Section 1 The Opposing Sides
Robert E. Lee: One of the best senior officers in the US Army Offered from Winfield Scott to command the Union’s troops Resigned from the Army and joined the Confederacy (originally from the South) 1860 the US had 8 military colleges- 7 were in the south North had strong naval traditions and all but one shipyard was under Union control
NORTH SOUTH Economic Advantages Population- 22 million 80% of factories Produced 90% of countries clothing, boots, and shoes 93 % of unrefined iron Firearms manufactured in north Experienced officers Population- 9 million Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond: the only factory capable of producing cannons No major facilities for producing gun powder Confederacy Ordinance Bureau: gun powder mill 1862: all caught up (weapons, gun powder and ammunition) Produced its own food Only ½ as many rr tracks
NORTH SOUTH Advantages: Controlled the national treasury Had revenue from tariffs Northern banks had huge reserves of cash Legal Tender Act 1862 People were concerned about northern ability to win the war so they withdrew their gold and silver Created a national currency and allowed the government to issue paper money (green backs) Financial situation not good Banks small with few reserves Best hope was to raise money was to tax trade Problem: Union navy blockaded southern ports Result: direct taxation Lack of money caused south to print = inflation Confederate became almost worthless By the end it had experienced 9000% inflation
Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union even if it meant slavery would continue Democrats were divided War Democrats: supported conflict, wanted to restore the Union to the way it was before, opposed ending slavery Peace Democrats: opposed war, reuniting through negotiations Viewed by republicans as treason (anyone against the war) Called Copperheads Disagreements between republicans and democrats Civil liberties 1862 Congress Militia Law- conscription Democrats strongly oppose
To enforce conscription Lincoln suspends writs of habeas corpus (a person’s right to not be imprisoned unless charged with a crime and given trial) Suspending means imprisoning indefinitely with no charge or trial Lincoln did this to anyone supporting rebels or resisting the draft
Jefferson Davis: states rights interfered with ability to conduct the war 1862 he met opposition He supported conscription and martial law, draft and new taxes Alexander Stephens (VP) opposed him
US didn’t want European interference Confederacy wanted European recognition (British)-to declare blockade illegal- use British navy to assist south To pressure they refused to sell Europe cotton Confederacy met with British and French May 1861 French promised to recognize British not ready Fall of 1861 Britain and US came close to war Trent Affair: south slipped pass blockades, went to Havana Cuba and boarded the Trent (British Ship) Union intercepted and arrested two confederates North applauded, British mad for interference Demanded release of confederates British sent troops to Canada to strengthen Atlantic Fleet After a few weeks Lincoln freed the prisoners
Huge armies of mostly volunteers-required huge amounts of supplies and equipment Military Technology and Tactics Officers were well trained and experienced Fired in mass volleys At close range-charged with bayonets Developed Conoidal bullets- much more accurate Used trenches, barricades=high casualties War of attrition North able to replace South not as many
The South’s Strategy Passive approach-picked battles, attacked and retreated as necessary, avoid large battles Defensive war of attrition Southerners angry-saw themselves as superior fighters The Union’s Anaconda Plan Winfield Scott-idea Union blockade of Confederate ports Send gunboats down the Mississippi to divide the Confederacy=Separate the south This would run them out of resources and surrender North rejected because it was too slow