The Start of the Civil War Chapter 12

1 st Bull Run (Manassas)  July 21, 1861 –First major battle of the war –General Irvin McDowell (Union) vs. General P.G.T. Beauregard and General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (Confederacy)  Confederate Victory –Confederacy forces Union retreat –Union troops run back to Washington –Showed both sides that the war would not be easy

Strengths and Weaknesses  Northern Strengths –Larger population –More railroads and factories –Better balanced economy –More $ –Existing government, army, and navy  Northern Weaknesses –Had to attack to preserve the Union –Less trained leaders –Not total support  Southern Strengths –Better military leaders –Defensive position –Fighting to preserve their way of life  Southern Weaknesses –Smaller population –Economy primarily based on one crop –Few factories and railroads –Large population of slaves –New government

Union Military Strategies  The Anaconda Plan –Naval Blockade  Prevent trade with Europe –Gain control of the Mississippi River –Put pressure on the Confederacy from all around  Capture Richmond –Public wanted a quick end

Confederate War Strategy  President Jefferson Davis –Hoped to leave in peace –Defensive war  War of Attrition –Push back Union advances till they give up the fight  Try to get foreign allies –South produces 75% of world’s cotton –Try to get England and France to help –Backfired, Europeans get cotton from Egypt and India

Tactics and Technology  Tactics –Based on European ways of fighting –Will slowly change with the new technology  Technology –Rifling revolutionizes war  More accurate, longer range –Shells, canisters

Civil War Map