1. Secession and War

2. Last Minute Attempts at Compromise John Critterdon of Kentucky proposes a Constitutional amendment that would guarantee slavery below the 36°30’N Latitude Southern leaders reject the plan. S. Carolina becomes the first state to secede

3. The creation of the Confederacy By Feb 1861 Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia also seceded. Called themselves the Confederate States of America Chose Jefferson Davis, a Senator from Mississippi as their new President

4. Confederacy vs. the Union

5. Reason for Secession? Slavery (Do Note Write) Preamble to the S. Carolina Letter of Secession The people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D. 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue. And now the State of South Carolina having resumed her separate and equal place among nations, deems it due to herself, to the remaining United States of America, and to the nations of the world, that she should declare the immediate causes which have led to this act.

6. Declaration of Secession: Texas (Do Not Write) The government of the United States, by certain joint resolutions, bearing date the 1st day of March, in the year A.D. 1845, proposed to the Republic of Texas, then a free, sovereign and independent nation, the annexation of the latter to the former, as one of the co-equal states thereof, The people of Texas, by deputies in convention assembled, on the fourth day of July of the same year, assented to and accepted said proposals and formed a constitution for the proposed State, upon which on the 29th day of December in the same year, said State was formally admitted into the Confederated Union. Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated Union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery - the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits - a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slaveholding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the non-slave-holding States, since our connection with them?

7. Declaration of Secession: Mississippi In the momentous step, which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course. Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product, which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin.

8. Reactions to Secession Members of military forced to choose between serving states or serving Union – Robert E. Lee, general that arrested John Brown chooses to side with Virginia – Some Northerners wanted to let South go, arguing they were an embarrassment – Many Southerners, especially in Appalachia, where there are few slave owners, oppose secession and offer to aid Union (leads to breakup of Virginia)

9. President Responds Buchanan’s last act as President is to send a letter to Congress to condemn secession, but otherwise does nothing Lincoln must prepare response despite not being President yet – Offers South reconciliation if they will return: “We are not enemies but friends…Though passion may have strained, it must not break the bonds of affection.”

10. Fort Sumter Lincoln vows to hold onto federal territory in Southern States S. Carolina governor Francis Pickens gives Lincoln ultimatum regarding Fort Sumter in S.C., demands Federal troops pull out or be fired upon Lincoln refuses, Confederate forces attack Fort, outnumbered troops forced to surrender. The Civil War is on.

11. Makeup of the Country The Union: Made up of the Northern States, mostly New England, and the upper mid-west The Border States: This includes Maryland, D.C., Kentucky: Slave states that refused to secede. Become the front lines of the War The Confederacy: Deep southern states, capital in Richmond, VA. The Territories: Become a battle ground later in the war as Confederate guerillas look for places to strike.

12. Views about the War The South – North’s heart wasn’t in the fighting, and a quick show of force would quickly end the war – Northern “wage slavery” sapped their desire to fight – South had many battle tested generals and officers, superior to any Union officer – Southern control of the Mississippi River would give them a major east-west advantage – The South was fighting a defensive war, it knew its territory – Most Southern citizens were trained in the use of arms and outdoor living

13. Northern Opinions Initially Lincoln stayed away from the slavery issue, arguing the war was to preserve the Union. – Most Northerners not willing at this point to die over slavery Northern superiority in industry and man- power would make the war a short one. The attack on Fort Sumter was treason and demanded a response.

14. Going into the War Overwhelming Northern superiority – Balanced Economy – Railroads throughout for quick movement – Strong banking and finance, 4 to 1 advantage in capital – Advanced industry – Naval Supremacy – Merchant Marines – South had three major invasion routes: Tennessee River, Mississippi River, Virginia Rivers

15. North advantages/disadvantages North – Twice the army size But Poorly Led – Controlled New Orleans, a strongly pro-Union city Had to defend it from Southern attack – Had more states and territories Had to constantly worry about the border states, and take steps to ensure they did not secede as well

16. South: Advantages/Disadvantages Fighting on their own terrain, which they knew better than the North Superior Military leaders, all with real war experience in the Mexican-American War Has to worry about slave uprising, desertion Has to cover far less land than the Union, as they were fighting defensively – But had 400,000 less men to do it with Major shortages of heavy equipment like cannons – Have to quickly pick up the slack by building factories in Atlanta

17. The crisis abroad Great fear that Britain or France would recognize the South and come to their aid The Trent Affair: – Cpt. Wilkes of the Union attacks and boards a British ship RMS Trent and captures 2 Confed Diplomats – British protest, leads to talk of war with Britain – Lincoln scrambles to repair relations – Eventually releases diplomats and disavows Wilkes’ actions

18. Northern Strategy The Anaconda Plan: Blockade- cut the south off from Miss. River and Sea to ruin economy Confederates begin building swift ships called blockade runners to beat the embargo

19. The first real battle The Battle of Bull Run – 30,000 Union troops cross into Virginia, hope to march to Richmond. – Meet Southern force led by Beauregard – “Yankee” forces fail to push back South thanks to General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, a pro- slavery fanatic who holds the line – South counter-charges, Northern troops panic and flee

20. Battle of Bull Run

21. Reaction to Battle Audience comes from D.C. to watch: Flees back to city in panic Army of the Potomac dissolves, D.C. left vulnerable South decides not to pursue – Southern papers predict a quick end to the war.

22. The Monitor vs. the Merrimack

23. Monitor vs. Merrimack Confederates seize Union Shipyards at Norfolk, VA, including a prototype Ironclad ship, the Merrimack, which they rename the Virginia Ship is immune to damage from wooden vessels armed with cannon North quickly develops their own version, the Monitor Two ships meet on March 9, 1862. After an hours long fight, battle ends in a draw Makes wooden ships the world over obsolete

24. Early Northern Victories Battle of Cairo – General Ulysses S. Grant seizes Cairo, Tenn. From strong Confederate force – Famously informed commander of Confed Fort who asked for surrender terms “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender will be accepted” Became known as “Unconditional Surrender” Grant – Cuts south off from much of Tennessee River

25. Ulysses “Unconditional Surrender” Grant

26. Early Northern Victories: Shiloh Grant took 40,000 troops to attack major railroad junction, near Shiloh Confederates led by Beauregard launch a surprise attack on his troops Leads to two days of the most bloody fighting of the war (20,000 casualties) Union saved by shelling from Union navy Grant goes on to take Memphis

27. Early Northern Victories: New Orleans Union Naval Commodore David Farragut uses intimate knowledge of Miss. River to sneak a Union Fleet past several Confederate Forts. Seizes and fortifies New Orleans before Confederates can send reinforcements Remains in Union hands to the end of the war Cuts southern access to Miss. River from the Gulf of Mexico

28. Early Union Defeats: The Peninsular Campaign General McClellan chosen as new head of Potomac Army – Very slow, incompetent – Eventually ordered by Lincoln to advance Slow march gives Lee plenty of time to prepare At the Seven Days Battles, Lee’s calvary routs union forces.

29. McClellan and Lee

30. Early Union Defeats: Second Bull Run McClellan ordered to attack the advancing forces of General John Pope McClellan dithers, allowing Pope to dig in Once again, Northern forces flee after being unable to uproot Southern defenses

31. The Battle of Antietam Jefferson Davis orders Lee on the offensive, hoping to take Maryland, and D.C. to bring an end to the War McClellan tasked to lead 80,000 troops against him Despite finding Lee’s battle plan, McClellan almost fails to beat him Antietam becomes single bloodiest day of the war (6,000 dead 17,000 wounded in a matter of hours). Lee forced to retreat, McClellan fails to purse Lincoln fires McClellan and replaces him with Ambrose Burnside

32. The Emancipation Proclamation Signed after Antietam Declared that all slaves held in rebelling states were now free Only freed a few thousand slaves in Virginia Changed tenor of war: Made it a moral fight to end slavery Slaves began mass-desertions to North