The Civil War: Overview

The Dred Scott Case Dred Scott was a Missouri slave, whose owner had taken him to live temporarily in Wisconsin 1857: Scott sued for freedom, claiming MO Compromise outlawed slavery in area President Buchanan asked Supreme Court to decide broadly, to end national debate over slavery 1857: Chief Justice Taney: –No African-American could be citizen, free or slave –Scott would not have won anyway, because Congress had no right to restrict slavery –Missouri Compromise declared unconstitutional –Chief plank of Republican party was ended Scott freed by owner in 1857; died of TB in 1858

Summary of Causes Compromises over slavery and new states Bleeding Kansas Both north and south were afraid that the other would change their way of life 1860 election: –Republicans (Lincoln) opposed extending slavery –Democrats favored states rights to choose Slave Auction house in Atlanta

North vs South, 1861

Start of the War When Lincoln was elected, Southern states left the union (“seceded”) –Did they have the right to leave the union? –Did the North have the right to force them back? North had blue uniforms (USA or “Union”) South had gray (CSA or “Confederacy”) Fighting started at Fort Sumter, South Carolina Some slave states stayed loyal to the Union Fort Sumter

Military Goals S needed to defend itself; N had to force S to return N could invade, or lay siege to S S could defend borders, or attack N to force N to quit Anaconda Plan; block southern coast and control Mississippi River N was far more self- sufficient than S Lincoln and Gen MacClellan at Antietam

Battles: the Terrifying Beginning July 1861: Bull Run (Manassas) near Washington showed how brutal war would be Sep 1862: Antietam, in Northern VA: bloodiest day of war, in draw: 26K died July 1863: Lee and Meade’s troops met by chance at Gettysburg in southern PA Grant took Vicksburg to control Mississippi 1863: Emancipation Proclamation changed tenor of war: abolish slavery (only in Southern areas not controlled by Union)

The End of the War 1864: Sherman’s March to the Sea: capture Atlanta and drive to Atlantic Burned cities, crops, homes “Total warfare” destroyed S’s desire to continue 1865: Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia Destroyed depot in Atlanta

American Deaths in War