The Civil War War Begins

I. Americas Choose Sides

1. Attempts to Stop the War a.In his inaugural address Lincoln promised not to end slavery or to attack the South first b.He also stated that the Union must be preserved

2. Fort Sumter a.Fort Sumter was located in South Carolina and controlled the entrance to Charlestown harbor b.Confederates demanded the Fort be surrendered c.Instead Lincoln sent supplies, which were blocked d.April 12, 1861 Confederates opened fire – 34 hours later the fort was surrendered

B. Reaction to Lincoln’s Call 1.Lincoln declared the South to be in rebellion 2.He asked states for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion

3. Border States were deeply divided. They were slave states located between the Union and Confederacy that stayed loyal to the Union.

C. Northern Resources 1.Population - 22 million 2.Network of roads, canals, and railroads 3.More developed economy

4.Anaconda Plan – Strategy developed by Winfield Scott a.Destroy Southern economy through a naval blockade b.Gain control of the Mississippi river to divide the South

D. Southern Resources 1.Had a strong military tradition 2.Farms to provide food 3.Brilliant officers 4.Territory in South formed a natural defense 5.It only had to defend itself until the North got tired of fighting 6.They hoped to wear the Union down a capture Washington DC 7.They also tried to win allies with cotton diplomacy

A. Volunteer Armies 1.At the start of the was the Union only had 16,000 soldiers within months it was up to 500,000 2.Southern men rose up to defend their land and way of life

B. Helping the Troops 1.Civilians on both sides helped by raising money, providing aid, and running hospitals 2.Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to become a doctor and helped to form the U.S. Sanitary Commission

C. Training the Soldiers 1.Both sides had shortages of clothing, food, standard uniforms, and rifles 2.Most of the volunteers had no idea how to fight 3.Discipline became the key issue