The Civil War Begins The fight for Fort Sumter is the official start to the Civil War. Lincoln orders supplies to be delivered to Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC (Southern State) which was one of the only southern federal base not seized by the Confederacy. Confederate President Davis was faced with the issue of whether or not to tolerate or allow U.S. troops to cross into the Confederacy. Davis then ordered the U.S. to surrender the Fort to the Confederacy. Confederate troops surrounded the Fort until U.S. troops gave up the Fort to the Conference.

Civil War Begins Cont. President Lincoln ordered 75,000 volunteers to serve in the Union army. Four more states seceded as a result, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee. Richmond, Virginia was then established as the Capital of the Confederacy. Lincoln was concerned how close the confederacy was to the Capital in Washington D.C. with Virginia seceding (across the Potomac River).

Preserve the Union Lincoln insisted the war was not about slavery but instead it was to preserve the Union. Most Northern whites were not interested in fighting for the rights of slaves or free African- Americans in the North. Emancipation became necessary to winning the war since the South was using slaves to work in armories, hospitals, etc.

Emancipation Proclamation Most Democrats opposed any move to end slavery, while the Republicans were divided on the issue. However, with the North (mostly Republican) at war with the South (mostly Democrats), more Republicans began to agree slavery had to end, primarily to punish the southerners for starting the war. Lincoln publically announced he would issue the Emancipation Proclamation (a decree freeing all slaves in the Confederacy) after much pressure from Northern Republicans in Congress.

Guiding Question Did Lincoln free the slaves?

Life During the Civil War The war effected the North & South’s economy greatly. North experienced an economic boom. Increase demand on food and goods. Factories were able to manufacture uniforms, boots and weapons quicker than the South. Then use the well organized railroad system to ship the supplies to the troops on the front lines. Without the men running farms and plantations, the south’s agricultural system failed. Therefore, the South had less money to fund the war. Certain Southern areas faced food shortages.

African-Americans in the Civil War Emancipation Proclamation allowed Africans to enlist in the Union’s Army or Navy. Thousands rushed to join the military. The Africans were organized into their own platoons separate from the whites. Most Africans were not sent into battle but instead were used to do other jobs such as clean, cook and ship goods.

Generals of the Civil War Union General was Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate General was Robert E. Lee. Lee was from Virginia and he did support Virginia from seceding from the Union. Robert E. Lee was offered to command the Union army. Lee turned the offer down because he could not fight against the south.

Vicksburg The Union’s strategy was to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi which was the last major city along the Mississippi river the Confederacy controlled. The Confederacy used the city and the river to transport goods and troops. The Union needed to capture the city to take control of the Mississippi river. Most battles were taking place in the South since the North was able to troops goods and troops faster. Union did not want the Confederates to cross into Northern developed cities.

Gettysburg With many victories by the Confederates, General Lee decided to invade the North. The Confederate army crossed into Pennsylvania and into the city of Gettysburg hoping to seize a supply of shoes. On the other side of the city were two brigades of Union Calvary. Neither side backed down but neither side attacked. Fighting broke out when General Lee ordered the troops to launch a full scale attack. The Confederate were quickly over whelmed and had to retreat. The confederates lost 28,000 soldiers, a third of the Confederacy’s entire army. Gettysburg was the bloodiest and had largest death toll of any battle in the war due to the use of cannon’s and new gun innovations. It was a turning point in the war.

Gettysburg Address The Union’s victory at Gettysburg left the Confederate army devastated and for the remainder of the war, they were in retreat. The Union army kept advancing further south. Abraham Lincoln went to Gettsyburg to dedicate part of the battlefield as a cemetery. The speech he gave is known as the Gettysburg address.

End of the War The Union was able to capture Vicksburg by cutting off access to food and supplies along the Mississippi river. The Confederates eventually gave up after weeks without food and were on the verge of starvation. Union then captured Chattanooga, TN. It controlled a major railroad leading to Atlanta. The Union marched on and captured Atlanta, GA. The Confederates were forced to surrender as the Union had captured the main areas the South needed to continue the war.

13 th Amendment The Union’s take over of Atlanta came in just enough time for Abraham Lincoln to rally support for his reelection as President. Lincoln was reelected and he interpreted his reelection as a sign the American people approved of his policies and signal to order the end of slavery. The only way to do this was by amending the constitution. Congress narrowly passed the 13 th Amendment in 1865, banning slavery every where in the United States. Lincoln then made a speech about his plan to reinstate the Southern states into the Union of the United States and mentioned how African-Americans will be included all parts of the government including the south. A few months later, Lincoln was killed. Shot in the back of the head while watching a play.