THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

The Civil War: Union vs Confederacy

Confederate Union The Gray The Blue

The First States Secede pg 441 Number of Northern & Southern States? How many “border” states?

Advantages of the Union pg 453 population - 22 million 85% of industrial goods, esp. munitions efficient railroad system controlled the navy, which could be used to blockade southern ports and shut down the south’s economy North would have to fight an offensive war (long supply lines, unfamiliar territory) Experienced and capable military leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant

Confederate Advantages and Disadvantages Pg. 453 Confederates had excellent generals too -Robert E. Lee and Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson Defending is always easier than attacking - (familiar w/climate and territory, possible psychological advantages) Farmers fight better than factory workers Profitable economy based on cotton exports Disadvantages… smaller pop. of 9 million (including 3.5 million slaves) Must import industrial goods; very little munitions production

GREAT BRITAIN… The South was looking for an added advantage, wanted an alliance with Great Britain (their industry was dependent on "King Cotton")... but GB was wary of events and did not want to become involved: GB stockpiled cotton as sectionalism escalated; they had also found other sources (Madras, India) most British workers who lost their jobs in cotton factories had been able to find work in the new munitions factories that were mostly supplying the North most British citizens resented slavery British crop failures had led to increased grain trade w/ the Northern US States.

Tensions Between The North & Great Britain: A British mail ship, the Trent, was intercepted by the North going to England from the South carrying “Confederate Ambassadors” James Mason and John Slidell who were sent to convince the British to join the South in the war. Results in the North resenting British interference, some call for war with Britain; meanwhile British take steps to build up their military in Canada. Lincoln simply defused the situation by releasing the southern "agents“ who went on to England but who failed to bring Great Britain into the war. Great Britain sold several ships to the South; the Florida and the Alabama - they sank many Union ships

Emancipation Proclamation Pg. 463-64 Issued Jan. 1, 1863 It freed the slaves only in states which seceded from the Union. It did not free slaves in border states. Why? What was Lincoln’s purpose?

Gettysburg; A Turning Point Pg. 478 Lee realized that the South was in dire straits and decided that it was crucial to attack the North on its own territory July 1-3, 1863 - BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania Confed. bombardment; Union held firm on July 3, General Pickett led 15,000 Confed. Troops across open fields - Union mowed them down (= "Pickett’s Charge") Lee was defeated and retreated to Virginia Gettysburg is the largest battle in the history of the Western hemisphere. Over 51,000 people died in 3 days It was the last time the South invaded the North.

Gettysburg Address November 19th, 1863, four months after the battle at the dedication of the cemetery. “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Abe Lincoln

Civil War Technology The Monitor The Merrimack

More Efficient & Deadly

First All Metal Ships Ever!

The Rifle Rifles that used minié balls contributed to the high casualty rate in the Civil War. A rifle is a gun with a grooved barrel that causes a bullet to spin through the air. This spin gives the bullet more distance and accuracy. The minié ball is a bullet with a hollow base. The bullet expands upon firing to fit the grooves in the barrel. Rifles with minié balls could shoot farther and more accurately than old-fashioned muskets. As a result, mounted charges and infantry assaults did not work as well. Defenders using rifles could shoot more of the attackers before they got close. Minie ball traveled at 1,000 ft per second and inflicted tremendous damage.

African Americans in the Military After the Emancipation Proclamation African Americans began to join the Union Army Initially they were only used for manual labor Eventually, Blacks saw live combat 54th regiment out of Massachusetts Movie “GLORY” tells their story William Carney

The 54th Regiment attack on Fort Wagner, SC- July 18, 1863 Pg. 477

Creating America textbook, page 517

Lee Surrenders to Grant April 3, 1865 - Grant took Richmond Va. - final blow to Lee's army who were forced to move west, to Appomattox Courthouse, a town in Virginia. Lee surrenders on April 9, 1865 at Wilber McLean’s House. All Confed. troops forced to take an oath of loyalty to U.S. Lincoln didn't want a humiliated South nor further conflict issue of states' rights now "solved"- fed. gov't had asserted its status

Deadliest War in U S History 620,000 soldiers died; 350,000 North, 270,000 South Wounded; 275,000 Union, 260,000 Confederate General Montgomery Meigs choose Gen. Lee’s Plantation across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. as a highly symbolic cemetery.

EFFECTS OF CIVIL WAR Without Southerners in federal government many changes occurred that benefited the North… Homestead Act passed by Congress in 1862 - encouraged westward expansion without slavery - 165 acres given to anyone who would farm it 5 yrs. Union-Pacific Railway was authorized - great trade potential, focused on the Northern States. Tariffs were put in place to protect Northern industry Congress established a single federal currency - same value in all states - known as "Greenbacks" Union government issued war bonds and created income tax to cover war debts Lincoln's government restricted civil liberties so nothing would detract from Union war effort (suspended Habeas Corpus) - free press/ speech also interrupted

EFFECTS OF CIVIL WAR creation of a single unified country abolition of slavery increased power to fed. government – killed the issue of states rights U.S. now an industrial nation with the latest military technology a stronger sense of nationalism Western lands increasingly opened to settlement – Manifest Destiny (again) South was economically and physically devastated; the plantation system crippled...thus Reconstruction (rebuilding the U.S.) - but a deep hatred of the North remained...