The Civil War Chapter 15 (Part III)

Daily Life During the War

Emancipation Proclamation Northerner’s opinions about abolishing slavery varied Laborers opposed it Were afraid that they would lose their jobs to freed slaves that would work for lower wages

Abolitionists believed the war would be useless if slaves weren’t freed Would still keep the nation divided

Republicans feared voters would get upset Would lose the 1862 midterm elections Lincoln worried that he would lose support for the war

Finally in 1862 Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation – the order to free Confederate slaves

African Americans Participate in the War As casualties rose African Americans were allowed to join the military Contrabands – or escaped slaves were also allowed to join The 54th Massachusetts Infantry was the most famous African American regiment (Glory)

180,000 African Americans served in the Union army They received $10/month while whites received $13/month Confederates usually killed African American captives, or sold them into slavery

Growing Opposition In 1863 Congress approved a draft – a forced military service If you could pay $300 you could buy your way out of military service That was a year’s wages for most people

Difficult Lives of Soldiers Armies fought in rows facing each other, firing directly at each other, then attached bayonets and charged at each other

Doctors didn’t have medicine to stop infections so some people died from minor wounds Others had to have arms and legs amputated without painkillers

The largest cause of death was disease Typhoid, tuberculosis and pneumonia Twice as many people died from diseases as they did fighting

Soldiers that were captured were packed into prison camps that were meant to hold very little soldiers There was little shelter, food or clothing Starvation and disease killed thousands of prisoners

Clara Barton was a nurse during the war who is credited with starting the Red Cross

The Tide of War Turns

Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Gettysburg – key battle that turned the tide against the Confederation

First Day General Lee positioned his troops outside the Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg, not knowing that Union soldiers were camped closer to the town One of the Confederate raiding parties ran into the Union Calvary This was the start of the Battle of Gettysburg

As Confederate troops pushed back Union troops, Union troops took defensive positions on top of two hills Cemetery Ridge and Culp’s Hill

Confederate troops camped at a parallel ridge called Seminary Ridge Both sides gathered reinforcements for battle the next day

Second Day General Lee attacked the left side of the Union line He felt he could win the battle if he captured Little Round Top However the Union held off the Confederates and remained in control of Little Round Top

Third Day General Lee planned to blitz the center of the Union lines General George Pickett led “Pickett’s Charge” of 15,000 men It failed as fewer than half of his soldiers reached the top of Cemetery Ridge

Fourth Day General Lee began planning his retreat back to Virginia

Aftermath Victory – Union Importance – Turning point as Confederate troops would no longer launch another attack in the north Famous Generals – Robert E. Lee, George Pickett

The South’s attempt at Cotton Diplomacy failed France and Great Britain refused to provide aid to the Confederates

The Gettysburg Address At the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery, Lincoln gave a short but moving speech which remains one of the most important speeches in American history It was dedicated to the bravery of the Union soldiers

Union Campaigns Cripple the Confederacy

Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman carried out the Union plan to destroy southern railroads and industries He marched 100,000 soldiers through the mountains to Georgia He avoided Confederate defenses and held Atlanta under siege Most of Atlanta was destroyed by fire and artillery and residents were ordered to leave the city

Sherman’s next campaign was his March to the Sea to capture Savannah During his march he practiced total war Total War – destroying not only military resources, but economic and civilian resources as well

Troops destroyed railways, bridges, crops and livestock They also burned plantations and freed slaves Sherman reached Savannah leaving a path of destruction and hatred of the North that, to some degree, still exists today

The South Surrenders On April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in the town of Appomattox Courthouse Grant let Lee keep his sword and promised his men would be fed, they could keep their horse and wouldn’t be tried for treason

Effects of the War 620,000 Americans lost their lives The defeat of the South ended slavery Former slaves had no homes or jobs The southern economy was destroyed Hostility towards the North still remained