The Civil WarThe Civil War

1861 - 1865

South had someinitial advantages

Easier to defend than attack– Shorter supply lines– Better knowledge of terrain– Emotional advantage –

defending homes & families Vast size – 750,000 square

miles Best troops initially, and

consistently better cavalry Advantages couldn’t hold up

over timeGen. J.E.B. Stuart

Northern advantages grew stronger over time

Over 2:1 population advantage

90% of industrial production

Almost 3 times as much railroad track

Navy to blockade Southern coast

Transportation & Slavery, 1860

Union Armies’ Numerical Advantage

Government & Finances CSA gov’t weak by design

– Same problems collecting taxes as old confederation– Tariff ineffective due to Northern blockade– Bonds at 8% interest not very attractive– Printed $1.5 billion, but not legal tender– Result: 9,000% inflation (12%/month)

Union gov’t better able to finance & manage war– Legal Tender Act (Feb. 1862) issued $447 million,

legal tender– Internal Revenue Act (July 1862) created first income

and inheritance taxes– 80% inflation (comparable to World Wars)– Lincoln took very active role as Commander in Chief

Lincoln & the Generals

The Early Years, 1861 – 1862: Stalemate in the East

Defeat in 1st Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861) showed North it would be long war

George McClellan took command of Army of the Potomac – organizational genius, but too cautious

Successful defense of Richmond in Battle of 7 Days (June 25-July 1, 1862) made Robert E. Lee commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

Lee’s invasion of Maryland stopped at Antietam (Sept. 17, 1862) - bloodiest single day of war

Burnside defeated at Fredericksburg (Dec. 13, 1862)

Robert E. Lee

George McClellan

Map: Early Years in the East

The Early Years: Victories in the West & at Sea

Ulysses S. Grant wins key victory at Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862)

By end of 1862, New Orleans, Memphis, & most of Miss. River valley taken

Blockade steadily tightened: 9 out of 10 ships got through in 1861, but only 1 in 2 by 1865

North & South Carolina barrier islands secured by Feb. 1862

Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans April 25, 1862

U.S. Grant

David Farragut

Map: Early Years West

The Decision to Free the Slaves 1st Confiscation Act (Aug. 1861) allowed

seizure of slaves used directly by rebel military & abolished slavery in territories & D.C.

Military often welcomed refugees as “contrabands,” & used them for labor or servants

2nd Confiscation Act (July 1862) freed all slaves owned by rebels, but poorly written and unenforceable

Emancipation Proclamation (Sept. 22, 1862; Jan. 1, 1863) freed all slaves in rebel territories

Pres. Lincoln & Cabinet Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation

Fighting for Freedom

Militia Act (July 1862) allowed blacks to join army, but in segregated units with white officers– 179,000 African Americans served; 130,000 from

slave states (100,000 escaped slaves)– Over 38,000 died (higher proportion than whites)

The Later Years, 1863 – 1865

July 4, 1863 = turning point– Vicksburg fell

to Grant after 2-month siege

– Lee retreated after 3-day Battle of Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Finishing up in the Deep South Grant broke the siege of

Chattanooga (Nov. 1863)– Made general in chief March 1864

William T. Sherman took command of Army of the West– Captured Atlanta (Sept. 2, 1864)– March to the Sea (Nov. 15 - Dec.

22, 1864) cut 25-60 mile swath of devastation from Atlanta to Savannah

– Total war: destroy enemy’s will & ability to continue to fight

William T. Sherman

Map: The Deep South, 1864-65

Grant takes command of the Army of the Potomac, 1864-65

Engaged Lee continuously to wear down rebels– Wilderness campaign (May - June 1864) was

bloodbath Settled down to siege of Petersburg (June 1864 -

April 1865) in response to public outrage over casualties

Richmond fell April 2, 1865 Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox

Courthouse, April 9, 1865 Breckenridge & Johnston surrendered to

Sherman April 18 at Durham Station, N.C.

Map: The East, 1864-65

Lee Surrenders to Grant April 9, 1865

The Assassination

Lincoln assassinated April 14, 1865 (Good Friday)– Told Cabinet that morning about dream of being in a

“singular, indescribable vessel . . . moving with great rapidity toward a dark and indefinite shore.”

– Shot that night by actor John Wilkes Booth while watching play at Ford’s Theater with his wife

Part of larger conspiracy to assassinate top echelon of federal government– Secretary of State Seward severely wounded– Vice President Andrew Johnson spared because

would-be killer got drunk instead

The Conspirators

John Wilkes Booth Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt,Mary Surratt & David Herold

The Ford Theater