The Civil War

Quick Review Election of 1860 sees Abraham Lincoln elected as President South Carolina secedes first, followed by Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia They secede fearing Lincoln will end slavery, and change their way of life The stage is set for war

Fort Sumter Fort Sumter is located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina the fort needed supplies Problem: Lincoln sends supplies he risks war/ if he surrenders fort he gives in to South Lincoln decided to send supplies South attacked before the supplies arrived After 34 hours, the fort surrendered This was the start of the war

Start of war Lincoln asks the Union states to provide soldiers Confederacy moves capital to Richmond, VA – Robert E. Lee named commander of Confederate forces Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri are slave states but will stay with the Union

War Strategies South’s Plan -focus on defense -draw out war so Northern support would weaken -Hope foreign dependence on cotton will bring foreign allies

North’s Plan Anaconda Plan -goal is to strangle the South’s economy -Blockade Southern ports -Control Mississippi and split the Confederacy -capture Richmond, VA

First Battle of Bull Run Meet in Manassas, VA Everyone thought the North would win easily and quickly July 1861 – Union forces attack and Confederates begin to retreat Thomas Jackson – Confederate officer stands his ground – earns the nickname “Stonewall”

Stonewall Jackson inspires his troops to stand and fight Confederates counterattack letting out the “rebel yell” Union soldiers run in retreat North is shocked by the defeat

What the Battle of Bull Run taught us The battle drove home three points 1. The fighting would be bloody 2. No quick end 3. South were going to fight fiercely Lincoln appoints General George McClellan as leader for the North

The Soldiers Majority of soldiers were 18 to 30 years old African Americans wanted to join but neither side would take them at the start of the war Union had 2 million men South had 1 million men North wore blue uniforms and South wore grey

A new kind of war Advances in technology led to a high death rate New weapons: rifle and minie ball which were more accurate Ironclads – ships covered in iron offered more protection

Primitive medical techniques The new weapons made wounds never seen before Doctors did not know how to treat wounds – lots of amputations Doctors spread disease because they did not know about sterilizing their tools Many survive their wounds only to die from infection Lots of casualties – due to the new weapons and poor medical techniques casualties = dead

The men had poor hygiene They rarely bathed Bodies and bedding was infested with lice and fleas The dirty conditions spread disease The Prisoner of War camps were the worst

Battle of Antietam Lee invades the North (Maryland) -Wants to try to force peace talks -Virginia farmers can harvest -Southern troops can plunder supplies The battle is one of the bloodiest days in American history Lee’s plans were accidentally left at old camp

Union soldier found the plans wrapped around some cigars The battle lasted all day with neither side gaining ground End of the battle 23,000 were dead or wounded Lee lost ¼ of his forces and withdrew to Virginia McClellan did not pursue losing an opportunity to finish off the South

Emancipation Proclamation Issued by Lincoln on January 1, 1863 Declared that all slaves in Confederate territory were free Did not free many but it added a moral purpose to the war

What did it do for African Americans? After the proclamation the Union began to accept African American troops 180,000 will fight by wars end Regiments were all black with white officers Determined to destroy slavery and gain self-respect 54 th Massachusetts became famous for their efforts

Problem of scarcity Scarce supply of soldiers led to conscription laws Both the North and South began to draft men in to the military Rich could pay someone to serve for them Draft was very unpopular New York had draft riots

Another shortage was food Men were off fighting the war so no help to work the farm Both North and South had a real problem supplying food to the troops and the population See a rise in inflation in the south Goods went up in price and money lost its value

Role of women They filled the spots left by men – worked in the factories or on the farms Clara Barton – served on the front lines as a nurse – after the war she will start the Red Cross Some were spies – Harriet Tubman, Rose Greenhow Many disquised themselves as men and enlisted

Lee invades the North His troops need supplies Go in to the town of Gettysburg, PA looking for shoes Accidentally run in to Union cavalry Leads to a 3 day battle 90,000 Union troops vs 75,000 Rebels The battle was the turning point of the war Lee’s army would never recover from the defeat

Siege of Vicksburg Vicksburg is the last stronghold of the South on the Mississippi River Ulysses Grant commander in the west tries direct attacks without success Lays siege to the town Surrounded the city and prevented food or supplies from entering City surrenders after 1 ½ months collapse cuts the Confederacy in two

March to the Sea Following the fall of Vicksburg Grant becomes the commander of the Union He takes on an attack on all fronts policy Sends General William Tecumseh Sherman into the deep South Sherman uses total war tactics – destroying everything in his path that could be used by the Confederates

He captures Atlanta and burns it His forces burns and loots everything that could be used by the South destroy railroad tracks, farms kill livestock His path was 60 miles wide and 300 miles long through the heart of the South

Appomattox Courthouse Lee is surrounded and must surrender Lee meets Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865 Grant allowed the soldiers to lay down their arms and go home in peace They could take their horses and mules with them He also fed the hungry soldiers

Legacy of the war Lasted 4 years 620,000 soldiers killed: 360,000 Union and 260,000 Confederate 375,000 were wounded South was in ruins: 40% of livestock killed, 50% of farm machinery destroyed, factories demolished, and railroad tracks destroyed

The final shot President Lincoln attended a play at Ford’s Theater with his wife John Wilkes Booth assassinated him while he watched the play