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1.The War Begins -Lincoln is elected in 1860 and the 7 southernmost states secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America • Confederate soldiers started taking over federal forts in the South -Fort Sumter was a federal fort in SC and Confederates demand its surrender • Lincoln tries to resupply fort with food rather than surrender -On April 12, 1861, South fires on and captures the fort – “First shots of the Civil War” -After the attack, Lincoln called for troops from all states in the Union to serve for 90 days • Upper South decides to leave the Union (VA, AK, NC, TN) for a total of 11 states -Western portion of Virginia secedes from Virginia and joins Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware as Border States By the time Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated, only two federal forts remained in Union hands, with Fort Sumter, South Carolina being of the utmost importance. One day after Lincoln’s inauguration, he received word from Major Robert Anderson, commander of Fort Sumter, that the Confederacy had demanded he surrender the fort and that he was running out of supplies. Lincoln decided to resupply the fort with food rather than send troops to reinforce the fort or surrender the fort – thus forcing the South to make the next move. At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered the attack on Fort Sumter. The Confederates bombarded the fort for 33 hours until Major Anderson finally surrendered. “Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire…the magazine surrounded by flames…four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provision but pork remaining, I accepted terms of evacuation…and marched out of the fort…with colors flying and drums beating…and saluting my flag with fifty guns.” Major Robert Anderson 2. Strategies-Union -The first General in Chief of the Union Army, Winfield Scott, developed the plan for Union victory, known as the Anaconda Plan • The North would gradually strangle the South and force them to surrender -Anaconda Plan consisted of three major parts: 1) Blockade the South to keep them from getting supplies from foreign nations 2) Capture the Mississippi River to divide the South in half 3) Capture Richmond, the Confederate capitol and destroy the Southern government • Many northerners thought the plan was too slow and wanted an all-out invasion of the South instead -This strategy, however, would become essential to the Union victory General Winfield Scott suggested that the Union blockade Confederate ports and send gunboats down the Mississippi River to divide the Confederacy. The South, thus separated, would gradually run out of resources and surrender. The plan would take time, but it would defeat the South with the least amount of bloodshed. 2. Strategies-Confederacy -South’s goal was its own survival as a nation, thus its strategy was to “prepare and wait” on the enemy – to fight a defensive war • Southern army stayed in South, chose battlefields, waited on North to attack Early in the war, Confederate President Jefferson Davis imagined a struggle similar to the Revolutionary War. His generals would pick their battles carefully, attacking and retreating when necessary and avoiding large battles that might risk heavy losses. Davis believed that is the South waged a defensive war of attrition in this manner, it would force the Union to spend its resources until it became tired of the war and agreed to negotiate. This idea outraged many Southerners, who believed themselves superior fighters. According to the 1861 Richmond Examiner, “The idea of waiting for blows, instead of inflicting them, is altogether unsuited to the genius of our people.” Southerners despised the idea of defensive war so much, that soldiers in battle would often charge on the offensive and suffer large numbers of casualties. -Southerners hoped to wage a war of attrition – wearing down the North until they grew tired of the war and allowed the South its independence-Sound familiar??? -Confederacy also wanted to gain help from Britain and France who depended heavily on southern cotton exports for their textile factories • Issue of slavery made both nations question supporting the Confederacy -Trent Affair occurred in 1861, when 2 Confederate Ambassadors aboard a British ship were taken captive by the Union, almost leading Britain to declare war on the U.S. 3. Advantages-Union -The overall northern advantage in the Civil War was resources -Had more material goods due to North’s focus on manufacturing • Had most of nation’s factories and produced most of its clothing and iron • North also had over 70% of the nation’s telegraph and railroad lines -Had more manpower due to the constant flow of immigrants to the North • There was no immigration in South due to slave labor and the lack of jobs -Had an already working government, the strong leadership of Abraham Lincoln, and a powerful navy In 1860, the Northern population numbered over 22 million people, with new immigrants coming into northern ports each day to work in northern industry. The South, on the other hand, had only 9 million total people with 1/3 of those being enslaved. Likewise, the North possessed 90 percent of the United States’ factories and produced more than 90 percent of the countries clothing and iron, both essential for supplying armies. The South had 50 percent fewer rail lines than the North and only had one line that went from the western part of the Confederacy to the eastern area, making it easy for the North to cut off critical supplies of food and goods to the Southern people and its armies. General Robert E. Lee Overall Commander of Confederate Army 2nd in class at West Point without any demerits Offered command of Union Army, but declined due to loyalty to Virginia LT. General Stonewall Jackson 3. Advantages-Confederacy -The overall southern advantage in the Civil War was its military -Had a strong military tradition, with 7 of the 8 major military colleges of 1860 located in the South • Provided the most well-trained military officers to the Confederacy -Had the home-field advantage, with the majority of battles being fought in the South Considered by many historians to be the most gifted tactical commander of the Civil War • Knew the land and had friendly civilians to provide food and shelter Lt. General James Longstreet Lee’s 2nd in Command 54th of 56th in class at West Point Developed Idea of Trench Warfare -Suffered less casualties than the North in almost every battle and won most of the early battles -Had a greater motivation to fight – fighting for their ‘independence’ 4.Reasons Both Sides Fought -Primary motivation for the North and Lincoln in fighting the Civil War: Preserve the Union and keep the country together • Wanted to stop the South and keep the Union and Constitution intact -Lincoln believed slavery was wrong but did not believe he had the Constitutional authority to end it • When the North needed more motivation midway through the war, Lincoln made the war one to end slavery -Primary motivation for the South in fighting: Secede from the Union and gain their ‘independence’ from the North “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.” ~President Abraham Lincoln 1862~ • Believed their goals were like those of the American Revolution -Sought to free themselves from a government that they believed overtaxed them and sought to end their way of life by ending slavery 5.Raising Armies on Both Sides -Both sides began supplying their armies through volunteers, but had to turn to conscription by 1862 and 1863 • Drafting men into military service -Southern draft age ranged from 17 to 50 by the end of the war • People could pay for a substitute and planters with more than 20 slaves were exempt -Northern draft age ranged from 20 to 45 • Could also hire substitutes or pay $300.00 not to be drafted at all -Frustration over northern draft practices came to a boil in the New York Draft Riots of 1863 The Confederacy originally drafted all able• Irish immigrants angered because fighting to bodied men from age 18 to 35, but would free slaves that would take jobs have to change the ages to 17 to 50 as the -African Americans served in the Union army in war drew to a close and they were low on troops. Draft practices were unfair and segregated units led by white officers and many poor southerners began to exclaim received less pay that this was a “rich man’s war and a poor -Most famous regiment was the 54th man’s fight”. By the end of the war, despite Massachusetts, who took 40% casualties at their protests, over 90% of southern men who Fort Wagner were eligible to serve had done so. Only 46,000 Union draftees actually went into military service. The rest of the 2 million soldiers that fought for the Union were volunteers. In 1863, the frustration over the northern draft came to a boil in the New York Draft Riots. Irish immigrants were enraged that they were being drafted to fight a war to free slaves that would eventually take their jobs, while wealthy whites avoided the draft altogether. For four days in July of 1863, mobs of immigrants attacked draft and newspaper offices, homes of antislavery leaders, welldressed men on the streets, and African Americans. By the time federal troops were able to end the chaos, 100 people were dead. “The only regiment I ever looked upon during the war was the 54th Massachusetts on its departure for the South. I can never forget the scene as Colonel Shaw rode at the head of his men. The very flower of grace and chivalry, he seemed to me beautiful and awful, as an angel of God come down to lead the host of freedom to victory." John Greenleaf Whittier The most famous regiment of African American soldiers in the North was the 54th Massachusetts, formed by Frederick Douglass and led by Robert Gould Shaw. Over 40% of the regiment was killed at the Union assault on Fort Wagner in July 1863. 6.Financing the War on Both Sides -North had the financial advantage during the war, controlling the national treasury, collecting tariffs, and possessing reserve money in banks to loan the government • Over time, northerners withdrew their money from banks; banks left with little money to loan the government -US government finally issued greenbacks, paper money that kept the nation going -Also passed the first income tax to raise money for the war -South had no money to buy bonds and only small banks to loan the government money • Wanted to tax trade to raise money, but Union blockade ended that hope • Tried to pass property taxes, but landowners refused to pay -Ended up printing paper money and causing inflation (a rise in prices) 7.Suppressing Opposition in the North • Many northerners sympathized with the South and criticized the war -To control opposition, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the Border states and declared martial law • Could hold Confederate sympathizers and spies in prison without a trial -Especially targeted members of the Copperhead group – northern democrats who advocated peace with the South Lincoln was willing to take political and constitutional risks to preserve the Union. He declared martial law in the state of Maryland in order to keep the state from seceding. Under martial law, the military took control of the area, replaced civilian authorities with military ones, and suspended basic civil rights. -Lincoln seized telegraph offices so no one could send messages that would endanger the Union -Jefferson Davis originally denounced Lincoln’s suspension of civil liberties • Davis suspends some of the same rights in the South to maintain order “Your letter shows you to be a cowardly traitor. No traitor can be my friend; if you cannot renounce your allegiance to the Copperhead scoundrels and own your allegiance to the Government which has always protected you, you are my enemy, and I wish you were in the ranks of my open, avowed, and manly enemies, that I might put a ball through your black heart, and send your soul to the Arch Rebel himself.” A Union Soldier in Response to a Copperhead Friend 8.Daily Life at Home and in War • Southern economy suffered most from war due to loss of manpower and a reduction in supplies because of the Union blockade -Shortages of food caused many soldiers to desert the army to go home to care for families -Northern economy boomed from the increase in war production in factories • Women on both sides moved to workforce, either in the government or on the farm -Conditions for soldiers were terrible, with disease running rampant in army camps -Union created the US Sanitary Commission to improve the conditions in camps and recruit and train nurses By the end of 1862, the South’s economy had begun to suffer from the war. The collapse of the South’s transportation system, the blockade of Southern ports, and the presence of Union troops in several important agricultural regions led to severe food shortages during the winter of 1862-1863. • Medical care was terrible with no anesthesia, no sterilization of instruments, and common use of amputation -Prison camps on both sides bred starvation and sickness -Worst camp was Andersonville, GA Gaunt, hungry women, several wielding clubs, another a smoking pistol, took to the streets of Richmond, Virginia, on April 2, 1863, to protest food shortages, hoarding, speculation, and spiraling inflation in the Confederate capital. Their anger turned into a street march and attacks on commercial establishments. Several eyewitnesses reported they heard a chant of "Bread or blood!" The mob then began attacking government warehouses, grocery stores, and various mercantile establishments, seizing food, clothing, and wagons. Only after troops were deployed and authorities threatened to fire on the mob did the rioters disperse. More than 60 men and women were arrested and tried for their actions during the riot. “As she raised her hand to remove her sunbonnet and use it for a fan, her loose calico sleeve slipped up and revealed the mere skeleton of an arm. She perceived my expression as I looked at it, and hastily pulled down her sleeve with a short laugh. 'This is all that's left of me' she said. 'It seems real funny, don't it?. . .We are starving. As soon as enough of us get together, we are going to the bakeries and each of us will take a loaf of bread. That is little enough for the government to give us after it has taken all our men.‘” “The sights and smells that assailed us were simply indescribable-corpses swollen to twice their size, asunder with the pressure of gases and vapors…The odors were nauseating, and so deadly that in a short time we all sickened and were lying with our mouths close to the ground, most of us vomiting profusely.” “As a wounded man was lifted on the table, often shrieking with pain as the attendants handled him, the surgeon quickly examined the wound, resolved upon cutting off the injured limb. Some ether was administered and the body put in position in a moment. The surgeon snatched his knife from between his teeth, wiped it rapidly once or twice across his bloodstained apron, and the cutting began. The operation accomplished, the surgeon would look around with a deep sigh, and then say - "Next." Union soldier on his release from Andersonville in May, 1865 During the fourteen months Andersonville existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined there. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. Handicapped by deteriorating economic conditions, an inadequate transportation system, and the need to concentrate all available resources on its army, the Confederate government was unable to provide adequate housing, food, clothing, and medical care to their captives. The men were served by a small, muddy creek which became "a mass of liquid excrement" as it was used as a latrine outside the stockade by guards and inside the stockade by prisoners, who were more and more stricken with dysentery. Flies and maggots swarmed over the entire area, spreading disease which claimed the lives of up to 127 men a day. "Since the day I was born," said one prisoner, "I've never seen such misery." Wrote Father Hamilton of Macon, "I found the stockade extremely filthy; the men all huddled together and covered with vermin ... I found the Hospital almost as crowded as the stockade. The men were dying there very rapidly from scurvy ... diarrhea and dysentery ... they were not only covered with the ordinary vermin but also maggots ... they had nothing under them at all except the ground." Wrote Eliza Andrews of Washington, Georgia: "It is dreadful. My heart aches for the poor wretches, Yankees though they are, and I am afraid God will suffer some terrible retribution to fall upon us for letting such things happen. If the Yankees ever should come to southwest Georgia and go to Andersonville and see the graves there, God have mercy on the land!“