Download The Civil War Notes`12

The Civil War (1861 – 1865)
The immediate or primary cause was the firing on Fort Sumter an island fortress
in the harbor of Charlestown, South Carolina that was held by U.S. forces. The South
wanted the fort to be surrendered to the South. Lincoln refused and the war began.
A. Advantages
North (Union)
their advantages
South (Confederacy)
1. Population (2x’s the South’s)
1. Strategic Position –So. held defensive
22 mil 1860 to 9mil (6mil free, 3 mil slaves) positions. No. was forced to attack.
2. Economic Resources
Industrialized = war materials
So.=agric----cotton, no food.
2. Preparation for War
So. well trained in warfare. No need for
Training.
3. Political Leadership
Lincoln better able than Jefferson Davis
3. Military Leadership
Superior Generals like Robert E. Lee and
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
4. Foreign Relations
US already recognized
So. struggled for recognition
4. Morale - fighting to protect their
homeland made a better fighting spirit.
5. Naval Superiority
So. had few ships
No set up blockade
B. Turning Points
1861-1862 battles went to the South, but by 1863 the tide had changed
3 particular battles
1. Battle of the Ironclads – iron plates put on sides of ships. The South captured the
Merrimac, which was iron reinforced and renamed the Virginia. Was able to
break the blockades. The North’s ironclad = the Monitor challenged the Va. And
resulted in a draw. This strengthened future blockades. No more wooden ships.
2. Battle of Gettysburg (1863) July 1 to 3 General Robert E. Lee tries to route
North’s troops @ Gettysburg Pa. This offensive turned bad for the South---7,000 deaths. North begins a draft to replace lost soldiers.
3. Siege at Vicksburg (1863) July 4th (One day later) Gen. Ulysses S. Grant takes
control of the South’s river fortress and now controls the Mississippi River
dividing the Confederacy in two.
C. Final Campaigns
1. Sherman’s March to the Seas - North’s General William T. Sherman marched
eastward and deliberately burned the homes of civilians as an act of policy, “war is
hell,” he said. Forced Lee to surrender to protect civilians.
2. Surrender @ Appomattox April 2, 1865 Lee surrenders in a Va. Court house
D. Lincolns Leadership
Apr 1865 he started his second term but was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth,
actor + Southern sympathizer. Booth was hope to reignite the war.
Lincoln’s Strengths
1. His firm political purpose - preserving the Union was paramount. He made all his
decisions with this in mind.
2. His Political Shrewdness and Courage- used his political shrewdness to his
advantage---chose an excellent General (U. Grant)
3. His Decision to Emancipate Slaves
“Emancipation Proclamation (1862 following Battle at Antietam. Issued
1/1/1863)
4. As a great Orator -his speeches such as the Gettysburg Address, spoke eloquently
of democratic ideals.
5. His executive decisions – because Congress was not in session. Lincoln did the
following:
a. Suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus in order to keep the insurrections
of the pro-slavery people down in the border states. Ex Parte Milligan (1866) treasonists
must be tried in civilian courts.
b. Imposed a Draft (1863) to replenish the heavy losses at Gettysburg
6. As Commander and Chief
a. Fort Sumter (1861) the South held control of all federal forts except for
3, Sumter being one. Lincoln sent “provisions” instead of “reinforcement”, but still
caused South Caroline to be the aggressor, keeping the border states with Union.
b. Increased the size of the army by appropriating $2million.
c. Naval Blockade which kept the British at bay, suffocated the South,
kept the border states loyal to the Union.
7. His economic policies – a shift from agriculture to industrialization helped the North
win this “war of attrition”.
a. Morrill Tariff Act (1863) – high protective tariff that raised revenue to pay for
war costs.
b. National Banking System (1863) later becomes the Federal Reserve (1913)
establishes a single national currency, “Greenbacks”
c. 1862 began to build the trans-continental railroad. Completed in 1869.
E. Results of the War
1. Union remained intact.
2. Slavery was abolished (13th Amendment)
3. Freedmen gained citizenship and voting rights (14th and 15th Amendments)
4. The first Civil Rights laws were passed.
5. 620,000 deaths (360,000 Union / 260,000 Confederacy)
In 1861 = 2% of the population, (Todays population would be 6 million deaths).
F.
African- Americans
Women
Not allowed to enlist until late in the war.
Replaced men in industrial jobs
Post 1863 – segregated units 180,000 join
Battlefield nurses
38,000 die / 22 win the Medal of Honor
Made nursing a respectable job
Increased: black respect, literacy, +leadership Clara Barton / Dorothea Dix
Later the Red Cross 1877