Section 1: The Civil War Begins Page Mitten – CSHS Semester One The Civil War, 1861 – 1865 Chapter 11 Section 1: The Civil War Begins Page Mitten – CSHS Semester One

1861 to 1865 The Civil War Bloody Civil War Union devastates the South Confederacy is defeated Lincoln wins reelection assassinated as the war ends

Fort Sumter Confederates soldiers take over government, military installations Fort Sumter – Union outpost in Charleston harbor Lincoln’s dilemma reinforcing fort or not? reinforcing – rest of slave states secede evacuating legitimizes Confederacy

First Shots Lincoln does not reinforce or evacuate sends food to the fort Jefferson Davis chooses turns peaceful secession into war - fires on Sumter April 12th, 1861

First Shots Virginia Secedes Virginia unwilling to fight South Fall of Fort Sumter unites North volunteers rush to enlist Virginia unwilling to fight South secedes from Union antislavery western counties secede from Virginia Three more states secede border states remain in Union

Americans Expect a Short War Union Advantages more soldiers more factories more food more railroads Confederate Advantages cotton profits = $$ better military leadership – generals motivated!

Union Strategy Union = Anaconda Plan Confederate Strategy blockade Southern ports divide Confederacy into two in west capture Richmond, Confederate capital Confederate Strategy good defense invade North if opportunity arises

First Battle Bull Run Protecting Washington D.C. near Washington D.C. - Confederate victory Protecting Washington D.C. After Bull Run, Lincoln wants 1 million more soldiers George McClellan to lead Army of the Potomac

Early Battles Forts Henry & Donelson General Ulysses S. Grant brave, tough, decisive commander in West Feb. 1862, Grant captures Confederate Forts Henry, Donelson

Union Armies in the West Shiloh March 1862, Confederate troop surprise Union soldiers at Shiloh Grant counterattacks Confederates retreat thousands dead, wounded Farragut on the Lower Mississippi David G. Farragut commands fleet takes New Orleans, April 1862

Revolution in Warfare Ironclads New ironclad ships instrumental in victories of Grant, Farragut Ironclads splinter wooden ships withstand cannon, burning March 1862, North’s Monitor, South’s Merrimack (CSS Virginia) fight to a draw

New Weapons Rifles more accurate Fighting from trenches faster loading fires more rounds than muskets Minie ball – more destructive bullet grenades & land mines are used Fighting from trenches barricades new advantage in attacks

War for the Capitals “On to Richmond” Union leaves Richmond area McClellan waits to attack Richmond drills troops for 5 months Spring 1862, Robert E. Lee takes command of Southern army Lee, McClellan fight Seven Days’ Battle Union leaves Richmond area

Antietam Lee wins Second Battle of Bull Run marches into Maryland Lee, McClellan clash at Antietam bloodiest single-day battle Battle a standoff Confederates retreat McClellan does not pursue Lincoln fires McClellan