The American Civil War

Causes ► 1. States Rights – how much control over states should the Federal Government have? ► 2. Slavery – Federal Government was increasingly restrictive towards the expansion of slavery ► 3. Territorial Expansion – what was the direction of the state? ► 4. Economic Issues - Tariffs pitted Industry vs. farmers ► 5. Nullification Controversy – South Carolina placed in their constitution the ability to nullify bad laws. ► 6. Southern response to anti-slavery – the South was defending slavery like a badge ► 7. The Election of 1860 – Southern states said they would leave if Abraham Lincoln was elected. He won, they left.

Continued ► 8. Political factors – The confederacy considered their home state their “country.” The Union was considered a voluntary compact. ► 9. Sectional differences- again, the need for industrial or agricultural needs dominated political agendas. ► 10. Through the early stages of America, both sides developed divergent lifestyles. ► 11. The Union needed a strong central government for the infrastructure for industry ► 12. The Confederacy felt a strong federal government was not needed and that a strong government could interfere with slavery.

Secession ► South Carolina was the first state to leave the Union. ► Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas would eventually secede as well. ► They formed the Confederate States of America. ► Each state was sovereign and independent, and slavery was guaranteed in the constitution. ► Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy.

Attempts at Compromise with Slavery President Lincoln’s Positions Senator Crittenden’s Positions Secessionists Positions What They Shared What They Shared

Civil War Advantages ► Union Advantages ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ►-►-►-►- ► Confederate Advantages ►-►- ►-►- ►-►- ►-►- ►-►- ►-►- ►-►- ►-►-

The Union Dissolves ► The Fall of Fort Sumter – this federal fort was in Charleston S.C. ► This placed Lincoln in a tough situation – he feared losing more states. ► Throughout the war, Lincoln faced a difficult balancing act to keep slave states from leaving the Union. ► Northern Advantages: ► 1. Population. 2. Industry 3. Economic factors. 4. Railroads 5. The Navy stayed with the North. ► Southern Advantages : ► 1. Fight a Defensive War (just outlast the North) 2. Military Leadership 3. Potential for Foreign assistance. ► * If the Confederacy could just hang on long enough, the North would lose interest

The Struggle Begins ► 1 st Battle of Bull Run. ► Also known as Manassas. Lincoln ordered 35,000 troops to this sight. Gen Scott didn’t feel the Union was ready. ► Led by “Stonewall” Jackson, this was a Confederate Victory. ► 1. This damaged the Union Psyche ► 2. Inflated Confederate confidence. ► 3. Made everyone realize that this would be a longer conflict that everyone realized. ► -Robert E. Lee would head Confederate forces. ► George McClellan would head the Union force.

The North and South Face Off ► Strategies: North ► Anaconda Plan ► 1. Capture Richmond, Va ► 2. Control Mississippi Riv. ► 3. Blockade of Southern Coast (Naval) ► Eastern Theater – East of Appalachian Mnts. ► Western Theater – Appl, to the Mississippi River ► Confederacy: ► 1. Capture Washington ► 2. Invade the North ► 3. Seek Foreign assistance ► 4. Just hang on

Let’s get Started ►Y►Y►Y►You are a soldier in the Union Army. The war has been going on for three years, with no end in sight. How do you get through each day?

Fighting the War ► Through 1862 the Confederacy won most of the Battles ► Shiloh – heavy losses, Ulysses S. Grant won this battle and dealt a huge blow to the Confederacy. ► New Orleans – allowed the Union to gain control of the Mississippi ► Yorktown, Seven Pines, 7 days campaign – demonstrated to Lincoln that McClellan was inept for the job. ► John Pope took over for McClellan in the 2 nd Battle of Bull Run. McClellan replace Pope following this loss. ► Many now wondered if the war was worth it – bad for Lincoln. ► Antietam – worst single losses in U.S. history. 25,000 lost. The Rebels were allowed to escape. McClellan was removed again.

Emancipation Proclamation ► Following Antietam, Lincoln had the victory that he needed ► The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in Confederate states only – it was a war strategy. ► If he did this before a major win, it would look like he was desperate. It also marks the change in major goals for the Union.

Continued ► Ambrose Burnside replaced McClellan ► Fredericksburg – 114,000 Union troops lost to a smaller Conf. army- horrible losses ► Burnside was replaced by Gen. Joseph Hooker ► Chancellorsville – Hooker took an army of 134,000 and lost. ► Gettysburg – The single most important battle in American history – a Union victory. ► Nearly 45,000 were lost ► Gettysburg Address – Lincoln gave the greatest of American speeches on the importance of Democracy. ► Hooker would be replaced by Ulysses Grant

Draft Riots ► In 1863 Lincoln called for state Govs. To draft men into state militias. In New York, 1000 would be killed or wounded. ► The South actually started the first Draft in 1862, they called it Conscription.

Gettysburg- July 1 st -3 rd, 1863

The Final Phase ► Grant understood that the war had to become a War of Attrition – make war against your enemy's ability to fight a war. ► Gen William T. Sherman – “The march to the sea.” He would destroy everything in his path. Atlanta would fall in September of Once finished, Sherman would turn north. ► Surrender at Appomattox. Gen. Lee fought to the end, but was forced to surrender most of the Confederate army to Grant. ► There were acts of kindness here. ► Grant understood the idea of “not kicking a dead horse.”

Cost of the War ► This was the deadliest war in American History. ► 2.5 million would serve in the armies. ► 650,000 died or were wounded. ► Incalculable in terms of money ► Scars from this conflict would take generations to heal.