1. Chapter 11 Section 1
The Opposing Sides

2. Choosing Sides
Once the Civil War began, hundreds of military officers had to choose to support the Union or Confederacy
Robert E. Lee-> one the best officers in the U.S. Army, chose the Confederacy over commanding the Union Army
About 1/3 of all officers joined the Confederacy
South contained 7 of 8 military schools = well trained military leaders->military advantage
North had ¾ of U.S. Navy’s officers, also contained most of U.S. warships and shipyards (South had 1)

3. Robert E. Lee

4. Advantages South North Had strong military leadership
Fighting for just cause
North
Larger population
Industrial: produced all war materials=more than 90% of clothing, 93% of unrefined iron=weapons and equipment, produced majority of firearms and gunpowder
Better transportation: more railroad availability
Financial: controlled the Nat’l Treasury, revenue from tariffs, N. Banks held large reserves of money, could pass legislation to raise fund ex. Legal Tender Act

5. Greenbacks

6. Greenbacks

7. Review Question
How was having a larger population than the South an advantage for the North?
In your opinion, what was the North’s greatest advantage?

8. Disadvantages
South
Industrial: limited resources (only one factory able to manufacture cannons=Tredegar Iron Works),
Transportation: limited railroads ,only had one rail line connecting East to West in Confederacy (Memphis to Chattanooga)
Financial: couldn’t raise sufficient funds for the war effort (small banks=few cash reserves, Union blockades=reduced trade revenue, printing of paper money caused inflation)
Eventually taxed southerners=very upset

10. Review Question
In your opinion, which disadvantage was the most crippling for the South?

11. Party Politics in the North
As the Civil War began, Pres. Lincoln’s main goal was to preserve the Union
Democrats and Republicans were going to challenge his policies in the process
Two Factions of N. Democrats:
War Democrats->supported the war & opposed ending slavery
Peace Democrats (Copperheads)-> opposed war and called for reuniting through negotiation

12. Abraham Lincoln

13. War Democrats

14. Copperheads

15. Party Politics in the North
One major disagreement between Dems. and Reps. concerned civil liberties
In 1862, Congress passed a militia law requiring states to use conscription
Many Dems. opposed the law->violently w/ riots
Pres. Lincoln suspended writs of habeas corpus for anyone who openly supported or encouraged others to resist military draft

17. Review Question
How were Northern Democrats divided over the Civil War?
What was put into place by Congress and eventually caused tensions to rise within the Democratic Party?

18. Weak Southern Government
Even though he had no opposition in the South, Jefferson Davis still faced political problems
Confederate Constitution
Emphasized state’s rights and limited central government’s power
Often interfered w/ his ability to conduct war
Jefferson Davis also ran into problems when he supported conscription->enforced by martial law
His own Vice-President Alexander Stephens disagreed, objected to forcing people to join the army
Davis eventually also suspended writs of habeas corpus

19. Jefferson Davis

21. The Diplomatic Challenges
U.S. Civil War put major gov’ts in Europe in a difficult situation
U.S. didn’t want European interference
Confederate leaders wanted the exact opposite-> especially the British
Wanted British to declare Union blockade illegal and assist the Confederates
Britain and France->depended on the South’s cotton
Some Southern planters refused to sell cotton to them unless they recognized the Confederacy

22. The Diplomatic Challenges
British and French met with the Conf. in May 1861
Neither nation was going to recognize the Conf. until they witnessed decisive victories in the conflict
Trent Affair -> James Mason (Britain) and John Slidell (France), Conf. ministers to Britain and France, were to leave for Europe
Slipped past the blockade and boarded the British ship Trent
Charles Wilkes Union captain of the San Jacinto intercepted the ship and arrested Mason and Slidell
Were eventually released due the threat of war with Britain

23. Trent Affair

24. Trent Affair

25. Review Question
Why did the Confederacy want Britain and France to recognize them?
Why did the Union want to avoid war with Britain?

26. The First “Modern” War 1st Modern War
Economic and political situation was very important to outcome
Involved huge armies->made up mostly of civilian volunteers
Required vast amount of supplies and equipment

27. The First “Modern” War
By 1850’s French and American inventors had improved the new bullet->conoidal->cone shaped
More accurate fire
Troops defended positions using trenches and barricades to protect themselves
Caused deadly situation for attackers
Led to high casualties->attrition
Advantage North-> larger pop.

29. The South’s Strategy and the Anaconda Plan
Read pg. 555 and 556
Briefly describe the South’s Strategy to win the U.S. Civil War
Briefly describe the Union’s Anaconda Plan.