The Civil War

First Shots at Fort Sumter Southern states take over most federal forts in south Lincoln decides to send supply ships to Fort Sumter Confederates attack fort before supplies arrive U.S. troops defend fort for 34 hours then surrender

Lincoln calls out the Militia Lincoln asks states for militiamen to put down uprising Leaders in the upper south refuse request Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas join Confederacy Confederate Capital moved to Richmond Virginia Robert E Lee becomes commanding general of Northern Virginia

Choosing Sides Border states – slave state that border states in which slavery illegal Border states include Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri Western counties of Virginia break away form, Union state West Virginia 24 Union states – 11 Confederate states

Strengths and Weaknesses North has 22 million people – South has 9 million people 85% of nation’s factories located in the North North has more railroad mileage, all naval power, and shipyards Union has great leader Abraham Lincoln Confederacy has able generals Union supply lines will have to stretch far to invade the South Confederates defending home, have more will to fight

Confederate Strategy Defensive position – does not want to conquer the North Withholds cotton (King Cotton) exports to win foreign support Europe has cotton surplus don’t want to get involved South becomes offensive tries for big victories

Union Strategy North develops offensive strategy Anaconda Plan – smother the South’s economy, use naval blockade of South’s coastline Blockade – armed forces stop goods, people into or out of an area. Gain control of the Mississippi River, split Confederacy in two

Those Who Fought Most soldiers are between 18 and 30 Most are farmers, majority born in the U.S. African Americans want to fight, not accepted in Northern or Southern armies. Later, North accepts African American in the army. Most civil war soldiers are volunteers: volunteer to: Escape boredom Join friends and family Seek adventure, glory Get recruitment money Show loyalty to country or state

Hardships of Army Life Civil War soldiers in field, often wet, cold, live in crude shelters Camps are unsanitary, soldiers go weeks without bathing Poor hygiene Causes widespread sickness

Changes in Military Technology Weapons improve: rifles, minie’ ball, ironclads Result in higher casualty rate Battle tactics change Minie’ ball – bullet with hollow base Ironclads- warships covered with iron, better than wooden warships

Union Victories / Southern Victories Union armies win victories in the West – capture two Confederate river forts in Tennessee Union army wins Battle of Shiloh Union army captures New Orleans Confederates defeat Union army at Seven Day’s Battles – ending Union threat in Virginia

Bloody Antietam Bloodiest battle in Civil War After 1 day of fighting –neither side gains ground - 25,000 men are killed, wounded

Calls for Emancipation Abolitionist, Frederick Douglas urges Lincoln to emancipate slaves Lincoln does not feel he has the power to abolish slavery Doesn’t want to further divide the nation – if freeing the slaves will weaken the South then he would do it

The Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 Frees all slaves in Confederate territory Abolitionist are happy – Southerners outraged

African American Soldiers Emancipation Proclamation lets African Americans men join Union army African Americans rush to join army African Americans given worse jobs, less pay African American prisoners often shot or returned to slavery by South 54 Massachusetts Regiment 1st organized all African American regiment in North. Leads heroic attack on Fort Wagner Heroics of 54th lead to increase African American enlistment

Draft Laws North, South pass laws of conscription, also known as the draft: require men to serve in military In South, North men can hire substitutes to serve in their place North offers bounties, cash payments, to men who volunteer to serve

Economic Effects of War Inflation – an increase in price and decrease in the value of money In south food shortages are common In North, inflation is less, war boosts industry

Resistance by Slaves Slaves slow their work pace or stop altogether Sabotage crop and farm equipment Refuse to join fleeing planters Run away from plantations, join Union army

Women Aid the War Efforts Women take over “mens” work Dorothea Dix leads 3,000 nurses Women serve as spies: Harriet Tubman for North, Belle Boyd for South

Civil War Prison Camps In North, South prisoners of war face terrible conditions Prison camp in Elmira, New York is one of the worst in North Camp Andersonville, Georgia is the worse in South Thousands of prisoners die of sickness, exposure

Battle of Gettysburg Fight lasts 3 days Confederates retreat, Union army fails to pursue 23,000 Union soldiers died 1/3 of Confederate army dead or wounded (28,000)

Surrender at Appomattox Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865 Grants offers generous terms –Confederate can return home in peace After 4 years the Civil War ends

The Thirteenth Amendment 13th Amendment bans slavery in the entire U.S.

Lincoln’s Assassination John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln 1st U.S. president to be assassinated Booth’s accomplice stabs Secretary of State William Seward U.S. troops kill Booth, capture his accomplices

Consequences of the War U.S. viewed as single country not collection of states The Civil War also causes: National government to expand National government to grow more powerful New industries to grow rapidly Economic disaster in the South