CHAPTER 7, SECTION 1 Resources, Strategies and Lesser-known Battles

Union and Confederate Resources Advantages of the Union  Population— 31 million people lived in the North, compared to 9 million* in the South (*not including slaves)  Industrialization—resources included coal, iron, gold, silver and manufacturing. These resources allowed the North to produce war materials in larger numbers than the South.  Railroad networks—this provided the North with easier access to move troops and materials.  Navy —the South had none at all, and having one allowed the North the opportunity to blockade southern ports and cripple their trade networks.  Established government—the Union retained the government that the country had been founded upon, whereas the Confederate States had just created theirs seemingly overnight.

Union and Confederate Resources Advantages of the Confederacy  Mindset—Confederacy was willing to fight for what they believed in: the institution of slavery; even those that didn’t own slaves still did not like the North’s domination over them.  Strong military leaders—people like Robert E. Lee, an outstanding military leader who had actually opposed slavery and secession. The North struggled to find a leader of his caliber.  Strategic location—the South simply had to go on the defensive on territory they were familiar with; they believed that in time, the North would give up.  Supplies for Union forces had to travel farther during the Civil War.  The Union was taxed with defending Washington, D.C., a short distance away from Confederate Virginia.

Confederate and Union Strategies Union forces hoped for a quick victory, whereas the Confederacy hoped for a prolonged war. Confederacy Strategy:  Preserve small armies while wearing down Union’s will.  Win formal recognition from Britain and France.  The Confederacy needed trade with these countries to supplement the manufacturing they had lost being cut off from the North.  Europe was also dependent on southern cotton, so eventually European mills would be forced to trade with the South the longer the war dragged on.

Confederate and Union Strategies Union Strategy:  Anaconda Plan : formulated by General Winfield Scott.  Blockade Southern ports, cutting the South off from supplies and income.  Union forces move southward down the Mississippi River, cutting the Confederacy in two and weakening it.  Some believed this plan would not work and instead favored a massive military campaign.

Anaconda Plan

Confederate and Union Strategies  Certain states, known as border states, had not joined the Confederacy but allowed slavery. These states included Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware.  In his inaugural address, Lincoln claimed he had no desire to free slaves. His plan worked—these states did not secede.

Early Conflicts in the Civil War Southwest  Desired access to gold mines and access to California and the Pacific.  Both sides hoped to gain support from local Native American tribes.  Although no major fighting took place in the southwest, both sides still hoped for control. New Orleans  David Farragut sailed through the Gulf of Mexico and captured the strong southern port of New Orleans.  Farragut pushed up the Mississippi River to try and take the stronghold of Vicksburg. However, both Farragut and Grant were stopped short of their goal.

Stalemate Develops in the East Major fighting in the East (away from the Mississippi Valley fighting) took place in Virginia. After the Battle of Bull Run, General McClellan turned his attention towards Richmond.  Lincoln wanted McClellan to attack and win quickly, but McClellan believed in waiting until the right moment. The two disagreed over the best course of action. McClellan faced off against General Lee in a series of battles known as the Peninsular Campaign. McClellan’s cautiousness led the Confederacy to victory, and Union forces were pushed back.