1. America’s History Sixth Edition
Henretta • Brody • Dumenil
America’s History Sixth Edition
CHAPTER 14
Two Societies at War,
Copyright © 2008 by Bedford/St. Martin’s and Matthew Ellington, Ruben S. Ayala High School

2. 1. Secession and Military Stalemate, 1861-1862
Background to the Civil War
Advantages of the North and the South
The Secession Crisis
The Upper South Chooses Sides
Setting War Objectives and Devising Strategies
2. Toward Total War
Mobilizing Armies and Civilians
Mobilizing Resources
Technology and the Civil War
3. The Turning Point: 1863
Emancipation
Vicksburg and Gettysburg
4. The Union Victorious
Soldiers and Strategy
The Election of 1864 and Sherman’s March

3. Background to the Civil War
Southerners believed that the Republicans/North would undermine their way of life
Northerners believed secession would destroy the idea of a republican form of government
Causes of the Civil War:
Slavery was underlying cause
Election of Lincoln
Conflict over the expansion of slavery
Economic, social and cultural differences
Debate over states rights vs. federal rights
The rise of abolitionism

4. The Advantages of North & South
Northern advantages:
Population (22 million vs. 9 million)
Industrialized economy and efficient transportation
Better political leadership and established government
US Navy
Southern Advantages:
Better military leadership and soldiers, at first
Fought to defend homes and way of life
Defensive wars are easier to win

7. The Secession Crisis 7 states seceded before Lincoln was inaugurated
Crittenden Compromise rejected by Republicans
would have protected slavery and extended 36°30' line
was the last chance to avoid war

8. The Upper South Chooses Sides
Lincoln’s decision to “provision” Ft. Sumter led to open hostilities and 4 more states seceded
Lincoln used martial law, supervised voting, mass arrests, suspension of habeas corpus and other tactics to retain the 4 border states

9. Setting War Objectives and Devising Strategies
First Bull Run defeat showed Union war would not be quick
Union Strategy: Take Richmond, blockade the South, split the Confederacy; later: emancipation, total war
Failure of Peninsula Campaign convinced Lincoln that South would have to be punished by ending slavery
Antietam was the South’s best chance to win the war
Battle of Antietam: Fight for Burnside’s Bridge

10. Eastern Campaigns of

11. Western Campaigns of

12. Mobilizing Armies and Civilians
Both sides were forced to eventually rely on a draft
Exemptions: $300, substitution, or many slaves
Led to rioting by Irish, Germans, and poor whites
Example: New York City Draft Riots
Women helped war effort; many became nurses
Ex: Clara Barton

14. Engraving of a food riot in New Orleans in 1862
Mobilizing Resources
King Cotton failed to save the South
North created beginnings of modern economy
Union used taxes (20%), bonds (65%), greenbacks (15%) to pay war; South relied on inflation (9,200%)
Engraving of a food riot in New Orleans in 1862

15. Technology and the Civil War
Industrialization and transportation changed warfare
Monitor (North) vs. Merrimac (South), the first battle of ironclads, was a draw
Submarines, land mines, hot air balloons, gatling guns

16. Emancipation
Confiscation Acts allowed Union to seize Confederate property including slaves (contrabands)
Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freed slaves in rebel states but not border states

17. Vicksburg & Gettysburg (July 1863)
Vicksburg cut South in two and made Grant a hero
Gettysburg was South’s last best chance to win war and defeat cut off British help

18. Soldiers and Strategy
200,000 black troops fought for the Union by 1865
EX: Massachusetts 54th Regiment
Grant took control of all Union armies in 1864 and attacked all Confederate armies at great human cost

19. The Election of 1864 and Sherman’s March
Atlanta’s capture gave Lincoln reelection on National Union ticket with Johnson (war Democrat) in 1864
Sherman’s march to sea was beginning of “total war”
Appomattox Courthouse surrender ended Civil War