1. The Early Civil War

2. Secession
Between November 1860 and March 1861, seven states seceded (left) from the Union
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas
The “Deep South”—cotton states
After the Battle of Fort Sumter, four “Upper South” states also seceded
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas
Had little reason to secede originally (no cotton), but supported the Southern way of thinking and slavery

3. Border States Four slave states stayed with the Union
Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware
West Virginia later joined after seceding from Virginia (WV didn’t really have slaves)
Border states generally opposed secession, but also opposed war
Many citizens in these states were Confederate sympathizers
Lincoln often had fierce opposition from these areas

4. Changing Borders of the Civil War

5. Preparedness
Lincoln asked Robert E. Lee to take command of Union troops, but Lee supported the Confederacy
Couldn’t bring himself to fight against VA, became the #1 Confederate General
Both Union and Confederacy believed they could win
Union had more railways, more people, and a stronger, more diverse economy
Confederacy had more experienced civil leaders and military leaders, and had a more solid reason to be fighting (fighting for their “way of life”)

6. Strategies for Victory
The South's war plan was simple.
Fight a defensive war until it became unpopular in the North.
Count on European money and supplies to help fight the war. Cotton is still very important to textile mills.

7. The North had an aggressive war plan.
A blockade (blocking off ports) would cut off the South from European supplies and money.
Seizing Richmond (CSA Capital) could capture the government and force a surrender.
Control the Mississippi River, prevent supplying and isolate Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.

8. The North’s plan was called the “Anaconda Plan”
Like an anaconda, it would choke out the Confederacy
It was originally mocked in the press, but ultimately a very good strategy
It was created by Winfield Scott, head of Union troops
Unfortunately, Scott was old, out-of-shape, and unable to lead troops, so he resigned

9. Anaconda Plan

10. Early Encounters
In July of 1861 Union troops set out from Washington towards Richmond.
They met up with Confederate troops at a creek in Virginia named Bull Run.
The Union forces broke the Confederate lines.

11. From that day on the general was called “Stonewall” Jackson.
The Confederates were on the run until General Thomas Jackson rallied his troops.
Troops cried out “there is Jackson standing like a “stonewall”. The Confederates reorganized and scattered the Union troops. (South Wins)
From that day on the general was called “Stonewall” Jackson.
Was originally not a compliment, but a complaint

12. First Bull Run/First Manassas

13. The Battle of Bull Run showed both sides that their troops needed more training. It also showed that the war would be long and bloody.
General McClellan was appointed commander of the Union army of the east, also called the Army of the Potomac.
He got the army in shape, ready to fight.

14. General McClellan’s weakness was being too cautious
General McClellan’s weakness was being too cautious. President Lincoln had to push him into action.
In March of 1862 McClellan started the Peninsula Campaign. He landed south of Richmond and inched his way north. Lee launched a series of counter-attacks.
Lee had Stonewall Jackson sweep around the Union troops and head for Washington.

15. After Stonewall moved on Washington, DC Lincoln could not commit any more troops to McClellan’s campaign.
Without the reinforcements McClellan was forced to retreat. (South Wins, Peninsula Campaign)

16. Although the Union blockade started kind of shaky they began to stop the “blockade runners”. The blockade stopped 90% of the southern trade.
Union ships were originally too large to stop the smaller Confederate blockade runners
Eventually the Union started using a wider variety of ships, stopping the blockade runners

17. The South’s solution to the blockade was the ironclad.
They seized the Merrimack, covered it with iron and renamed it the Virginia.
In March of 1862 the Virginia sunk two Union ships and drove three aground.

18. The Union responded with the Monitor, their own ironclad.
The two ships clashed in a long battle with essentially no damage. Both withdrew. (Tie)
The South would never again challenge the US navy after they were forced to scuttle, willingly sink, the Virginia.

19. Ironclads

20. In September of 1862 General Lee decided to go on the offensive
In September of 1862 General Lee decided to go on the offensive. He was hoping to crush the Union morale.
Unfortunately for Lee his battle plan was found by the Union at an abandoned campsite.
Although the Union had a huge advantage, McClellan moved slow.

21. At Antietam 23,000 soldiers lay dead or wounded
At Antietam 23,000 soldiers lay dead or wounded. Lee decided to retreat during the night, as a result the Union got a huge morale boost. Lee got the exact opposite results he was hoping for. (Tie)
President Lincoln was disappointed because McClellan failed to pursue the fleeing Confederate army.
In November he appointed General Burnside as commander of the army, firing McClellan

22. Antietam

23. Confederate Victories in the East
In December of 1862 Union forces again headed for Richmond. This time the Confederates held out at Fredericksburg.
The Union army had to cross a river, go through the town, and then up a hill to attack an entrenched enemy.

24. The Confederate guns mowed down one Union wave after another.
It was the Union’s worst defeat of the war. (South Wins)

25. Shortly after Fredericksburg the Confederates ran into the Union army at Chancellorsville.
The Union held the high ground but “Stonewall” Jackson flanked the Army of the Potomac and swept through the side of the army. (South Wins)
The Confederates outmaneuvered Burnside in the three day battle.

26. It was, however, a costly victory
It was, however, a costly victory. After chasing Union troops “Stonewall” was coming back into his own lines after dark. His troops mistook him for a Union solider and shot him. “Stonewall” died several days later.

27. Chancellorsville

28. Union Victories in the West
In the west the Union was having more success.
In February of 1862 General Grant managed to capture two forts (Henry & Donelson) and was pushing for south.

29. Grant had moved his army up the Tennessee River to Shilo
Grant had moved his army up the Tennessee River to Shilo. Here the Confederates surprised Grant and forced a retreat.
During the battle Confederate General Johnston was shot in the leg and bled to death. He was the highest ranking officer to die in battle for the entire war.

30. However, the stubborn Grant (Union) attacked the next day and beat the Confederates back.
The Battle of Shiloh was the largest and bloodiest at that point of the war. (North Wins)
Despite the victory, some Northern citizens called for the resignation of General Grant
Supposedly Lincoln said
“I can’t fire him, he fights”

31. While Grant was fighting in April of 1862, Union gunboats were able to seize both New Orleans and Memphis. (North Wins)
With these two cites, the Union controlled both ends of the Mississippi River.

32. East - Confederates are winning.
West - Union winning.
Mississippi - Union winning.
Blockade - Union winning.