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The Civil War
Why did the North win in the end?
In the Beginning
Civil War was directly about secession
Goal of the Union was to force the
Confederate states back into the Union
While the goal of the Confederacy was
to defend itself - to hold onto its
autonomy
Anaconda Plan
Union was aware of
its advantages in
population,
manufacturing, navy
- wanted to squeeze
the Confederacy
until they had to give
up.
Realizing what war meant
First Battle at Bull Run where there is a
Confederate victory - 5,000 casualties
(3,000 for the Union) but there is no real
resolution
Instead, there is a realization that the
war might go on for a long time
Little man, big influence
Napoleonic Warfare
Military colleges of the time were
influenced by Napoleon, who earlier in
the 1800s took over most of Europe by
winning a series of large battles
Influenced military leaders at the time to
believe that the way to win a war, was to
use good military strategy to force
surrender of an army
Armies of the East and West
Union and
Confederacy build a
number of large
armies to attack and
defend territory.
This led to major
battles - conflicts
involving thousands
of soldiers.
So wouldn’t it end fast?
In the beginning the
Confederacy was very
successful in military
strategy, and won a
number of victories - but
were outnumbered in every
battle at the start and the
end.
Won tactical victories, not
total victories.
Peninsular Campaign - 4/1862
Union army had close to 100,000
soldiers trying to capture Richmond, but
were held off by only 30,000
Confederate soldiers.
Union retreated, but there was no
surrender.
Shiloh - 4/1862
Battle in Tennessee
25,000 casualties
4,000 killed
Antietam - 9/1862
Tactical victory for
Union - led to
Emancipation
Proclamation
George McClellan
fired
22,000 casualties
4,000 killed
Fredericksburg - 12/1862
20,000 casualties
2,000 killed
Ambrose Burnside
fired
Chancellorsville - 4/1863
Joseph Hooker fired
30,000 casualties
4,000 killed
Gettysburg - 7/1863
50,000 casualties
8,000 killed
Confederate army
forced to retreat
from Northern states
Turning point for the
war - but no total
victory
Success in the South/West
Union armies in the
West were much
more successful
They were able to
take territory in
Tennessee, cut off
the Mississippi
River, and take over
New Orleans
Total War
Idea of Total War was to involve all of
society in war - that war was not just
between soldiers, but it involved
civilians and industry.
So to win a war, an army should also
fight against civilians and industry.
William Sherman
Sherman’s March to the Sea
Union Gen. Sherman adopted the
concept of total war in Georgia - started
to destroy farms, crops, free slaves.
This affected the ability of the
Confederacy to supply the military, and
the psyche of Southerners - did they
want to continue fighting.
War of Attrition
Ulysses Grant appointed general of
Union forces and began a war of
attrition against Confederacy
Tens of thousands of soldiers killed on
both sides - drained Confederate
military until they had to give up.
The End
A combination of attrition and total war
over the course of 4 years drained the
Confederate military, economy, and
people to the point that there was a
general consensus to surrender.
Casualties
Union - more than 2 million soldiers:
110,000 KIA, 360,000 total killed
Confederacy - more than 1 million
soldiers: 93,000 KIA, 260,000 total killed