The American Civil War – Beginnings

Presidential election of 1860  In 1860, Stephan Douglas and Abraham Lincoln ran against each other again, this time for president.  Lincoln had become well known from their debates about slavery.  This time, Lincoln won, becoming the 16th president.

The RED states are the ones that elected Lincoln.

Excerpt, First Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow- countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it."

Lincoln on Civil War  Warns in his Inaugural address that “no state…can lawfully get out of the Union”  Says there will be no war unless the South starts it

Southern States secede  Lincoln received no support in the South.  A lot more people in the North, he won the election anyway.  South felt they no longer had a say in national gov. – Felt President & Congress was against them

South Carolina Secedes December 20, 1860

Southern States secede  As soon as Lincoln won the election, the South started to secede.  Supporters of secession based their arguments on the idea of states’ rights. They had voluntarily joined the union, so they could leave when they wanted.  By 1861 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, & Texas had seceded as well  Became the Confederate Sates of America

Civil War SS lavery was the major issue that separated the North from the South. SS tates’ Rights was the other major issue

Confederate States of America  They named Jefferson Davis as president.  They wrote a new Constitution which made slavery legal.  Begin seizing Federal buildings in the South (forts, post offices ect.)  What should Lincoln do?

The Civil War began at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.

Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 Confederate forces fired on the fort, which was unable to effectively fight back. The United States surrendered Fort Sumter, Union forces left the following day. The firing upon Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War.

 There were 23 states in the Union (North) at the beginning of the war.  There were 11 states in the Confederacy (South) at the beginning of the war.

A Divided Nation

Union and Confederate states

Confident in Victory  Union: North  “We shall crush out this rebellion as an elephant would trample on a mouse”  Confederate: South  “Just throw three or four (bomb) shells among those blue-bellied Yankees and they’ll scatter like sheep”

Why Fight?  Union:  Felt they had a duty to preserve the United States  *Initial goal of Union was NOT to end slavery  Union in 1861 still have 8 slave states  Confederates:  Felt they had the right to independence  To live their lives like they wanted to

North’s Advantages  They had many more people (~4x free citizens)  More people to grow food + work factories + be soldiers  They had many more factories  could be used to make weapons + supplies  70% of total railroad tracks  To move troops + supplies

North Weaknesses  Attacking: had to enter and conquer large amount of unfamiliar land  Supply lines stretched out and vulnerable

South’s Advantages:  Defensive: just wants to be left alone  The South’s main advantage was that they were fighting at home.  They were closer to their supplies.  They would fight harder because they were protecting their homes & their way of life  Southern soldiers were better equipped with the skills necessary to survive a war.

South Weaknesses  Economically weak: – No factories (can’t make lots of guns etc..)  Less Railroads – Harder to move troops & supplies  Limited Central Authority – Difficult to get things done  Small population – And 1/3 of population were slaves who would not aid in fighting

Leaders

Abraham Lincoln  The president of the Union.  Patient, strong leader  Gains respect of those around him despite not having much previous military of political experience

Jefferson Davis  The president of the Confederacy.  Went to Military school at West Point  Officer in Mexican War  Served as Secretary of State

Military Leaders  Many of the army’s best officers lived in Southern states  When their state seceded they went to fight for the Confederate army

Battle of Bull Run  One of the first battles of the war  The North realized after this battle that the war would not be easy and would not be over soon.  Both sides need more discipline & training

Union Strategy  Aggressive – Blockade S. ports – Seize Confederate capital in Richmond VA – Blockade Mississippi – Cut off Arkansas & Texas

Confederate Strategy  Confederacy:  Wait it out – Defend until Union tired – If war became unpopular in North Lincoln would stop  Depended on European support because of cotton trade

Breaking the Blockade Union blockade blocked 90% of trade  Ironclad ship  Confederates invent ship with iron plates on it to protect it from cannon fire.

Other new weapons:  Deadlier cannons and bullets  Rifles that were more accurate

Battle of Antietam  Confederacy invaded Northern territory  Led by General Robert E. Lee  It was the bloodiest battle in US history. – 23,000 men lost their lives that day.

 It declared that all slaves in the Confederacy were free.  Allowed African Americans to serve in the Union army and navy for the 1 st time.  Union now fights for Preservation of US & against slavery. Emancipation Proclamation

54 th Massachusetts Regiment  Courageous African American soldiers help earn respect for all African American soldiers  _bno8IQ _bno8IQ

Hard Life for Soldiers  New technology means more people die  Injured? common to amputate and DRs were not aware of germs so infection was common  Poor sanitation meant that disease killed more than guns and cannons did  1 out of 7 Union Soldiers desert  1 out of 8 Confederate Soldiers desert

The Draft  In 1863 all able bodied men were required to serve in the military if they were called

MONEY  Wars are expensive!  Income tax: tax on people’s earnings  Still not enough money, US gov. prints $400 million  Inflation: a rise in prices and a decrease in value of $$$

Women in the Civil War  Women on both sides worked during the war. Many became nurses. The most famous nurse from the Union was Clara Barton.  She also helped organize the American Red Cross.

 The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the war.  It took place from July1- 3,  97,000 Union soldiers fought 75,000 Confederate soldiers.  More than 50,000 men were killed or wounded in the battle. Battle of Gettysburg

 The Union won the Battle of Gettysburg.  Many felt it was a turning point in the war.  Many Northerners started supporting the army after this by lending them money to help pay for the war.  This was called a war bond.

Gettysburg Address  Several months after the Battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln went to the battlefield to dedicate a cemetery in honor of all those who had died.  Lincoln spoke for two minutes, but his speech became very famous.  It is called “The Gettysburg Address”.

Other Important Dates: In March of 1864, Pres. Lincoln appointed Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to lead the Union Army. On Nov , President Lincoln was reelected as president of the Union. After several more battles, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, The war was officially over. On April 14, 1865, while enjoying a night at the theater with his wife, Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. He died at 7:22 a.m. the next day. On Dec. 6, 1865, the 13 th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. This amendment abolished (ended) slavery.