The End of the War

Vicksburg Falls Purpose – gain complete control of the Mississippi River  cut the South in half Grant put Vicksburg under siege Siege - cut off its food and supplies and bombard the city until its defenders gave up July 4, 1863 – now starving, the Confederates surrender Confederates were now cut in half

Gettysburg Lee invaded Pennsylvania & had an accidental clash with the Union cavalry July 1, 1863 – Confederates pushed the Union troops out of the town and into the hills July 2, 1863 – Lee attacked, but Union troops held their ground July 3, 1863 – Lee ordered a massive assault  known as Pickett’s Charge Under the command of General Pickett

Gettysburg – Pickett’s Charge A mile-wide line of Confederate troops marched toward Union forces Union cannons and guns opened fire 7,000 casualties in less than 30 minutes of fighting July 4, 1863 – Lee retreated to Virginia Gettysburg = Union victory Really the end of Lee’s power

Gettysburg Union casualties = 23,000 Confederate casualties – Over 1/3 of Lee’s entire force Turning point of the war b/c… Destroyed the power of the South Strengthened the Republicans politically Ensured the British would not recognize the Confederacy Lee’s forces will remain on the defensive for the rest of the war Considered to be the greatest battle of the Civil War

Gettysburg

The Gettysburg Address Speech given after the Battle of Gettysburg, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania by Abraham Lincoln to dedicate a war cemetery Lincoln’s most famous speech which outlined his goals for the war and strong beliefs about democracy: 1. Union soldiers were fighting to save democracy 2. The U.S. was created on the idea that all men are created equal – a new nation would come out of this war stronger than before

Sherman Destroys the South Union General William T. Sherman Goal – to destroy the Confederacy Sherman marches from Chattanooga to Atlanta Burns more than 1/3 of Atlanta to the ground Sherman’s March to the Sea  Sherman marches from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia Cuts a path 60 miles wide & 300 miles long He destroys everything in his path Ransacked houses, burned crops, killed cattle, etc After Georgia Sherman took South Carolina

William T. Sherman

Sherman’s Goal Sherman’s job was to… Sherman destroyed… Destroy the will of Southerners to fight Leave them with nothing to crush their spirit Sherman destroyed… $100 million worth of property, $20 million in military supplies, and left the rest as waste & destruction Today, people in the South still hate Sherman for what he did The South saw it as useless destruction & cruelty

Atlanta

Sherman’s Destruction of Atlanta

Election of 1864 Lincoln – Republican and incumbent General George McClellan – Democratic Candidate Campaign  to stop the hostilities and open negotiations w/ the South to restore the Union peacefully Capture of Atlanta came just in time to ensure Lincoln’s reelection Lincoln wins with 55% of the popular vote

Lincoln’s Second Term Lincoln interpreted his reelection as a clear sign from voters to end slavery permanently January 31, 1865 – the 13th Amendment was passed in Congress 13th Amendment… Banned slavery in the United States

Surrender April 1865 – Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia falls to the Union Lee advises President Davis he can no longer fight No money, lack of supplies April 9, 1865 – Lee meets with Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia… They work out terms of surrender – against the wishes of Davis The war is over  the Union has won!

Terms of Surrender Grant’s generous terms… Guaranteed that the US would not prosecute Confederate soldiers for treason Agreed to let Confederates take their horses home Lee thanked Grant for being so kind and generous

Surrender, April 9, 1865

The Costs of War Effects of the War… New Questions… Strengthened the power of the federal govt. over the states Abolition of slavery Left the South socially and economically devastated New Questions… How to bring the Southern states back into the Union? How do we assimilate AA into Southern society? These questions will be answered by Reconstruction – rebuilding of the South by the federal govt.

The Final Act of War April 14, 1865 – Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth A Confederate sympathizer in Ford’s Theater, in Washington, D.C. This act is seen as the final event of the war.