THE CIVIL WAR

Chapter 11

THE OPPOSING SIDES

Ch 11 Sec 1

Objectives

Assess the strengths & weaknesses of each region’s economy.

Contrast the political situations of the Union & the Confederacy.

Choosing Sides

o Robert E. Lee was senior officer with the US Army.

o Virginia seceded he stayed true to his state.

o 1/3 of the Union’s military officers chose the Confederacy

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

UNION ADVANTAGES

-More than 2X railroad- larger population-More $ in banks-Functioning government- Strong navy

CONFEDERATE ADVANTAGES

-Better military leaders (7 out of 8 military colleges in the South)-Defensive war-did not have to win, just not lose-Better soldiers

Industry & Agriculture- North Made most of

the nations clothing

Most pig iron Most firearms

factories All gunpowder

Industry & Agriculture- South

One foundry that could produce iron (Tredegar Iron Works)

No facility for gunpowder

Produce all its own food, but couldn’t distribute it

Only one east/west rail line (Memphis to Chattanooga)

Discussion

What military advantages did the North and South have at the start of the war?

Financing the War North controlled national treasury, tariffs, & could easily

borrow $. Many people took gold & silver out of banks, so Congress

passes Legal Tender Act- created a national currency (paper $)“greenback”

Financing the War

Southern economy was bad, & got worse as the war continued

Southern planters were in debt & couldn’t buy bonds

Financing the War

South had to tax citizens- people refused to pay

South had to print paper $ to pay bills- caused inflation

Discussion

What financial advantages did the North have over the South?

NORTHERN POLITICS

Party Politics

Many Republicans were abolitionists Lincoln wanted to preserve Union, no

matter what

My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not to either save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save the Union by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. ~Abraham Lincoln

Party Politics

2 groups in Democrat Party- War Democrats-

supported the war & restore the Union and preserve slavery

Copperheads (Peace Democrats) opposed war, reunite peacefully.

Party Politics

Conscription- forcing people into military service (the draft)

Democrats opposed the draft, Republicans supported it

Party Politics

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus for anyone that openly criticized the war effort or supported the South

Discussion

Who did Lincoln suspend habeas corpus for?

DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES

Relations with Europe

USA did not want Europe to interfere or recognize the CSA

Wanted Europe to honor blockade

Relations with Europe

CSA wanted recognition Wanted British Navy to break blockade Europe (especially England) needed

Southern cotton Fr. & GB both promised to recognize CSA

and give aide IF they won a major battle

Discussion

At the outbreak of the war, what did Confederates want from Europeans?

FIRST MODERN WAR

Military Technology & Tactics Military firsts:

Submarine (Hunley) Machine gun (Gatling gun) Trench warfare (Petersburg)

Military Technology & Tactics Military leaders

organized soldiers into tight columns

Concentrate fire When troops

got close, they charged with bayonets

Military Technology & Tactics

New guns invented More accurate at

greater ranges Defensive tactics

changed Defenders got in

trenches or behind barricades

High casualties

Southern Strategy

War of Attrition- wear North down Didn’t have to win, just not lose

Union Strategy

Blockaded the South Send gunboats down Mississippi River to

divide South “Anaconda Plan”

Discussion

Why was the Confederate’s defensive war of attrition unsuccessful?