1. The Civil War

2. Presidential Election of 1860
As America moved closer and closer to the next Presidential Election, the hostility between pro-slavery and anti-slavery grew more and more intense.
In 1859 you have John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry. Hoping to start a slave uprising John Brown and his men raided a federal arsenal and held captive 60 leading figures of the area. This was put down by Colonel Robert E. Lee
Then mobs in the south assaulted those who held anti- slavery views.

3. Presidential Election of 1860
Democrats- Stephen Douglas
Wanted territories to decide for themselves whether or not it would become a free or slave state
Supported by northerners
Southern Democrats were not happy with this choice so the party split and they chose John Breckinridge
Believed strongly in “States Rights” and believed slavery should expand into new territory
Supported by Southerners
Republicans – Abraham Lincoln
Does not want slavery in territories but did not want to erase slavery all together. – Free Soil
Supported by Northerners

4. Presidential Election of 1860
Lincoln won the Presidential Election!
Won 180 electoral votes
Received 39% of the popular vote
He did not win a single slave state.
15 Slave states were furious! Even though Lincoln promised not to erase the institution of slavery they did not believe him.

5. Election of 1860

6. Southern Secession
With Lincoln winning the election, the South felt like they had lost their political voice and feared Lincoln would end slavery. Some called upon their states to secede from the Union.
December 20, 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede.
By March of 1861 Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had all seceded.

7. Immediate Causes of the Civil War
Lincoln elected
South Carolina secedes
7 states join the Confederacy (CSA)
Upper south did not secede right away

8. Confederate States of America
The states that had seceded from the Union joined together in Montgomery, Alabama to form a Confederacy.
The constitution closely resembled that of the United States with some small differences.
Protected slavery and states rights
Created a weak national government
Outlawed Tariffs
President – Jefferson Davis
Constitution – slavery protected and allowed in new territories, and each state was sovereign and independent. Again states stronger than nation.
They created a new flag known
as the Stars and Bars.

9. What will the North do?
Members of Congress, those in various federal departments, and even those in the Presidents cabinet started turning in their resignations.
Seemed like the federal government was melting away!
All before Lincoln even took office.

10. Lincoln takes office
On March 4th, Lincoln gives his inaugural address.
Urged Confederate. states to return
Preserve the Union
Assures that it is not his intention to abolish slavery and would uphold the fugitive slave act
Promised to protect federal property even though they left the Union.

11. Fire on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter in South Carolina was one of the last few in Union hands by the time Lincoln took office. Confederate forces were now demanding that they either surrender or face an attack.
With supplies running low Major Anderson wrote to Lincoln for help.
What should Lincoln do?
Lincoln’s dilemma – If he attacked he would be the one starting hostilities and could lose more states, if he did not he would be breaking his promise to protect all federal lands, if he ordered an evacuation then he would be treating the confederate states as a legitimate nation

12. Fire on Fort Sumter
Lincoln decided to send provisions on unarmed boats to Fort Sumter.
Jefferson Davis’s reaction – fire on the fort!
April 12, 1861 Confederate men began shelling Fort Sumter. It lasted 36 hrs before Anderson surrendered.
Not a single American soldier was killed, but it marked the start of the Civil War

13. Virginia Secedes
On April 17th , Virginia was unwilling to fight against other Southern states and therefore seceded.
Virginia was a huge gain for the Confederacy. It was the most populated and the most industrialized.
However, counties in west Virginia were anti-slavery and they seceded from Virginia, creating a new state for the Union – West Virginia in 1863.

14. Other States Secedes
In May, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina join the Confederacy.
Slave states remaining in the Union – Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri.
What do you think are some advantages of the North and of the South
for this upcoming war?

15. Union Advantages
Population – 21 million in the north vs. 9 million in the south.
Industry – Almost all industry was in the north. South did not have a single rifle works
Railroads were twice as dense.
Navy
Disadvantages:
Have to invade the South
Hard to keep support

16. Confederacy Advantages
Better military leaders
Soldiers were better horsemen and riflemen
Most fighting on its own territory (home-field advantage)
Don’t have to win, just drag it out!
Their cause for Independence

17. Unions Objective and Plan
Main objective – to preserve the Union
Plan –
Use navy to blockade the southern ports
Split the Confederacy in two along the Mississippi River
Capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia
Known as the Anaconda Plan

18. The Anaconda Plan

19. Confederacy Plan Offensive Defense Protect the South
Attack the North when the chance arises

20. Dissent
A growing number of Americans were wondering why the Union was having a hard time dealing with the Confederacy.
By the fall of 1862 the tide seemed to be turning against the Union.
Many in the north said that the war was futile. The cost of lives and money was a waist and to let the Confederacy have their own nation.
These groups of people were known as Copperheads.

21. Dissent
Some of these people would discourage men from enlisting in the army and would even try to convince soldiers to desert.
In response Lincoln decided to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in many states. This meant that people could be placed in prison without proof as to why they are there.
As a result more than 13,000 suspected Confederate sympathizers were arrested and held without trial.
Supreme Court Chief Justice declared that Lincoln had gone beyond his constitutional powers.
Lincolns’ actions had set a precedent that expanded presidential powers during war or for “national security”.

22. Confederacy States rights led to very little money and troops
Printed more money to pay for the war
Inflated by 7000%

23. Conscription
Due to heavy casualties and widespread desertions, both the Confederacy and the Union established conscription.
All men between the ages of could be drafted.
However you could avoid conscription by either paying $300 to the government or hire a substitute to go in your place.
“rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.”

24. Battle of Bull Run
An army of 30,000 Union troops marched towards Richmond, Virginia. Only 100 miles from Washington D.C.
Along the way Union soldiers came upon a Confederate army near a little creek of Bull Run. Lincoln commanded General Irvin McDowell to attack.
The attack began on July 21st 1861
1st battle of the Civil War
The Union army had the upper hand until Confederate reinforcements arrived. This turned the tide of battle.
Stonewall Jackson defended Richmond from the USA, ending in the first victory for the South
Northerners packed picnics and put on their best clothes to see the battle. Thought it would be a short war.
Stonewall Jackson got his name at this battle – “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall.”

25. Battle of Bull Run
It was here that Jackson earned his nickname “Stonewall”.
Northerners were so confident in victory that they packed picnics and put on their best clothes to see the battle.
Later when the North retreated they were overrun.
General Thomas Jackson

27. Battle of Antietam
After a series of victories General Lee made plans to move against Washington DC.
1st attempt to attack the North
Luckily for McClellan, a corporal discovered that Lee and Jackson’s armies were separated for the time being.
McClellan decided to attack and the two armies fought on September 17 near a creek called Antietam.

28. Battle of Antietam
Lee was forced to fight a defensive battle, 37,000 against 75,000 Union troops.
The battle ended in a draw, but the Confederacy retreated the next day due to dwindling numbers.
Much to the chagrin of Lincoln, McClellan did not pursue them. Many believed that if he did the war could have ended then and there.
This battle proved to be the bloodiest single day battle in American history.
Casualties totaled more than 26,000. As many as the War of 1812 and the war with Mexico combined.
Lincoln ends up firing McClellan a couple months later.

30. A Reason to Fight
With the growing number of dissent in the north and Abolitionists at his back about ending slavery, and wanting to quickly end the war, Lincoln decided that the Union needed another motive to continue fighting and win the war.
Emancipation Proclamation

31. Results of the Proclamation
Freed the slaves in CONFEDERATE states.
“Border states” still kept slaves
Escaped slaves added to the chaos and some quit working
Gave the war a high moral purpose.
Allowed blacks into the military.
Made the Confederacy more determined than ever to fight to preserve its way of life.
Ended the option of compromise with the Confederacy – it was now a fight to the death.
Prevented other nations from joining or recognizing the Confederacy as a nation. – England and France were thinking of joining.

32. Chancellorsville “Lee’s Perfect Battle”
At this time, the Confederate Army of 57,000 lie between the Union Army of 104,000 men and Richmond.
With a daring move, Lee split his army to outflank the Union troops.
Jackson led this maneuver
After three days of intense fighting the Confederates won.
However it was a very costly victory.

33. Chancellorsville
It was a great victory but soon after on May 2, a heavy blow befell the Confederates.
On his return from a patrol, Confederate guards mistook Stonewall Jackson for a Yankee and shot him in the arm.
A surgeon amputated his arm but he caught pneumonia and died on May 10.

35. Lee pushes forward
Before Jackson’s death, he and Lee were a great team. The two of them worked very well together.
However, Lee must continue on. With the Confederates holding the military advantage, Lee wants to invade the North for a second time.
He hopes that a victory on northern soil will help sway politics in the north towards pro-Southern Democrats.
Thus he pushes forward into Pennsylvania.

36. Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was an unplanned one. Many of the Confederate soldiers led by A.P. Hill were barefoot and heard of shoe supplies in the town of Gettysburg.
Along the way they ran into Union cavalry under Officer John Buford.
Buford quickly ordered his men to take defensive positions on the hills and ridges surrounding the town.

37. Battle of Gettysburg
Shooting soon attracted reinforcement from both sides.
The North was soon under the command of General George Meade, and the South under Lee.
The Confederates took control of the town. Lee knew, however, that the battle would not be won until the North yield their positions up on Cemetery Ridge.

38. Battle of Gettysburg
After 3 days of heavy fighting the South lost the battle and Lee gave up hopes of invading the North.
This battle was considered the turning point in the war. The Confederacy never recovered from the losses of Gettysburg.
After the battle, Lincoln would give his most famous speech yet – the Gettysburg Address.

40. Battle at Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi was one of only two Confederate holdouts remaining on the Mississippi River. If Union forces take them they control the river and split the Confederacy
Keeping with the Anaconda plan
To prepare for an attack, Grant sends men out to destroy rail lines in the center of the state.
Thus drawing attention and soldiers away from Vicksburg.

41. Battle at Vicksburg
Grant was now able to land infantry south of the port and in 18 days they sacked the states capital city, Jackson.
Grant and his troops then rush to Vicksburg.
Grant realized he could not quickly take the city so he set up for a siege.
Cuts supply to the city for 2 months
The Union began a steady barrage of artillery shelling from both the river and land.

42. Battle at Vicksburg
The siege had been going on for about a month when food supplies starting running so low that people began eating dogs.
Confederate soldiers finally told their commanding officer, “If you can’t feed us, you’d better surrender.”
On July 3rd the Confederates surrendered and the city fell on the 4th.
5 days later the last holdout on the Mississippi fell, thus cutting the Confederacy in two and gained complete control of the Mississippi.

44. Grants Promotion
In March of 1864, Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant the hero of Vicksburg and commander of all Union armies.
Grant then moves on to face Lee in the East. His plan is to immobilize Lee’s army. He fought battle after battle losing twice as many men as Lee. However the North could afford it and the South could not.

45. Battle of Atlanta
While Grant faces Lee in Virginia, William T. Sherman would march south and raid Georgia.
The goal is to keep the Confederacy from reinforcing Lee in Virginia.
Also, Lincoln needs a major victory if he is to be re-elected to a second term.

46. Battle of Atlanta
As Sherman and his men moved closer to Atlanta, it’s citizens could hear war waging at Kennesaw. They soon started to evacuate the city.
On July 22, 1864, Atlanta fell to Sherman and his men, thus neutralizing the rail lines and supply hub.
After the evacuation of the city, Sherman burned most of the buildings, military or not.
He was a big believer in total war.
Lincoln is re-elected!

48. Sherman’s March to the Sea
Sherman then marches from Atlanta to Savannah.
Sherman’s goal is to scare it’s citizens so bad that they would abandon the Confederate cause and not want war for years to come.
He creates a swath of destruction 300 miles long and miles wide.
Houses and fields are burned, railroads torn up, and carcasses of cattle lined the road.

49. Sherman’s March to the Sea
topics/shermans- march/videos#shermans -terrifying-tactics
On December , Savannah fell to Sherman and his men.
Sherman then moves north to aid Grant.
He brings with him 25,000 former slaves eager for freedom.

50. War comes to an end
By late March of 1865, Grant began approaching Richmond from the west while Sherman came from the south.
On April 2, Lee was overcome by Grant at the battle of Petersburg. Upon hearing this news President Davis and his government abandoned Richmond and burned it to the ground.
On April 9, 1865, the Confederates surrendered at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

51. Why did the war so bloody and last so long?
Commitment to “total war”
Anything that could support war was under attack. – economy & civilians
Excellent Southern generals
New weapons, but old techniques
Minie Ball
Rifle
Improved artillery
Still faced lined up on the battle field.
For every man killed in battle, two died of illness or disease. Most doctors didn't understand the need to wash their hands to prevent infections. Often the injured died from infections, rather than from the wound itself.

52. Assassination of Lincoln
Five days after Lee surrendered, Lincoln and his wife went to Ford’s Theatre. While there John Wilkes Booth comes up behind the president shooting him in the back of the head.
Lincoln died the following morning on April 15.
His body was carried from Washington to Springfield, Illinois on a funeral train.
7 million Americans came to mourn the president.

53. Now what?
The southern states were forced to rejoin the Union as conquered territories not as states.
By the end of the year the 13th Amendment was ratified; abolishing the institution of slavery.
About 625,000 Americans died in the Civil War. More than World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam war combined.
Questions remained: How to restore the southern states to the Union and how to integrate 4 million newly freed African Americans into national life?