Chapter 15 Fighting the Civil War

The North STRENGTHS 4 X’s as many free citizens Industry- supplies More than 70% of Railroads Strong Navy / large fleet of trading ships WEAKNESS Invading unfamiliar land

The South STRENGTHS Defensive War – “home team advantage” Hunting skills- guns, horses, rich military school Some of the BEST officers from U.S. Army WEAKNESSES Few factories – North or Europe Few railroads Small population

War Strategies The North The south Blockade southern ports Seize control of Mississippi River Seize Richmond (capital of the confederacy) Fight a defensive war at home Counted on Europeans supporting them financially because cotton and other goods being traded

Major Battles Bull Run (Manassas) – July 21, 1861 Antietam (Sharpsburg) – September 17, 1862 (Attempted after the failed Northern Peninsula Campaign of June 1862) Gettysburg – July 1- 3, 1863 Vicksburg – July 4, 1863 Appomattox Courthouse – April 9, 1865

Civilians Soldiers Life During the War Endless marching and drilling practices Slept on ground Crude medical care Infections Crops failed Homes destroyed Families split up Businesses ruined

Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 – Slaves were “freed” by Lincoln Changed the character of the war Union was fighting against slavery as well as to save the Union

Gettysburg Address The battleground was dedicated to the soldiers who died there (became a cemetery) Lincoln gave a short speech that people didn’t listen to. Lincoln’s speech was not famous until later… “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…”