Download The American Civil War

The American Civil War
Jan 2011 C. Corning
S
Civil War
S Definition
S What other Civil Wars have you studied? Common
Characteristics?
Characteristics of a Civil War
S An organized military action – 1,000 battle deaths/year and
5% of deaths inflicted by the weaker party.
S At least two factions within a single country/nation-state –
one of which is the national government – which are
divided over religious, ideological, political, economic
and/or social issues.
S The war occurs in the country in which the opposing
factions originate and the primary leadership of each faction
is from that country.
Why Study the
American Civil War?
S The Civil War remains the deadliest and most destructive of
all America’s wars.
S The first modern war on the continent (and maybe the
world).
S Only conflict in U.S. history fought entirely on the nation’s
soil.
S Strengthened the power of the Federal Government.
S Forever destroyed the institution of slavery in the U.S.
Causes of the
American Civil War
S Economic and social differences between the North and
the South.
S States versus federal rights.
S The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents.
S Growth of the Abolition Movement.
S The election of Abraham Lincoln.
Causes
S Economic and social differences between the North and
the South:
S The southern economy became a one crop economy,
depending on cotton and therefore on slavery.
S On the other hand, the northern economy was based more
on industry than agriculture. In fact, the northern industries
were purchasing the raw cotton and turning it into finished
goods.
S This disparity between the two set up a major difference in
economic attitudes.
Causes
S States versus federal rights.
S Many States Rights proponents felt that the U.S. Constitution
ignored the rights of states to continue to act independently.
S They felt that the states should still have the right to decide if they
were willing to accept certain federal acts. This resulted in the idea
of nullification, whereby the states would have the right to rule
federal acts unconstitutional.
S The federal government denied states this right. However,
proponents such as John C. Calhoun fought vehemently for
nullification. When nullification would not work and states felt
that they were no longer respected, they moved towards secession.
Causes
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The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents.
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Missouri Compromise passed in 1820 made a rule that prohibited slavery
in states from the former Louisiana Purchase the latitude 36 degrees 30
minutes north except in Missouri.
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Wilmot Provision in 1846 which would ban slavery in the new lands.
However, this was shot down to much debate.
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The Compromise of 1850 was created by Henry Clay and others to deal
with the balance between slave and free states, northern and southern
interests. Many of these states were formed in territory won in the
Mexican-American War (1846 – 1848).
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Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. It created two new territories that would
allow the states to use popular sovereignty to determine whether they
would be free or slave.
Causes
S Growth of the Abolition Movement.
S Increasingly, the northerners became more polarized against
slavery. Sympathies began to grow for abolitionists and
against slavery and slaveholders.
S Major events included:
S the publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin,
S The Dred Scott Case
S John Brown's Raid
S Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act that held individuals
responsible for harboring fugitive slaves even if they were
located in non-slave states.
Causes
S The election of Abraham Lincoln
S When Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina issued
its "Declaration of the Causes of Secession." They believed
that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of Northern
States’ interests.
S Before Lincoln was even president, seven states had seceded
from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
The Birth of the
Republican Party
S Question: Why do new political parties form?
S By the end of the 1850s the nation’s political landscape had
shifted. New concerns – increase in immigration, Whig party
split over the issue of slavery and a weak Democratic party.
(Review pg 320)
S Nativism – Know Nothing Party
S Free-Soil Party – no more extension of slavery (however not a party
of abolitionism).
S Discontented Whigs formed the Republican party (sound
familiar? Ie the Tea Party?).
Events Leading up to Secession
S Slavery begins to dominate most political discussions
S Dred Scott Decision (1857) – Roger Taney’s Majority Opinion
“Constitutional Rights Do Not Extend to Blacks”
S He was the Chief Justice – blacks cannot be citizens
S Lincoln-Douglas Debates – 1858 Illinois Senate Race
S Douglas (D) supported popular sovereignty (believed that slavery
would die out)
S Lincoln (R) – slavery was immoral, fear that it would spread to new
territories
S Harpers Ferry (VA) – John Brown Oct 1859 – “slave uprising”
Lincoln’s Election
S 1860 Presidential Election – three candidates: Lincoln (R),
Douglas (D) and Breckinridge (D)
S Lincoln won but with less than half of popular vote – not a
strong “mandate” – no electoral votes from the South
S The South felt that they had no voice in national politics
S South Carolina seceded from the Union on Dec 20, 1860,
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followed by Mississippi and Florida in Jan 1861
Later Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas
Feb 1861 – delegates from these states met – formed the
Confederate States of America (The Confederacy)
Constitution similar – but “protected and recognized” slavery
Jefferson Davis - President
The Beginning
S After the seven southern states seceded and formed the
Confederacy, soldiers began to take over federal buildings in their
states – government buildings and military installations.
S Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor – Confederates demanded surrender,
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Lincoln only sent food, Confederates attack April 12, 1861.
Lincoln responded by calling for 75,000 troops
April 17th Virginia seceded (unwilling to fight against other southern
states) and brought ironworks and factories to the Confederate side.
By May Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina secede
Western counties of Virginia secede from VA and become West
Virginia (1863 statehood – special exception)
Four remaining slave states: Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and
Missouri remain in the Union.
Military History
S Northern and Southern Resources – page 339 – unevenly
matched (although it could be argued at the beginning of the
war that the South had better military leadership!)
S Strategy: both sides thought it would be a quick war
S Union pursued what became known as the Anaconda Plan –
three prong strategy:
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Navy Blockade Southern ports
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Union riverboats and armies move down Mississippi Rv – why?
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Union armies capture the Confederate capital – Richmond, VA
S Confederacy – mainly defensive strategy
Battles
S How to read a military history map – the “key” is crucial!
S Pages 340, 358, 361, 363,
S First Battle of Bull Run – July 21, 1861 – about 25 miles south of
Union capital and 100 miles north of the Confederate capital.
S Lasted most of the day, Union winning in the morning but the
Confederate rallying in the afternoon, led by Stonewall Jackson
S Lincoln responded to the Union lost by calling up 1 million men for
a three year enlistment and appointed George McClellan as
commander of Union Army (aka Army of the Potomac).
Battles in the West
S Feb 1862, the Union army led by Ulysses S. Grant invaded western
Tennessee - within 2 weeks captured Ft. Henry on the Tennessee River and
Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River.
S March 1862, Grant camped his army near a Tennessee church named
Shiloh, close to the Mississippi border.
S April - Confederate soldiers surprised the Union army and inflicted
significant casualties before the Union army could re-group and force
Confederate forces to retreat.
S Both sides became aware of the need for defensive measures while “in
camp”, bloody engagement and failure of Confederates to hold onto
Ohio-Kentucky frontier.
S April – Union takes hold of New Orleans – why significant?
Battle for the Seas
S March 1862, the ironclads the Monitor (Union) and the Merrimack
(Confederate) fought a duel at sea.
S Ironclad ships could splinter wooden ships, withstand cannon fire and
resist burning.
S The Merrimack attached three Union ships, the Monitor responded the
attack and in the end the battle was a draw.
S The Confederate submarine CSS Hunley (named for one of its
financiers, Horace Lawson Hunley) was intended for attacking the North's
ships, which were blockading the South's seaports. The sub was extremely
hazardous to operate, and had no air supply other than what was
contained inside the main compartment. February 17, 1864, it sank
the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor.
The War for the Capitals
S The third prong of the Union strategy was to capture the Confederate
capital. Problem: Gen McClellan was slow to act and did not move
against Richmond until the spring of 1862.
S McClellan moves South and into the armies of Robert E. Lee – Seven
Days’ Battles (June 25 – July 1, 1862). McClellan moved away from
Richmond and headed towards the sea.
S Lee captured the advantage of momentum and moved against the
Washington D.C. On August 29 and 30, his troops won a big victory at the
Second Battle of Bull Run. A few days later Lee takes his army across
the Potomac River into Maryland.
S McClellan ordered his army to intercept and the two armies fought at
Antietam on Sept 17th – bloodiest single day battle in US history.
S Union victory but Lee is able to retreat and Lincoln fires McClellan.
The Politics of War
S At the beginning of the war, the Southern states expected Britain to
support them – why?
S However Britain pursues a policy of neutrality – India and wheat.
S The abolition movement pressured Lincoln to resolve the question of
slavery
S Although Lincoln did not agree with slavery, he felt that the federal gov’t
did not have the power to abolish it where it already existed.
S “My … object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to
save or destroy Slavery.”
S Just as Union soldiers could confiscate Confederate supplies, Lincoln
also authorized the army to emancipate slaves.
S Since England support abolitionism, this was also a diplomatic move.
S gg
Emancipation Proclamation 1863
S Excerpt on page 346 – the proclamation only applied to those slaves within
States that were in a state of rebellion.
S It did NOT free any slaves immediately because it only applied to those
slaves in Confederate areas, outside Union control.
S Did not apply to those areas of the south under Union military control
nor to slave states who did not secede.
S Reactions: turned the fight into a moral struggle and allowed free blacks to
enlist in the Union army. ( Blacks already were used in the Confederate
army as “labor”.)
S Democrats concerned that it would antagonize the South
S Confederacy saw this as confirmation of their fears about federal gov’t.
S Now there was no opportunity for compromise to end the war.
Problems Associated with Civil Wars
S How to deal with dissenters?
S Neither side is homogenous – there were Confederate
sympathizers in the North and the same in the South. How did
each gov’t handle their critics?
S Lincoln often suspended habeas corpus – suspected Confed.
sympathizers were arrested and held without trial; he also sent
federal troops against civilian populations and seized telegram
offices.
S What was the constitutionality of his actions?
S Jefferson Davis also had to suspended many civil liberties.
S Lincoln’s actions set a precedent for the expansion of Presidential
power in a time of war. (WWII, Vietnams, Iraqi War)
Problems Associated with Civil Wars
S How to Find Soldiers for Your Army?
S Volunteers – initially usually a good number but usually not
enough to staff a full military fighting force
S Conscription – the draft that forces certain members of the
population to serve in the Army
S Union – men 20 – 45 years old– passed in 1863; however 92%
of Union forces were volunteer
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Draft riots in New York – immigrants – not our war
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Breakdown of social stablility
S Confederate – men 18 – 35 years old (later 17 – 50) passed in
1862, “rich man’s war but poor man’s fight” - ??
Other Wartime Issues
S African-American Soldiers
S Slave Resistance in the Confederacy
S Inflation and Shortages in the South
S Northern Economic Growth
S Health and Sanitation issues
S Prisoners of War
Battle of Antietam