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Civil War
Foreign and Domestic
SECESSION OF THE SOUTH
Reasons for secession
• Emotional
– Attack on the Southern way of life
– The idea that the North wants to establish black
rule in the South. Their goal is not equality, but the
reversal of roles for the races.
• Economic
– the policies of a Republican president
– protective tariffs, free homesteads in the west, etc.
– will prevent the South from prospering.
It still all goes back to the
issue of slavery. Had the
regions been able to
compromise on the issue of
slavery and the growth of
the United States it is
likely that we would have
not had a nation divided to
the extent of war.
Northern reaction to secession
• Most opposed forcing the South to return to the
Union
• Pres. Buchanan refused to act when a federal
supply ship was attacked in Charleston Harbor in
January 1861
• Crittenden Compromise proposed the
prohibition of slavery north of the Missouri
Compromise line (36 30), but allowing it south of
the line in addition to compensation to owners
for runaway slaves
Crittenden Compromise
• The Crittenden Compromise was perhaps the
last-ditch effort to resolve the secession crisis of
1860-61 by political negotiation. Authored by
Kentucky Senator John Crittenden (whose two
sons would become generals on opposite sides of
the Civil War) it was an attempt to resolve the
crisis by addressing the concerns that led the
states of the Lower South to contemplate
secession. As such, it gives a window into what
the politicians of the day thought the cause of the
crisis to be.
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/critten.html
Lincoln’s Actions at Ft. Sumter
• (S’ern View) Lincoln decided to employ
force because the South was denying the
democratic principle that formed the
basis of the Union.
– Supplies are sent to Ft. Sumter in
Charleston Harbor (April 12, 1861)
– Confederates opened fire on the fort,
starting the war
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH
COMPARED
North's advantages over the South
• Potential fighting and working
force: 20 million citizens
–Population: 2.5:1
–Free male population (ages 18-60):
4.4:1
Northern advantages…
• Wealth produced: 3:1
Factory production: 10:1
Textile goods produced: 14:1
Iron production: 15:1
Coal production: 38:1
Farm acreage: 3:1
Working animals: 1.8:1
Livestock: 1.5:1
Wheat production: 4.2:1
Corn production: 2:1
Northern advantages…
• Transportation--superior in every
respect
a) Railroad mileage: 7:1
b) Naval tonnage: 25:1
c) Merchant ship tonnage: 9:1
South's advantages over the North
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Fighting a defensive war.
Local support and familiarity with terrain
Positive goal: seeking independence
Short communication lines and friendly population
United public in contrast to the North.
Nonslaveholders eager to volunteer to fight
Experienced officer corps--many veterans of the
Mexican-American War joined the Confederacy
• Cotton (24:1 advantage over North)--necessary for
textile factories of England and France, but limited
advantage due to European imports from other nations
EARLY STRATEGIES OF THE
OPPOSING SIDES
North
• Capture Richmond and force
surrender
• Expel Confederates from border
states
• Control the Mississippi River
• Blockade southern ports and stop
cotton shipments
South
• Capture Washington, D.C.
• Control border states
• Gain England's support
• Expel Union troops from South
NORTHERN DOMESTIC ISSUES
Prosperity and expansion--the war provided a
stimulant to Northern economic interests
• Homestead Act (1862)--160 acres of land virtually free to any
citizen willing to occupy it for five years
• Morrill Land Grant Act (1862)----30,000 acres of land for each
Congressional representative granted to each state. Proceeds
of land sales to be used to finance public colleges
• High tariffs passed to protect Northern industries
• Transcontinental railroad promoted with creation of federally
chartered corporations receiving free public lands and
generous loans
• National Bank Act (1863)--created national banking system.
Stabilized currency and reduced confusing state bank note
system
Financing the war
• First income tax (1861): 3% on incomes above
$800
• Borrowing. $6.2 billion through the issuance
of bonds
• Greenbacks--paper currency not supported by
specie reserve. Value fluctuated with success
of Northern armies. Caused serious inflation
problems
Raising the Union army
• Lincoln issues call for 75,000 volunteers in 1861
to supplement 16,000 man army.
• Although volunteer call succeeded at first, by
1863 Congress turned to a draft to fill units.
States could avoid draft by filling quotas of
volunteers. Draft opposed by Peace Democrats,
laborers, and immigrants
• Draft riots resulted in New York City in July 1863,
causing hundreds of deaths, mostly of blacks
Lincoln's political problems
• Seen as inexperienced and unfit, he was challenged by
members of his own cabinet, including Chase and Seward
• Expansion of war powers
– Call for troops to repress rebellion without declaration of
war
– Arrest of unfriendly newspaper editors
– Suspension of habeas corpus
– Proclamation of naval blockade without Congressional
approval
– 13,000 political opponents arrested for varying periods
– Refusal to obey writ issued by Chief Justice Taney (Ex parte
Merryman)
• Presidential Election of 1864
– Abolitionists urged the Republicans to choose a candidate
who would wage total war against the South
– Lincoln chose Andrew Johnson as his running mate to
attract "War Democrats" and formed the Union Party
– Democrats nominated McClellan and a platform which
called for a truce and settlement with the South
– Lincoln once again won in the electoral college, but only
had a 400,000 vote majority in the popular vote
NORTHERN FOREIGN ISSUES
Relations with England
• English support for the Confederacy
– Upper class feared leveling effect of Union victory on
English society, felt socially close to the Southern
plantation aristocracy, and needed cotton
– Some liberals and lower-class English favored the South,
seeing the Civil War as a rebellion against Northern
tyranny or as a struggle to preserve the Union
• English support for the Union
– Many English workers favored the North because a
Northern victory would mean emancipation of the slaves
– Others felt western wheat was more critical to England
than Southern cotton
Trent Affair (November 1861)-• American warships stopped a British
ship and removed two Confederate
diplomats.
–Britain threatened war unless they
were released
–Sec. of State Seward ordered the men
released, although Northern sentiment
opposed backing down
Relations with France
• Union defeats in 1861 and 1862
convinced France that the South would
win.
– Lincoln delayed both France and England's
recognition of the Confederacy by issuing
the Emancipation Proclamation
– France placed Archduke Maximilian on the
Mexican throne in challenge to Monroe
Doctrine
Major Battles in the American Civil War
Major battles fought between the North and the secessionist South.
Pasted from <http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500524_761575605_-1_1/major_battles_in_the_american_civil_war.html>
First Battle of Bull Run (or the First Battle of
Manassas)
July 21, 1861
Manassas, Virginia
Confederate
army
Fort Henry
February 6, 1862
western Tennessee
Union army
Fort Donelson
February 16, 1862
western Tennessee
Union army
Shiloh (also called the Battle of Pittsburg
Landing)
April 6-7, 1862
near Pittsburg Landing,
Tennessee
Union army
Seven Days' Battle
June 25-July 1, 1862
Virginia
Confederate
army
Second Battle of Bull Run (or the Second Battle
of Manassas)
August 27-30, 1862
Manassas, Virginia
Confederate
army
Antietam
September 17, 1862
Antietam Creek, Maryland
Union army
Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Confederate
army
Chancellorsville
May 1-4, 1863
Chancellorsville, Virginia
Confederate
army
Siege of Vicksburg
Battle
May
19-July 4, 1863Site
Date
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Victor
Union army
Gettysburg
July 1-3, 1863
near Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania
Union army
Chickamauga
September 19-20, 1863 Chickamauga, Georgia
Confederate
army
Chattanooga
November 23-25, 1863
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Union army
Battle of the Wilderness
May 5-9, 1864
northern Virginia
Not decisive
Spotsylvania
May 1864
Spotsylvania Court House,
Virginia
Not decisive
Cold Harbor
June 3, 1864
Virginia
Not decisive
Siege of Petersburg
June 20, 1864-April 2,
1865
Petersburg, Virginia
Union army
Mobile Bay
August 5, 1864
Alabama
Union army
Atlanta
September 2, 1864
Georgia
Union army
Nashville
December 15-16, 1864
Tennessee
Union army
BATTLES: OVERVIEW
The battles mentioned are only a part of the whole. For more
information about individual battles you can check the battles overview
site at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp//battles/bystate.htm
Fort Sumter: first shots
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South Carolina
April 12-14, 1861
US Major Anderson
CS Brig. Gen Beauregard
Beauregard demands surrender of the fort, but
Anderson refuses. Confederates open fire and
Union was unable to defend. Anderson
surrenders the fort.
• Confederate victory, no casualties
Bull Run/Manassas
• June 1861
• Union= McDowell, Confederate= Beauregard
• Union was initially successful but
Confederates reinforced and defeated Union
troops
• Humiliating for the North, boosted confidence
of the South
• Each side underestimated the other. Both
realized this was not going to be a quick war
• Confederate victory
Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing
• April 6-7,1862
• Pickwick, TN
• Grant was looking for control of Corinth and as luck
would have it this is where Johnston had retreated
after Ft. Henry and Donnelson
• Confederates attacked at Shiloh and were successful
until Union reinforcements arrived (Buell)
• Confederate commander was Gen. Albert Sydney
Johnston (killed) and Beauregard assumed command
• Union victory but at a great price
Antietam/Sharpsburg
• Confederates were looking for European
recognition
• (Some consider) A draw for both sides, but
turned the tide of war b/c Europe made
decision not to support the South
• Strategic victory for the Union
• Bloodiest single day of the war
• Led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation
Proclamation
Vicksburg (Siege)
• In May and June of 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s
armies converged on Vicksburg, investing the city and
entrapping a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John
Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg surrendered after
prolonged siege operations. This was the culmination
of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the
war. With the loss of Pemberton’s army and this vital
stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was
effectively split in half. Grant's successes in the West
boosted his reputation, leading ultimately to his
appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies.
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp//battles/ms011.htm
Significance
• Vicksburg was a stronghold on the Mississippi River
because of the terrain. The bluffs are a line of 100-200 foot
clay hills that border the flat delta of the Mississippi River.
These bluffs continue north from Vicksburg and swing to
the East in a large arc and continues up to north-central
Mississippi. These bluffs are made of clay, which allowed
the army and the civilians to dig caves for safety.
• The Confederates mounted heavy artillery on top of these
high bluffs, which allowed them to shell the Union boats on
the river at long range. At close range, the gunboats could
not elevate their guns to hit the top of the bluffs. Also, the
Mississippi River made a sharp bend at Vicksburg, which
allowed Confederate guns placed at the waters edge to hit
the Union boats as they slowed to maneuver the river.
• Victory in the battle of Vicksburg gave control of the
Mississippi River to the Union.
Gettysburg
• Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George
G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of
Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from
west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to
Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On
July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left
flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops
with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at
Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the
Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men.
During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from
their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary
artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge.
The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge)
momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe
casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was
repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport
on the Potomac River. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen
miles.
Significance: Gettysburg
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End of the Confederate Offensive
Volunteers increased
Blacks recruited into the military
Emancipation confirmed
Copperhead influence declined
Confederacy divided
Gettysburg Address
Most Hallowed Ground
View the following on YouTube:
• The American Civil War - Most Hallowed Ground by ClarksHistoryReels
• ~30 minutes
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXTO5MbuMSQ
Sherman’s “March to the Sea”
• ATL fell Sept 1864
• S. Industrial center and
distribution center
• Helped Lincoln win
Reelection
• The “march” was a military
tactic to break S’ern will.
• Sherman was destructive,
but not to the extent
accused. Conf. troops were
told to leave Sherman
nothing to use so he
couldn’t live off the land.
Appomattox Courthouse
• Lee surrendered to
Grant April 9, 1865
Enrollment Act, Draft Riots, Life, Prisons
SOLDIERS
Enrollment Act 1863
• Men 20-45 were eligible for draft
– Draftee could hire a substitute to serve in his place
– Could simply pay $300 to avoid service
Draft Riots
• July 1863
• Largest was in NY
• Working class white men targeted well dressed
white men, African Americans, and supporters of
the war
• Several were injured and at least six African
Americans were lynched. Businesses and black
homes were burned. Federal troops arrived from
the Battle of Gettysburg and halted the violence
Confederacy Draft
• Similar to that of the North, but the law
provided an exemption for owners of 20 or
more slaves (“Twenty Negro Law”)
• Less than 20% of S’ern population owned
slaves
• Those exempted had to pay $500
• Caused resentment among poor whites
Credits
• http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.civi
lwar.html
• http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/critten.html
• http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp//battle
s/bystate.htm