Unit 4: Civil War & Reconstruction Week 2: When Brother Fought Brother

Civil War (April 1861-April 1865) How did it start? 1st shots were fired at Fort Sumter (Charleston, SC) Federal base taken over by Confederates Significance of Fort Sumter: war began and all border states had to choose which side (North or South) they would fight with Who was fighting? North (Union- US) vs. South (Confederate States of America) **Reason called a “CIVIL” war because it was a conflict within a nation

Advantages for the North Advan (Economic resources): industry, miles of railroad track (allow troops and supplies to move faster), manpower (2/3 of nation’s population) and navy Advan (political leadership): Lincoln explained purpose of war as preserving the Union and democracy Example: Emancipation Proclamation - military measure against South, by making the issue of the war about slavery made it impossible for Britain to help south (Britain opposed to slavery)

Advantages for the South Advan: (political) military leadership – able to effectively move men Advan: (political) –motivation was fighting for states’ rights (right of states to decide) felt as if defending homeland, way of life Advan: (geographic) more familiar with home terrain

Strategies (plans) of the 2 sides: South’s strategy: Defensive Defend region until North tired of the war effort and quit (war of attrition) North’s strategy: offensive Plan to split south at Mississippi River and take the capital of Richmond (Anaconda plan) – plan also cut off supplies at ports with a naval blockade

Emancipation Proclamation Only freed slaves in the Confederacy Announced as a “military measure” against the Confederacy Freeing Southern slaves made it impossible for the British to support the Southern war effort Allowed African Americans to enlist in the US army

54th Massachusetts Regiment One of the first all African American regiments Fought bravely at Fort Wagner near Charleston Harbor – lost half its men Discrimination Under the command of white officers Poorly supplied Paid less than white soldiers

How the Union Won the War Anaconda Plan Splitting South Blockade to cut off supplies Higher Population More Soldiers More Resources

Lincoln’s Assassination Assassinated 5 days after Lee surrendered to Grant Shot at Fords Theatre by John Wilkes Booth Attempt to revive the Confederate cause Booth found and shot by Federal Troops

Important Civil War Battles For Battle Timeline Review Important Civil War Battles

Key Battles/Events/Plans (2) First Battle of Bull Run – Victory: Confederacy Significance: war would take longer and lead to adoption of the Anaconda Plan (3) Antietam – Victory: strategic victory for Union; Significance: halted confederate advance into the Union; bloodiest single day of the war (4) Vicksburg – Victory: Union Significance: cut the South in half at the Mississippi River

Key Battles/Events/Plans (5) Gettysburg – Victory: Union; Significance – ended South’s hope of invading the North (7) Atlanta – Victory: Union; Significance: Part of Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea,’ demoralized South (8) Siege of Petersburg – Victory: Union; Significance: Grant’s unrelenting attacks and siege at Petersburg strained the dwindling economic resources and manpower of the South and brought surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

(6) Fort Wagner – 1st major battle fought by black troops with the 54th regiment in SC (1) Fort Sumter – 1st shots of the war, states had to pick sides