Download War Erupts! The Civil War

War Erupts!
The Civil War
Chapter 16
First Shots at Fort Sumter!
*Southern states began seceding
from the Union!!
*State officials took over most
federal forts inside their borders.
*One was Fort Sumter in the harbor
of Charleston, South Carolina.
*It was running low on supplies.
*Lincoln knew that supplying the fort
might lead to war, but if he
withdrew troops, rebels would take
it.
*Lincoln decided to send supplies!
*Confederate leaders responded by
attacking the fort on April 12th,
1861.
*Lincoln called on Northerners to put
down the rebellion.
*Southern states reacted angrily and
seceded from the Union!
*The Confederacy was happy to
have Virginia: large and wealthy
state. Also home to Robert E. Lee, a
talented/respected military leader.
*Confederacy’s capital: Richmond,
VA
Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Choosing Sides: Strengths and Weaknesses:
*Border states: Delaware, Maryland,
Kentucky, and Missouri were slave
states that bordered the North.
*B/c of their resources and location,
these states could tip the scales toward
one side of the war!
*All four states stayed in the Union.
*In all – 24 states made up the Union.
*11 states joined the Confederacy.
Union Advantages: (North)
*More than twice as many citizens
than the South.
*More than 80 percent of the nation’s
factories were located in the North.
*President Lincoln was a very able
leader.
Confederate Advantages: (South)
*Great generals, including Robert
E. Lee.
*Dedicated soldiers ready to
defend their homes and families.
Confederate Strategy:
*Didn’t want to conquer the North! Only
wanted to be independent!
*Hoped to win foreign support by using
cotton
*South grew most of the cotton for
Europe’s textile mills.
*Southern planters withheld cotton from
the market hoping to force France and
Britain to their aid.
*France and Britain had a surplus
of cotton and did not help the
Confederacy and Europe had NO
involvement in the war!
Union Strategy:
*Goal: Bring Southern states back into
Union.
*Anaconda Plan!! North would squeeze
the Southern economy like a giant
anaconda snake smothering its prey.
Anaconda Plan
*Plan: naval blockade of the South’s
coastline to prevent the transportation
of goods or people into or out of an
area.
*Also gain control of Miss. river to split
the Confederacy in two.
Battle of Bull Run:
*Summer 1861: Lincoln ordered invasion of
Virginia
*Goal: conquer Richmond (capital).
*Battle happened next to river called Bull Run.
*Confederacy won! Thrilled South! Shocked
North!
*North realized it had underestimated its
opponent
*Lincoln began to prepare for a long war.
Life in the Army
Ch. 16, Section 2
Who Fought
Who Fought
*In all, about 3 million Americans
fought.
-Roughly 2 million served the Union.
-Just under 1 million served the
Confederacy.
*Majority of soldiers between the
ages of 18 and 30.
*Majority born in the U.S.
*Immigrants from other countries
served both sides.
*Native Americans also served both
sides.
*As conflict wore on, North allowed
African Americans to serve.
Why Did They Enlist?
*Many were volunteers.
*Enlisted for a variety of reasons:
-sought adventure and glory
-escape a life of boredom
-fought for loyalty
-the recruitment money
*Hours of drills and exercises each day,
dug trenches, cut firewood, and cleaned
camp.
*Union soldiers: blue uniforms
*Confederate soldiers: gray uniforms
*Rations included: beef or salt pork,
flour, vegetables, and coffee.
*Battlefield: more limited. Some
soldiers went hungry b/c supply
trains could not reach them.
Hardships of Army Life
*Fields: wet, muddy, and cold.
*Camps: unclean due to piled up
garbage and outdoor toilets.
*Soldiers filthy going weeks without
bathing or washing their clothes.
*Became overrun with fleas and lice.
*Hygiene: conditions and practices
that promote health was poor
during the war.
*Widespread sickness! Diseases killed
more soldiers during the Civil War
than battle wounds.
Changes in Military Technology:
*Military technology advances led to
higher death rates for both sides.
1. Development of the rifle - gun with
a grooved barrel causing a bullet to
spin giving it more distance and
accuracy.
2. Minie Ball – bullet with a hollow
base – expands upon firing to fit
the grooves of the barrel.
3. Ironclad – warship covered with
iron. These ships could withstand
attack better than wooden ships.
Union Ironclad: Monitor fought the
Confederate ironclad: Merrimack.
(no clear winner)