Political Leadership, Military Strategy, and the Onset of War in 1861 HIST4330: Civil War and Reconstruction Dr. Kristen Epps University of Central Arkansas

Today’s Questions How was the newly formed Confederate government organized? Who were the key political players on each side? What were the main advantages, aims, and strategies for the Union and the Confederacy?

Confederate Capitol, Richmond

Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy

Alexander Stephens Vice President of the Confederacy

Confederate Cabinet in 1861 Secretary of State: Robert Toombs (GA) then Robert M. T. Hunter (VA) Secretary of Treasury: Christopher Memminger (SC) Secretary of War: Leroy Pope Walker (AL) then Judah P. Benjamin (LA) Secretary of Navy: Stephen Mallory (FL) Attorney General: Judah P. Benjamin (LA) then Thomas Bragg (NC) Postmaster General: John Reagan (TX)

Comparison of Preambles “ We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America.” “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Confederate Constitution 1.Presidency and Vice Presidency both a six-year term; term limits 2.Congress and judiciary same as in the U.S. 3.Slavery explicitly protected, and the words “slaves” and “slavery” appeared nine times 4.Prohibition of protective tariffs 5.Congressional appropriation only allowed with a two-thirds vote of both houses 6.Amendments required two-thirds vote

Abraham Lincoln 16 th President of the United States

Hannibal Hamlin Vice President of the United States

U.S. Cabinet in 1861 Secretary of State: William H. Seward (NY) Secretary of Treasury: Salmon P. Chase (OH) Secretary of War: Simon Cameron (PA) Secretary of the Navy: Gideon Welles (CT) Attorney General: Edward Bates (MO) Postmaster General: Montgomery Blair (MO) Secretary of the Interior: Caleb Smith (IN)

Railroad Lines c. 1860

Union and Confederate Resources

Union War Aims Preserve the Union Enforce their understanding of democracy and the Constitution Maintain federal authority in border states End slavery (later on)

Levels of War Policy Grand Strategy Strategy Operations Tactics

The Anaconda Plan

Confederate War Aims Defend their homeland Defend their understanding of democracy Defend their way of life, including slavery Accomplish all of these by creating their own nation

The First Battle of Bull Run (5:51) An (older) animated map of this important engagement, from one of my favorite sites, The Civil War Preservation Trust: st-manassas-maps/bull-run-animated-map/

Summary and Conclusions The Confederate government, while modeled on the U.S. Constitution, placed more power in the hands of states At the war’s outset, the Confederacy had the advantage in many respects, though not in terms of political leadership, manpower, or resources The Confederacy adopted a cordon defense, while the Union instituted a naval blockade but struggled to implement operations to support its land strategy