The Civil War The First Shots The Strengths and Weaknesses The Game Plans

The Civil War started with the firing at Fort Sumter The Civil War started with the firing at Fort Sumter. What was it, and how did we get here?

When Lincoln was elected in 186o, he promised to maintain federal property in the south (in the states that seceded). Fort Sumter, a federal fort in Charleston, SC was running low on supplies. Does Lincoln restock the fort, showing that the Union maintains the property? Or does he let it go, and allow the South to restock the fort?

Discussion Questions: IF Lincoln refuses to restock the fort, then who maintains control over the fort? IF Lincoln sends the navy to restock the fort, then who maintains control over the fort? What should Lincoln do?

Modern Day Example: What would YOU do? You stay the night over at a friend’s house. When you get back home the next day, you realize you left your favorite pair of shoes there. You have property at your friends house, just like the Union has property in the states. The plan was to get your shoes back from your friend at school the next day. However, later that evening you two have a huge fight. Your friend refuses to answer your texts; your friend has seceded (left) the relationship just like the South seceded the Union. But, your property (shoes) are at your friend’s house! You have a choice: do you go to your friend’s house and demand them back and risk a confrontation (Lincoln going into the South)? Or, do you let it go (allow the South to restock the fort)? IF you let it go, you have just told your friend (without words) that you do not care about the shoes and your friend can have them. If you go get them – you are asserting they are YOUR shoes and you will do whatever necessary to keep them. What would YOU do?

1.) Lincoln sends the navy to restock the fort. What happened? 2.) Confederate artillery around Charleston demanded that federal workers in the fort surrender the fort. 1.) Lincoln sends the navy to restock the fort. 3.) Naturally, the south believed the fort was theirs – they demanded either surrender or face war. 4.) On April 12th, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter. The Civil Was has began!

Firing on Fort Sumter ( (click here)

The War has started...

Strengths & Weakness' Of the Union & The Confederacy!

CATEGORY NORTH SOUTH

9,000,000 23 11 22,000,000 Abraham Lincoln Jefferson Davis CATEGORY NORTH SOUTH Other Names No. Of States Population Leadership Railroads Confederacy, Confederate States of America, CSA Union, United States of America, USA 23 11 9,000,000 (includes 3,500,000 slaves) 22,000,000 Abraham Lincoln Jefferson Davis 25% of nation’s railroads 75% of nation’s railroads

Border State: state that allowed slavery but did not secede the Union.

Richmond, VA Washington, D.C. 1,500,00 army 1,000,000 army No navy at Robert E. Lee Stonewall Jackson - well trained, experienced Generals Capital Army Navy Cause for fighting? Ulysses S. Grant George McClellan -inexperienced Richmond, VA (briefly in Montgomery, AL) Washington, D.C. 1,500,00 army 1,000,000 army Large Navy which grew larger as war progressed No navy at war’s start - Maintain “southern way of life,” which includes slavery - Preserve the country - Free the Slaves

Strategies of the Union What is the game plan? Strategies of the Union and Confederacy!

Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan Take the CSA capital at Richmond Take control of the Mississippi River Robert E Lee leads the Army of Northern Virginia Southern strategy was an “offensive defense”: Ulysses Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman and Army of the Tennessee in the West George McClellan was in charge of Army of the Potomac Hopefully attract a foreign ally (Britain, France?) We broke away – you want us, come get us! - Drag the war out! Eventually, northerners will get sick of it! - Attack strategically! At some point, we want to win a battle in the north! Divide the West from South Blockade the Southern coast