Introduction and Opening Shot Civil War - Part 1 Introduction and Opening Shot

Why is it called the “Civil” War?

Definitions of civil on the Web: applying to ordinary citizens; of or occurring within the state or between or among citizens of the state;

Why is it called the “Civil” War? Only two choices in wars: Civil War and every other kind of war. Civil War= Your own country is the enemy. For example – The Civil War was a fight of Americans vs. Americans on American soil.

Civil War Friends Example All war is bad. A Civil War is particularly nasty. It is like when your friends fight. No matter what side you pick, people get hurt.

Brother Fighting Brother Families were split. Some members of a family would join the South and some would join the North. Sometimes brothers would actually meet on the battlefield and fight against one another.

Opening Shot 1861 The South was taking control of many Federal buildings and forts. (federal means U.S. Government, North, or Union) The North refused to give up some of their buildings and forts.

Fort Sumter (a Union fort) was a key fort on the coast of South Carolina. North South

Current View of Fort Sumter

Illustrated Map of Charleston Harbor Charleston, South Carolina Fort Sumter Atlantic Ocean Ships

Sea Level View of Fort Sumter

Inside of Fort Sumter

Cannons

Lincoln Forces the Issue Lincoln refused to take the North’s troops out of Fort Sumter. The South did not want to start the shooting and be blamed for starting the war. The South warned Lincoln to not resupply the island fortress. When Lincoln decided to resupply the fort, the South attacked it. Was the South justified in attacking the Union for wanting to resupply Fort Sumter?

Bombardment of Fort Sumter

After a 34 hour bombardment Fort Sumter surrendered and the South captured it.

Rebuilding Fort Sumter

Importance of Bull Run (picnic battle) July 16, 1861 1) 1st Major battle of the Civil War. 2) People were shocked by the huge number of casualties. 3) Northern soldiers retreat…South doesn’t follow but does win the battle. 4) Both the North and the South realized it was not going to be a quick bloodless war.

Bull Run Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI7vBQRuTYg

General Lee Invades the North The Southern Armies were under the command of General Robert E. Lee. The South won several battles over the North in 1861-1862. General Lee decided to invade the North. We discussed that the South had an initial strategy to be defensive, why do you think they would invade the North?

Reasons to Invade 1) He hoped a win on Northern soil would force President Lincoln to sign a peace treaty ending the war. 2) He also hoped that England or France would see how strong the South was and help the Southern side.

The Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 The North and the South met at a place called Antietam, which was actually a creek. They fought all day. At the end of the day the Union declared victory.

Confederate Dead at Antietam

The Importance 1) Antietam was the single bloodiest day in American History. Both sides added together, had 23,000 casualties. 2) It was the victory Lincoln had been waiting for. After the battle, Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln at Antietam

Antietam Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJiMlgvygvc

Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 Freed all the slaves in the South. Not the slaves in the North. Why? Because he didn’t want to lose the border states. (MO, KY, MD, & DE)

Question Why do you think Lincoln waited for a victory to announce the Emancipation Proclamation?