Civil War essay

Democrats split

· Northern Democrats run Stephen Douglas

· Southern Democrats run John C. Breckinridge

Republicans decide for moderate

· Republicans nominate Lincoln

· Lincoln opposes slavery in territories

· Republican platform comprehensive

Fourth party enters race

· Constitutional Unionists

· Run John Bell

Republican Victory

· Lincoln gains 40% popular vote

· Lincoln wins in electoral college

· Most Americans want settlement

South Carolina fire-eaters demand secession

· South Carolina secedes December 20, 1680

· Deep South follows

· Buchanan unable to shape compromise

Crittenden Compromise

· Proposed extension of 36º 30’

· John Tyler proposed constitutional amendment

· Lincoln cannot accept slavery in territories

· Compromises fail

Confederate States of America

· Seven states of deep South

· Montgomery original capital

· Constitution similar to that of U.S.

· Constitution protects slavery

President Jefferson of CSA

· Model slave owner; not fire-eater

· Cold personality, irritable, inflexible

· Lacks self-confidence

· Surrounds himself with yes-men

President Abraham Lincoln of United States

· Knows value of unity, competency

· Appoints rivals to cabinet

· Brunt of jokes, criticism

· Sharp native intelligence, humble

Border states

· Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas join CSA

· Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri stay with Union

· West Virginia secedes from Virginia

A war of nerves

· Two Southern forts in U.S. hands

· Davis willing to let status quo stand for moment

· Lincoln decides to re-supply forts without force

· Confederates fire, beginning April 12, 1861

Art of War influences commanders

· Focus on occupying high ground

· Focus on taking enemy cities

· Retreat when necessary

· Jomini’s 12 models of war

The Armies

· Calvary: for reconnaissance

· Artillery: weakens enemy

· Infantry: backbone of army

· Also support units

Infantry

· Brigades of 2,000–3,000

· Form double lines of 1,000 yards

· Advance into enemy fire

· Then fight hand-to-hand

· Most battles in dense woods

Yanks and Rebs

· Most between 17 and 25

· From all states, social classes

· Draft exempts upper class

· Anti-draft riots in New York City

· Draft dodgers in South

· Some bounty hunters

· High desertion rates

· Shirking duty not common

First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

· Both sides thought war would be short

· First battle 20 miles from Washington

· South wins, Union forces flee in panic

First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

· South fails to attack Washington

· South celebrates victory

· Stonewall Jackson hero for South

· South disorganized even in victory

Consequences of Manassas (Bull Run)

· South becomes overconfident

· North prepares for long fight

· George McClellan given command of Army of Potomac

Northern strategy

· Defend Washington; take Richmond

· Split Confederacy by taking Mississippi River

· Blockade southern coastline

Mismatch

· North had population advantage of 22 to 9 million

· Industry in north

· Railroads mainly in the north

· Southerners knew the battleground

· Interior lines in the south

· More southerners had military training especially officers

Southern hope for help from abroad fails

· Southern strategy = Hold off North until help comes from abroad

· Hope North grows weary of fighting

· France decides to intervene in Mexico

· British government pro-Confederate

· British people anti-slavery

· Britain never helps South

Jefferson Davis tries to force Britain’s hand

· Withholds sale of cotton

· British mills stockpile cotton before war

· British need grain more than cotton

Diplomacy

· U.S. captures Confederate diplomats on British ship, Trent

· Britain threatens war

· British build ships for South

· U.S. uses diplomacy to keep Britain out of the war

· Copperheads: Northern sympathizers of South

· Defeatists: Believe war is not worth the effort

· Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus

· Jails many dissenters, weakens their effectiveness

War in the West

· Union moves troops to Kentucky

· Union captures Forts Grant and Donelson

· Next major battle at Shiloh, Tennessee

· North wins in incredibly bloody battle

War at sea

· Confederates use commerce raiders

· Confederates try to outrun North’s blockade

· South’s Merrimack, North’s Monitor ironclad ships

· March 9, 1862 first clash of ironclad ships

· North builds more ironclad ships; South lacks resources

McClellan has the “slows”

· Army well-trained and equipped

· McClellan reluctant to attack

· McClellan was Democrat and disliked Lincoln’s war policy

· Lincoln frustrated with McClellan

Peninsula Campaign

· Union troops between York and James Rivers

· McClellan delays; South maneuvers

· 7-day battle; Lincoln recalls troops

· Lincoln replaces McClellan

Antietam

· Eastern theater stalemates

· South invades Maryland

· North stops south of Antietam

· Lee retreats to Virginia

Emancipation Proclamation

· Lincoln’s war aim to save Union

· Antislavery sentiment growing

· Lincoln frees slaves in states fighting Union

· Effective January 1, 1863

Slavery: The Beginning of the End

· Reassures slave states

· Allows North to use black troops

· Improves morale

· Mollifies Radical Republicans

Stalemate renewed

· McClellan replaced with Anthony Burnside

· Burnside loses at Fredericksburg, Virginia

· War bogs down in West

· War stalemates as both sides retreat for winter

1863

War at standstill

· South: shortages and inflation

· North: frustration

Chancellorsville (May 1863)

· Joseph Hooker commands Union troops

· Hooker outnumbers Robert E. Lee

· Lee outmaneuvers Hooker, wins

· South suffers severe casualties

· Including Stonewall Jackson

Fortress of Vicksburg

· South held small section of Mississippi River near Vicksburg

· Union forces unable to take Vicksburg

U.S. Grant

· Re-enlists when Civil War breaks out

· Wins Forts Henry and Donelson

· Shiloh creates questions about soberness

Siege of Vicksburg

· Grant marches down west bank of river

· Crosses river south of Vicksburg

· Takes surrounding area

· Lays siege to city

Gettysburg July 1-3

· Lee invades Pennsylvania

· Surprises Army of Potomac commanded by Meade

· Armies meet at Gettysburg

· North gains strategic advantage

Pickett’s Charge

· Lee plans frontal assault on Union center

· Loses 10,000 men in less than an hour

· Lee waits for counterattack

· Union fails to counterattack

July 4, 1863

· Gettysburg ravages Southern morale

· Vicksburg falls

Tennessee Campaign

· Union troops occupy Chattanooga

· Battle at Chickamauga Creek

· South lays siege to Chattanooga, fails

· Grant becomes commander of all Union forces

Total War

Grant’s tactics

· Totally destroy enemy’s ability to fight

· Union has numerical superiority

· Force Confederacy to fight on all fronts

· William T. Sherman heads toward Atlanta

Richmond

· Grant marches into the wilderness

· Lee outmaneuvers Grant and attacks

· Heavy losses on both sides

· Union can withstand losses; South cannot

Petersburg and the Shenandoah Valley

· Grant lays siege to Petersburg

· Petersburg rail center serves Richmond

· Siege lasts nine months

· Union forces lay waste to Shenandoah Valley

Sherman in Georgia

· Union troops occupy Atlanta (September 1864)

· Sherman marches to sea (Atlanta to Savannah)

· Intends to destroy South’s ability to fight

· Destroys everything in path

The sudden end: April 1865

· Lee abandons Petersburg, Richmond

· Lee tries to make last stand, fails

· Lee, Grant meet at Appomattox Court House

· Grant gives Lee generous terms

Deaths

· Totaled 620,000

· More deaths than all other wars combined

Lincoln’s Assassination: April 14, 1865

· John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln

· Shot in Ford’s Theater, Washington

· Booth part of a conspiracy

· Booth killed; four more hanged

“Father Abraham”

· Not overly popular as president

· Worries about winning 1864 election

· Wins due to victories

· Democrat Andrew Johnson running mate

· Had won respect with his humility and eloquence

Consequences of the Civil War

Union victory

· Establishes inseparability of the states

· Destroys political dominance of South

· Northeastern industrial, financial interest now dominant

New Economic Policies

· Pacific Railways Act: transcontinental railroad

· Morrill Tariff: high protective tariff

Union financing of war

· Heavy taxation: tariff, income, and excise taxes

· Paper money: greenbacks

· Borrowing: bonds sold

Free land

· Homestead Act gives 160 acres of public domain; must live on it for 5 years

· Morrill Act gives land to states to fund colleges

Free people

· Slavery immoral, archaic

· Thousands of slaves flee to Union Army

· 15,000 blacks serve in Union army

· Thirteenth Amendment ends slavery