The Beginning of the American Civil War 16.1

Abraham Lincoln Lincoln’s election of 1860 was the event that triggered the secession of the Southern states S.C. declares their independence prior to Lincoln taking office. More states will follow

War Erupts When the Southern States seceded from the Union, they took over the federal forts within the Confederacy Fort Sumter, commanded by Maj. Robert Anderson tried to hold onto the fort, but supplies were limited Confederate Brigadier General Beauregard was sent to confiscate the fort

Lincoln’s Decision Sending supplies = war Doing nothing = turns a fort over to the rebels Confederate leaders were informed by Lincoln that he was sending supplies 4:30am April, 12,1861 the island is bombarded After 34 hrs of constant shelling, Anderson surrendered the fort No one was killed The war had begun Voice from the past (p.481)

Lincoln Calls Out the Militia 2 days after Ft. Sumter Pres. Lincoln asks for 75,000 militiamen for 90 day enlistment They didn’t think it would take long to put down the Southern uprising Citizens of the North responded with enthusiasm to the call to arms. A New York woman wrote, “It seems as if we never were alive till now; never had a country till now.”

The governor of Kentucky said that the state would “furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States.” In the weeks that followed, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas voted to join the Confederacy Southern volunteers rushed to enlist, just as citizens did in the North

War Enthusiasm Young men eagerly enlisted to join the war before it was over – sense of adventure A young Arkansas enlistee wrote, “So impatient did I become for starting that I felt like ten thousand pins were pricking me in every part of the body, and started off a week in advance of my brothers.”

When Virginia seceded, Lee resigned from the United States Army and joined the Confederacy. Although Lee opposed slavery and secession, he explained, “I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children.” Lee became the commanding general of the Army of Northern Virginia

Choosing Sides The border states—Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri – slave states that stayed in the Union Western counties in Virginia broke away with the help of some federal troops (became West Virginia) If Maryland seceded, then Washington, D.C., would be cut off from the Union

Strengths & Weaknesses The Union had huge advantages in manpower and resources 22 million people About 85 percent of the nation’s factories 2X the RR’s Almost all the naval power and shipyards Abraham Lincoln

The Confederate Advantages Able generals, such as Robert E. Lee Fighting a defensive war (didn’t have to send supplies far) Motivated to protect their homes from Northern invaders

Confederate Strategy Defensive position “All we ask is to be let alone,” said Confederate President Jefferson Davis King Cotton as a way to win foreign support Back fired because of a European surplus

Bring the Southern states back into the Union The Union Strategy Bring the Southern states back into the Union General Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan Blockade Control the Miss. River Some of the Union leadership wanted an immediate attack on Richmond (Conf. capital) Pres. Lincoln ordered an invasion in the summer of 1861

1st Battle of Bull Run On the way to Richmond, the Union Army had to defeat the Confederate troops near Manassas,VA. July 21, 1861 Read page 485

Civil War Journal Assignment You need: 5 sheets of paper Fold hamburger style (3 staples along the side) Create a cover page which represents you and your side (Union or Confederate) Write your name and period on the back page Each Journal entry will need to be at least a paragraph entry (5-6 sentences) and an illustration!

Entry #1 Identify who you are and where you come from. How did you feel after you heard about Ft. Sumter? Describe your excitement/fear for joining the war.