1. Secession and Civil War “A house divided against itself cannot stand…” The Fight to Preserve the Union

2. Election of 1860:  Southern States feared Lincoln’s election would lead to attempts to abolish slavery  South believed its society and economy would not survive Lincoln’s Presidency  South Carolina led the way in 1860  Followed by slave states of deep South  Established Confederate States of America  Upper South followed after first shots were fired

3. First shots were fired:  Fort Sumter; April 12, 1861  South attempted to take the fort  Sparked secession of VA and upper South

4. KEY LEADERS AND THEIR ROLES:

5. Abraham Lincoln  President of the U.S. during the Civil War  Insisted that the Union be held together, by force if necessary  Issued the Emancipation Proclamation

6. George McClellan  First commander of the Union forces  Organized the Army of the Potomac  Was relieved from duty after failing to act (he was too slow)

7. Ulysses S. Grant  Union commander who took over late in war  Gained early success in West  Eventually defeated Robert E. Lee

8. Jefferson Davis  President of the Confederate States of America

9. Robert E. Lee  Confederate General of the Army of Northern VA  Opposed secession as well as force to keep Union together  Sided with South after Ft. Sumter  Urged reunification after the war

10. Frederick Douglass  Former slave who became prominent abolitionist  Urged Lincoln to recruit former slaves to fight in Union Army

11. Comparing the sides, 1861;  Population: North at 4 million, South at 1.2 million eligible for military  Naval Shipping: North had edge at 25 to 1 ratio  Iron Production: North had edge at 15 to 1  Firearms production: North had edge 32 to 1 ratio  North had more: railroads, industry and economic resources as well!!!