SS8H6 The student will analyze the impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Georgia. b. State the importance of key events of the Civil War; include Antietam, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, the Union blockade of Georgia’s coast, Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, Sherman’s March to the Sea, and Andersonville. The Civil War

The War Begins Lincoln did not have the support to start a war, it would take action by the South. April The North tried to send supplies to Ft. Sumter in South Carolina. Confederate forces opened fire against the Union troops forcing them to leave. Lincoln now had the support he needed as most northerners felt they had been attacked.

Union Blockades Anaconda Plan-Lincoln chose to use Winfield Scott’s plan to choke out the South and their ability to sell and import goods and supplies. The Union would use their ships to patrol waters off the Georgia coast preventing ships from transporting supplies.

Union Blockades The South’s economy relied heavily on cotton exports to Great Britain and France. Lincoln hoped the blockades would choke the life out of their economy with the blockades. Blockade runners- were ships that made it through providing needed supplies to the Confederacy or exports to other nations. General Lee-decided to use troops at strategic locations to protect place like Savannah. He concentrated his forces at locations that had railroad access.

Union Blockades The Union navy was eventually able to block trade in Savannah; however, blockade runners were able to slip ships in and out of Georgia because of the many barrier islands along the coast.

Antietam & The Emancipation Proclamation Robert E. Lee- his plan was to invade the North and capture Washington, the capital of the Union. After several successful battles Lee heads for Sharpsburg, Maryland. His plans are discovered by Union soldiers at an abandoned camp site. The Union army would be waiting! This battle marks the first major victory for the Union. Lincoln decides its time to issue his proclamation.

Antietam

The Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln delivers his Emancipation Proclamation with a victory at Antietam. He feels that he has the full support of the North to make his move. The Emancipation Proclamation- if the South does not return to the Union then all slaves will be free. (It did not free slaves in the border states because Lincoln could not afford to lose their support.)

Gettysburg General Lee invaded the North for the second time. The two armies met in Gettysburg, Penn. By accident. This battle ended up as the bloodiest of the war, with 51,000 dead. The Union victory was the turning point of the war as the Confederates retreated into the South for the remainder of the war; realizing for the first time, their was no chance for real victory.

The Atlanta Campaign William T. Sherman was placed in charge of the western forces. Sherman wanted to capture Atlanta because it was the rail hub of the South. July 1, After Sherman flanked Confederate forces by crossing the Chattahoochee, he reached the outskirts of Atlanta. General Hood had to evacuate the city in September. The city was now under Union control. The capture of Atlanta was important not only because of economics but it sent a message to the northerners that victory was in sight.

Sherman’s March to the Sea Sherman takes his forces and marches 300 miles across Georgia destroying railroads, factories, farms, bridges, and crops. Sherman wanted to cripple the South’s ability to transport or make supplies so that they would give up and stop the fight. His march to the sea broke the spirit of the South which led to surrender by Lee and the Confederacy. April 9, 1865 Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.

Andersonville Prison Exchange Breakdown- after the Emancipation Proclamation (arming black soldiers) the Confederates began re-enslaving black soldiers and executing the white officers. U. Grant- calls for suspension of the exchange program where soldiers from each side would be exchanged. Grant realized that large numbers of Confederate troops were returning back to fight against the North.

Andersonville Prison The South chooses Andersonville, Ga. As the site for a prison. Andersonville was designed to hold 8 to 10 thousand prisoners. Feb Mar. 4,600 April 7,800 May 13,500 June- Henry Wirz becomes commander of the stockade. 23,000 prisoners. 10 more acres are added. July 28,000 Aug. 32,000 All together 45,000 would go through the doors of Andersonville. 13,000 would die by Nov. 1864

Andersonville Prison Conditions at the prison- 4 acres to drink, bath, and use bathroom. This was the creek that ran through the middle of the camp. The medical treatment was poor due to a lack of knowledge. Food was limited and poor quality. * most died of dysentery. Union soldiers turned on one another and began robbing the newcomers of supplies and rations.

Andersonville Prison

Once word reached the prison camp that Sherman was pushing through Georgia, prisoners were moved to a new camp that had much better conditions. Confederates were worried about Union troops finding their troops in such horrid conditions. Henry Wirz was sent to Washington and hung for his role in Andersonville.