Teacher Notes The Vicksburg video is 18 minutes long. The option to view the movie appears in several locations to give you the option of starting and stopping at your discretion. To activate the movie, click on the movie camera. Vicksburg Some historians think that Grant may haven take Jackson as a psychological objective letting the South know that no longer were their state capitols even safe.

Lesson 17.3b: The Tide of War Turns In the South

Essential Question What events made it possible for the North to turn the outcome of the Civil War to their favor?

Vocabulary siege: a military act of surrounding a city or base, attacking it, and cutting off supplies. The goal of a siege is to force the city or fort to surrender. objective: goal; the desired results to be accomplished by a military action discontent: not satisfied; restless; not pleased

What we already know. Lee' strategy was in hoping that a Confederate victory in Union territory would fuel Northern discontent and lead European nations to give diplomatic recognition and aid to the Confederacy. Mayflower Compact = self rule

What we know Lee’s hopes for a Confederate victory in the North were crushed at Gettysburg. Lee retreated to Virginia.

What we already know… The Union strategy for winning the war, known as the Anaconda plan: 1. naval blockade of the Confederate coastline. 2. gain control of the Mississippi River to cut the Confederacy in two. 3. capture Richmond.

What we already know… Moving north after capturing New Orleans in 1862, Officer David G. Farragut demanded Vicksburg's surrender. This was refused and Farragut had to withdraw because he lacked the ground troops to attack its defenses. 

Siege of Vicksburg By the end of the second year of the Civil War, Union forces in the west controlled much of the Mississippi River.

Siege of Vicksburg With the Union blockade of the coastline, Vicksburg was the funnel through which men and supplies flowed between the two halves of the Confederacy

Siege of Vicksburg Jefferson Davis called Vicksburg, “The nail head that holds the Confederacy together.” It was the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Vicksburg

Siege of Vicksburg The city's geographical location on the high bluffs overlooking a hairpin turn in the river made it ideal for defense.

Siege of Vicksburg The defensive line around Vicksburg ran approximately 6.5 miles, that included hills with steep angles for an attacker to ascend under fire. The perimeter included many gun emplacements, forts, and trenches. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg The major fortifications of the line included Fort Hill, on a high bluff north of the city; the Stockade Redan, dominating the approach to the city, the Square Fort (Fort Garrott) and the South Fort. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg By late spring 1863, Grant had spent months unsuccessfully attacking the city. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg Grant decided to march the Union army down the west side of the Mississippi River, and then cross south of Vicksburg. With grim determination, Grant ordered his men to cut a road through the thick forest and swamp on the west side of the river. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg As Grant's infantrymen slogged their way south, the Union fleet ran past the guns at Vicksburg under the cover of darkness. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg The fleet withstood the punishing fire that poured forth from Confederate cannon with the loss of only one ship. By morning, the Union fleet was below Vicksburg. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg In a few days, Grant used the Union ships to land 22,000 men on the east bank of the river. Mayflower Compact = self rule Vicksburg

Siege of Vicksburg Instead of moving right on to Vicksburg, Grant takes his troops farther east into Mississippi destroying rail and telegraph lines leading into Vicksburg. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg Grant sends two of his divisions farther east to take Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. After taking the capitol, he orders Jackson burned, not wanting to spare any troops to guard the city. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg After burning Jackson, Grant marched toward Vicksburg and driving the Confederate army, commanded by General John C. Pemberton, back to defend to Vicksburg. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg Unable to take the city by force Grant used his troops to surrounded the city. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg From mid May until early July, The Confederates inside Vicksburg were cut off from all supplies, but the citizens still refused to surrender. Mayflower Compact = self rule Vicksburg

Siege of Vicksburg Disease and starvation began to spread rapidly through the city as the summer dragged on and the siege continued. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg Finally, on the morning of July 4, 1863, the Confederates surrendered, turned over their weapons and other equipment, and were allowed to return home. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Siege of Vicksburg Since New Orleans had been taken the previous spring, the Union now had total control over the Mississippi River, and the South was split in two. The Anaconda Plan was now almost complete. The tide of war turned in favor of the North. Mayflower Compact = self rule Vicksburg

Get your whiteboards and markers ready!

Why was Vicksburg such an important military objective? A. Most of the Confederate weapons were made there. B. It was located in such a way that it could control shipping on the Mississippi River. C. It was a city in which men and supplies passed between the eastern and western halves of the Confederacy. D. It was the favorite vacation spot of General Lee. (Choose all that apply)

Which part of the Anaconda Plan was completed by the Union with the capture of Vicksburg. A. Meat from Texas cold no longer be shipped to troops in Virginia. B. The state of Mississippi was now back in the Union. C. The Confederacy was divided in half. D. All of the above.

Once Grant crossed the Mississippi why did he not go directly to Vicksburg.? A. He moved east to cut off telegraph communication and rail lines to Vicksburg. B. He needed to wait for reinforcements. C. The direct route to Vicksburg was too difficult through swamps and forests. D. He needed to resupply his troops with food and ammunition.

Why did Grant burn Jackson, Mississippi? A. He knew the fire would be visible for miles around and draw Confederate troops into an ambush in Jackson. B. He wanted to destroy any explosives or weapons that might be stored in Jackson. C. It was an accident. D. He did want to spare any of his soldiers to guard the city.

A and B Discuss Grant almost went out of his way to take and then destroy Jackson, the capitol of Mississippi. What reasons may Grant have had in doing this?