee. Was a hero in the South because he was able to repeatedly beat the North in battles. He fought much like George Washington had in the Revolutionary War. He had offers to command both the Union and Confederate Armies at the start of the war.

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson He earned his nickname in the Second Battle of Bull Run because he would not allow his men to retreat. He was later wounded by friendly fire, which cause him to have his arm amputated, and he later died from complications from his wounds. Lee said he had “lost his right hand” when Jackson died.

J.E.B. Stuart Was the chief scout for Lee throughout much of the war. His skills as a scout created an advantage for the Confederacy because of the excellent information he gave Lee. Lost contact with Lee at Gettysburg, which many blame for the loss there.

James Longstreet Was extremely loyal to Lee. Lee trusted his judgment and skills, and relied on him heavily throughout the war. He disagreed with Lee’s strategy at the Battle of Gettysburg, but followed orders anyway because he was loyal. Lee called him his “old war horse.”

Jefferson Davis He was chosen to be the President of the newly formed Confederate States of America. He had served as a Senator from Mississippi and as Secretary of War. He did not delegate well, and some people blame his lack of leadership for contributing to the South eventually losing the war.

Important Leaders for the North Important Leaders for the North. The North was also called The Union, Yankees, Yanks, The Blue and The United States of America.

George McClellan Was the commander of all Union forces for a significant portion of the Civil War. He was called the “American Napoleon” by some. He was later demoted by Lincoln because he moved so slow and refused to attack Lee. He actually ran against Lincoln for President in 1865.

George Meade He was one of the Union commanders who took over when McClellan was demoted. He was the commander of the Union Army at Gettysburg. He was demoted by Lincoln because he allowed Lee to retreat after the Battle of Gettysburg

Ulysses S. Grant He was in charge of Union Army in the western part of the country from 1862-1864. He was put in charge of the whole Union army during the last year of the war. He is given credit for ending the war. He was later elected President of the United States.

William Sherman Fought in the western part of the war during the first three years. Worked under Grant and was one of his best generals. Believed in “Total War”. Famous for his march to the sea that captured Georgia and helped end the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln He developed into a remarkable leader. He convinced Northerners that the ability to be a country depended on preserving the Union. He went through many commanding generals during the war because he could not find one that was willing to fight the South consistently. His ability to lead during this incredibly difficult time makes him one of the greatest presidents our country has ever had.