Download The Civil War Begins - Catawba County Schools

The Civil War Begins
1860 - 1861
Setting the Stage
Nov. 6, 1860 – Abraham Lincoln
(Republican) elected President of
the United State. Received 40% of
the Popular Vote. His name wasn’t
even on the ballot in the Southern
States.
Dec. 20, 1860 – South Carolina
secedes from the Union. Within 2
months Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and
Texas follow.
1861
Feb. 9, 1861- Confederate States of
America formed, Jefferson Davis
named President
April 12, 1861 – Confederate forces
attack Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC
(Civil War begins)
April 15, 1861 - Pres. Lincoln calls for 75,000
militiamen to report for duty.
Robert E. Lee offered command of the
Union Army, Lee declines.
The Lines are Drawn
April 17, 1861 Virginia secedes from the Union,
followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North
Carolina (10th state to secede May 20, 1861)
Confederacy – 11 States, population of 9 million
Union – 21 States, population of over 20 million
April 19, 1861 – Lincoln orders a blockade of Southern
Ports
April 20, 1861 - Robert E. Lee resigns his
commission from the U.S. Army “I cannot
raise my hand against my birthplace, my
home, my children” he is offered command of
Virginia’s forces he accepts.
A Nation Divided
The Land War Begins
The Public in the North calls for Union
forces to march on Richmond, Virginia
(Capital of the Confederacy) hopefully
bringing a quick end to the war.
Union forces under Irvin McDowell
march for Richmond. This leads to
the First Battle of Bull Run
(Manassas)
First Battle of Bull Run
(Manassas)
July 21, 1861
Both sides have roughly 18,000 soldiers
Confederacy wins the battle and turns battle
into a route as Union forces retreat
toward Washington, D.C.
Casualties: (killed, wounded, captured, missing)
Union – 2896
Confederacy – 1982
Rising Star- VMI graduate Thomas J. Jackson
leads troops that change the course of the
battle for the South as his troops hold the line
against the Unions initial push
Given the nickname “Stonewall Jackson”
1861
Nov. 1, 1861 - George B. McCellan
appointed as supreme commander of
the Union Army. Remarks “I can do it
all.”
Nov. 8, 1861- U.S. navy captures 2
Confederate diplomats sailing
toward England. England demands
their release or threatens to go to
war. Lincoln gives in saying “One
war at a time”