The Civil War & Reconstruction A Divided Nation

The South Secedes Causes Effects States Rights The Compromise of 1850 The Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858 (House Divided Speech) Both Houses of Congress controlled by the North. The Presidential election of 1860. ( Lincoln’s Election) South Carolina fears a northern-controlled government will act against slavery and secedes from the Union. Several other slave states follow South Carolina’s lead and form the Confederate States of America.

The South Secedes The rest of the Lower South follow (Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) Soon the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas also secede bring the total to eleven.

Confederate States of America In Feb. 1861, The Confederate States of America was formed. Jefferson Davis was chosen as it’s first president. When Lincoln officially became president Mar. 4, 1861 he promised not to touch slavery where it already existed if it would preserve the Union

The War Begins Confederate leaders demanded that all federal forts in the south surrender. April 1861, Lincoln tried to resupply the forts by sea. Confederate leaders ordered General Beauregard to take Fort Sumter, by force if necessary. When Major Anderson refused to surrender, Confederate forces in Charleston attacked the fort with artillery for two days. (Apr. 12-13, 1861)

The War Begins On Apr. 14 1861, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter. The attack on fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War. Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for 90 days.

The War Begins Union Advantages Southern Advantages Population was four times the size of the non-slave population in the south. Large industrial base. Better transportation systems. (railroads) Larger better equipped army. The South’s war goals were simple (Left alone/Slavery) The South would fight a defensive war. Better army officers. (Robert E. Lee) Foreign dependence on southern cotton. (expected military aid from British/French)

Tactics and Technology Both sides still used Napoleonic tactics. (taught at West Point) Both sides used rifled muskets which increased their range. Civil War artillery used exploding shells. The Telegraph allowed officers to communicate with leaders.

Tactics and Technology Confederate War Strategy Weaknesses of the Plan The Confederate states planned to fight like Washington during the Revolution. Trade space for time. (retreat when necessary) Strategy of attrition: wear out a stronger foe by lengthening the war. Governors, Congressmen, and the public demanded that every part of the Confederacy be defended. Small Confederate armies were positioned throughout the south. Temperament of the southern people. (believed 1 southerner could whip 10 Yankees). Refused to fight a defensive war.

Tactics and Technology Union War Strategy “The Anaconda Plan” The plan’s goal was to surround the Confederacy and strangle it into submission. The Union Navy would set up a naval blockade to prevent foreign aid. Capture the Mississippi River and cut the South in half. Capture the Confederate capital of Richmond , Virginia.

Early War Victories July, 1861, Bull Run, Manassas, Virginia (first land battle) Apr. 1862, Shiloh, Tennessee (opened water route south) Although the Union army in the West was winning, the Union army in the East was suffering defeat after defeat. (Poor generalship)

Early War Victories Defeats in the East hurt Northern Morale. General Lee decided to take the offensive and lead his army into Maryland. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day of the Civil War. (Sept. 17, 1862) It was considered a Union victory only because General Lee was forced to retreat back to Virginia. Casualties combined exceeded 23,000

The Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam

The Fighting Continues Emancipation Proclamation The proclamation enabled many blacks to serve in the Union Army. The high water mark for the Confederacy was the Battle of Gettysburg. The Army of Northern Virginia (Southern Army) never really recovered from the defeat. Lincoln issues the Gettysburg Address.

The War Ends By 1864, with victory in hand Congress issued the Thirteenth Amendment. The Thirteenth Amendment officially outlawed slavery in the United States. April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. On 3 May 1865, General Johnston surrendered the remainder of the Confederate Army in North Carolina.

The Cost of War In four years of fighting 600,000 Americans were dead, 2% of the population. The Southern infrastructure was almost totally destroyed. The war destroyed much of the wealth that had existed in the South. Southern influence in the US federal government was severely weakened.