The Civil War

The Struggle Unfolds

The Conflict Begins

• The Confederacy would see forts as a threat from a foreign power. Lincoln is forced to decide what to do: allow the Confederates to take federal property seemingly giving approval of right to secede.

The Conflict Begins

• If he sends troops in he could lose the support of the 8 slave states that had not seceded and perhaps, start a civil war.

Bombardment of Fort Sumter

• On April 11, 1861, the Confederates as for the surrender of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. After two days of shelling, Major Robert Anderson will surrender the fort and act as the official start to the Civil War.

Strengths & Weaknesses - South• They were

fighting a war of independence like the Revolution.

• They were defending their homeland and way of life.

Strengths & Weaknesses - South

• Skills such as riding horses and using guns from early age.

• Wealthy Southerners went to military academies, many of the best leaders were in the south.

Strengths & Weaknesses - South• Few factories to

produce weapons.• Few railroads to

transport troops and supplies.

• Strength of government with the states not central government

• Small population.

Strengths & Weaknesses - North

• 4 times the free population leads to large volunteer base.

• Industry and railroads for the production and transport of supplies.

• Strong Navy and large fleet of trading ships.

Strengths & Weaknesses - North• They would have

to invade the south.

• Supply lines would be much longer than south’s.

• Conquer a huge area.

Wartime Leaders-Davis

• Attended West Point & was officer in Mexican War.

• Served as Secretary of War, respected for honesty and courage.

• Did not like to delegate military planning to others, argued with advisers.

Wartime Leaders-Lincoln

• Although he had little experience in national politics or military matters, in time was patient and strong leader and fine war planner.

• He accepted criticism well and had a fine sense of humor.

• He was honest, hardworking and a spirited competitor.

Wartime Leaders-Military

• The South had the lions share of good military leaders, including Robert E. Lee.

• The North had several leaders, but U.S. Grant would emerge as the Union leader.

Strategies for Victory

• Union Plans

1. Blockade the South.

2. Seize Richmond3. Seize control of

the Mississippi

Strategies for Victory

• Confederate plans

1. Fight a defensive war

2. Count on European money and supplies

Battle of Bull Run

• The Battle of Bull Run took place along a small stream in Virginia. Many onlookers came and picnicked watching what they assumed to be a sure Union victory, running off the rebels.

Battle of Bull Run

• However, They were shocked to see the Confederates stand tall under the command of General Thomas Jackson. An officer said that he stood his ground “like a stone wall”.

The Wind is Knocked Out

• General George McClellan the Union’s commander in the east is very cautious after the defeat and even causes President Lincoln to lose his patience.

Be vewy, vewy cautious

• “If McClellan is not using the army, I should like to borrow it.” McClellan finally goes towards Richmond, but is out flanked by General Lee.

The Ironclads

• Both North and South had ironclad ships. The Monitor maneuvered easily for the North and the Merrimack had more firepower. In the end neither ship seriously damaged the other and they withdrew.

Antietam

• General Lee finally decides to march north and McClellan is slow to respond. In one day 23,000 men were killed or wounded and Lee slips back towards Virginia . For not pursuing the Confederates, McClellan is replaced.

Battle of Fredericksburg

• Under General Burnside, the Union once again marches towards Richmond. They are met at Fredericksburg and blown away by the Confederate army.

Battle of Chancellorsville

• After 3 days of battle the Confederates are victorious at Chancellorsville, however nervous sentries fire at what they believe to be union soldiers, only to find they have shot Stonewall Jackson.

Battle of Shiloh

• General Grant was to secure the Mississippi River for the Union and had already taken Ft. Henry and Ft. Donellson in Tennessee.

Battle of Shiloh

• Surprised by Confederate forces at Shiloh, a tough and stubborn Grant attacked anyway. The number of men killed was more than all of the previous wars put together. Still, the Union won!

The Emancipation Proclamation

• By the middle of 1862, Lincoln was convinced the only way to save the Union was to broaden its goals and free the slaves.

Emancipation Proclamation• Waiting for a victory,

Lincoln announces the Emancipation Proclamation 5 days after Antietam. He also did not want to stir northern slave owners and only freed slaves of the south(states in rebellion with the United States). I’m not kidding, you can look it up!

The Impact

• Although no slaves gained freedom since the South no longer belonged to the union, it gained the approval of abolitionist and the sympathy of people in Europe. This erased the notion of European aid to the South.

African American Aid

• With the Proclamation came African American soldiers. The 54th Regiment out of Massachusetts led a heroic yet suicide attack on Ft. Wagner. Those that have seen Glory – this is it!

Problems abound

• In the North, soldiers were facing horrible death from war and disease. Discontent with the draft law and war was leading to riots. Taxes and inflation were crippling the northern economy and some manufacturers, or profiteers were making a mint form the government by overcharging of war supplies.

Problems abound

• In the South, states rights being so big, many states did not want to pay taxes to support the war. Soldiers became hard to find as the war rolled on. A worthless currency and lack of trade choked the southern economy.

Nursing the Wounded

• Many women went to help the war effort as nurses Clara Barton and Sojourner Truth worked for the Union and Sally Tompkins set up a hospital in Richmond.

Vicksburg

• By mid 1863, the Union had captured New Orleans and Memphis and just needed Vicksburg to control the whole Mississippi, so it was up to General Grant to seize this last post.

Victory at Vicksburg

• Grant decided to move inland and attack Jackson, MS and doubleback to Vicksburg. For over 6 weeks Grant blockaded the town. With supplies cut off, the South was forced to surrender Vicksburg.

Battle of Gettysburg

• General Lee would make one more venture into the north at Geetysburg. Lee’s army pushed the Union army out of the town at first, but Union troops would establish themselves along cemetery ridge.

Battle of Gettysburg

• For 3 days battle raged. On July 3, General George Pickett was given the order to charge the center of the Union line. As they charged, Union guns took fire.

Battle of Gettysburg

• The raid had no chance and thousands died. Lee would retreat south and never again invade the north. This bloody battle would be the turning point of the war.

Gettysburg Address

• At a dedication of the cemetery, President Lincoln, who was not the featured speaker, gave his address to the crowd with the message that the fallen shall not have fallen in vain and that this war was a test of whether a democratic nation could survive. It would be in later generations that the wisdom of these statements would be noticed.

Shenandoah

• To end the war, the Union decides to use total war. This would effect both soldiers and civilians as any food or equipment that could be used by the enemy is destroyed. This starts with General Sheridan destroying crops and livestock throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

Sherman’s March

• Next, General Sherman is sent on his famous march through Atlanta to the sea. Sherman burnt Atlanta and destroyed everything along his path to Savannah.

Appomattox Courthouse

• On April 9, 1865 General Lee surrendered to General Grant. The terms were generous as Soldiers had to turn over their rifles but could keep their horses. Officers were allowed to keep their pistols.

The War Ends

• As the Confederates surrendered, the Union soldiers began to cheer. Grant ordered them to stop saying, “the war is over, the rebels are our countrymen again”.

Lincoln Wins Reelection

• President Lincoln will win reelection in 1864. The North’s decision of total war and the victories it brought, increased the popular support for Lincoln, just enough to beat his old friend George McClellan.

Little Fanfare

• Lincoln would receive little fanfare for the end of the war and his reelection. On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth will shoot President Lincoln at Fords Theatre and the President will later die.

The Cost

• The North lost 360,000 soldiers and the South lost 250,000 soldiers in the Civil War. No war ever had resulted in so many American deaths. The Union was preserved and now must mend.

The End of the Civil War

What Will Come Next

The Road to Reconstruction

The End … For Now