The Civil War 1861 - 1865

Fugitive Slave Act (1850) required American citizens to turn in runaway slaves even in northern states anyone who helped a slave escape could be fined or jailed Dred Scott slave belonging to a doctor in Missouri Doctor moves to Illinois (free state) and dies, Scott sues for freedom since he’s lived on free soil 11 years to reach Supreme Court court decided since Scott was a slave and not a citizen he has no right to sue and 5th Amendment prohibits Congress from seizing property so the gov. had no authority to declare him free further divides North and South

Election of 1860 Democrats nominate Stephen Douglas Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln Big issue = slavery Democratic party divided between North and South, leading Lincoln to an easy victory

Dec. 20, 1860 - South Carolina votes to secede Feb. 1861 – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia secede Form Confederate States of America Constitution is a contract that the national gov. violated by denying the South equal rights in new territories and refusing to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, giving states justification to secede Jefferson Davis (Mississippi Senator) voted as President Capital = Richmond, Virginia General = Robert E. Lee

Lincoln’s inauguration speech pleaded with South for reconciliation April 12, 1861 – Confederates attack Ft. Sumter (South Carolina) Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas join the Confederacy “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”

Lincoln has to be careful not to push border states to the Confederacy not always as simple as North v. South – there are sympathizers of each side in every state families are divided

First major battle = Bull Run / Manassas (Virginia) Confederates, led by “Stonewall” Jackson, win Union troops flee Confederates too disorganized to pursue them North completely shocked

Open your textbooks… Page 460 – “An American Story” Page 462 – “Comparing Resources” chart

Union commander = Ulysses S. Grant Victories in Kentucky April 25, 1862 – Union captured New Orleans – Union controls most of Mississippi River and the biggest city in the South

Battle of Antietam South has been winning almost every battle – 1 more victory may get Britain’s or France’s support Jefferson Davis tells Lee to attack Maryland 2 Union soldiers happen to find a copy of Lee’s orders Union officer cautious, waits 4 days before attacking Bloodiest battle of the war – 6,000 die and 17,000 are seriously wounded in just 1 day Confederates retreat but Union does not pursue Turning point in the war Union gains confidence Lincoln turns focus onto abolishing slavery, not just halting its spread

Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 did not actually free anyone – only applied to Confederate areas Lincoln hoped slaves would hear about it and run away affected Europe, who was anti-slavery – no country wanted to get involved now “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.”

northern economy increased during the war – demand for goods was high most of the fighting was in the South farmland destroyed, led to food riots thousands homeless inflation = 9,000% (North only 80%)

Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863 3 day-long battle Pennsylvania 3rd day – Gen. Lee plans to attack so that the Confederates would “create a panic and virtually destroy” the Union army Gen. George Pickett leads “Pickett’s Charge” 14,000 soldiers run across an open field easy targets for Union ½ survive Confederates retreat Gettysburg Address – Nov. 19, 1863

Ulysses S. Grant lays siege to Vicksburg, MS Vicksburg surrenders July 4, 1863 Union now controls entire Mississippi River – Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas completely cut off from rest of Confederacy

Union captured Mobile, AL – now control Gulf of Mexico Gen. Sherman captures Atlanta, completely destroys the city, and begins his “march to the sea”, destroying everything on a 50 mile-wide path to Savannah, GA and South Carolina

April 9, 1865 – Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen April 9, 1865 – Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant in Virginia’s Appomattox Court House