Chapter 17 Section 1 “The Conflict Takes Shape”

Misconceptions About the War Both sides felt that their cause was just. The south believed that the north was trampling on its rights. The north felt that the south had no right to leave the union. Each side, though, thought that the war would only last a few weeks at the longest. In the beginning of the war, abolishing slavery was not a goal of the north. As the war began, the question became which states would secede. Eight states had already seceded, but there were eight left. Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas all joined the Confederacy (the south). Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland and Delaware were southern states that sided with the union (the north).

Southern Advantages & Disadvantages Each side in the Civil War had its strengths and weaknesses. A big advantage for the South was that it was going to be fighting a defensive war. This means that the south got to wait for the north to come to them. Another advantage is that southerners knew their land very well. They knew good places to hide and set up forts. The South, however, also had some disadvantages in the war. The south had few factories to produce weapons and other vital supplies. It also had few railroads to move troops and supplies. Also, the south had a much smaller population than the north. The southern population was about 9 million to the northern 22 million, and many counted in the southern population were slaves.

Northern Advantages & Disadvantages The north had advantages and disadvantages as well. The north had almost four times as many free citizens as the south. They had many factories that could make their supplies. The north also had the majority of the railroad lines. The north also had a strong Navy. The north had two big disadvantages. They were going to have to go and attack the south. This would mean fighting a war in a land that northerners were not familiar with. Also, the north, at times, had poor military leadership.

Take Me To Your Leader Many people thought the southern president, Jefferson Davis, would be a better leader than Lincoln because he had more military experience. Lincoln, though, would prove himself time and time again as more than capable to do the job. Lincoln offered command of the Union Army to a Virginian named Robert E. Lee. Lee refused when Virginia seceded from the union. Instead, Robert E. Lee became the leader of the Confederate Army. Many of the army’s best officers served the Confederacy. As a result, President Lincoln had trouble finding generals to match those of the South.