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The B eginning of the Civil War

The B eginning of the Civil War. What you need to know. Fort Sumter West Virginia Anaconda Plan Bull Run Shiloh Monitor & Merrimack Antietam. Confederate States of America. Formed Feb 1861 Originally 7 states in deep south CSA states claimed US property within state borders

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The B eginning of the Civil War

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  1. The Beginning of the Civil War

  2. What you need to know • Fort Sumter • West Virginia • Anaconda Plan • Bull Run • Shiloh • Monitor & Merrimack • Antietam

  3. Confederate States of America • Formed Feb 1861 • Originally 7 states in deep south • CSA states claimed US property within state borders • Post offices, courthouses, forts

  4. Fort Sumter • In harbor of Charleston, SC • 1 of only 2 forts in deep south not taken over by Confederacy • SC demanded that US Army surrender fort or be attacked

  5. Lincoln’s dilemma • If fort is reinforced & defended, US appears to start the war • Probably alienate other southern states into joining CSA • If fort is left without reinforcements or is surrendered, US admits legitimacy of CSA’s claims

  6. Attack on Fort Sumter • Lincoln decided not to reinforce fort, but not to leave it either • April 12, 1861 • CSA fired on Fort Sumter from smaller forts surrounding it • Fort Sumter surrendered, no one died

  7. Lincoln’s response • Called for 75,000 volunteer troops, marched them to SC • Virginia wouldn’t fight against another southern state • Seceded April 17, 1861

  8. West Virginia • Virginia was south’s largest state • Richest, most industrial • Western counties of VA voted against secession • They asked US to allow them to form their own state • Became new state in 1863

  9. Expectations about war • Both Union and Confederacy expected a short, glorious war • They were wrong

  10. War inventions/technology • Ironclad ships • Resistant to cannons and fire • Monitor (US) & Merrimack (CS)in famous battle, ended basically in a tie

  11. War inventions/technology • Rifle • More accurate than muskets • Loaded quickly, easily, safely • Minie ball – soft lead bullet • More destructive • Hand grenades & landmines

  12. Union’s advantages • More resources • More money • More factories (so more supplies) • Better railroads • More food • Larger population • Lincoln’s smart leadership

  13. Confederacy’s advantages • Worldwide demand for cotton was always high • Other countries might help • Troops were better trained • Excellent generals • Motivation – most battles on southern land – fight for home

  14. Union’s Anaconda Plan • Devised by Winfield Scott • Suffocate & kill south like an anaconda kills its prey • Blockade southern ports • Use Mississippi R – split CSA in ½ • Take CSA capital – Richmond, VA

  15. South’s strategy • Mostly defensive – make north give up fighting • Generals willing to attack north for distraction

  16. Names of Civil War battles • Battles often known by 2 names • US names are of nearby natural features • Rivers, mountains, etc. • CSA names for same battles based on nearby civilization • Town names, churches, taverns

  17. Battle of Bull Run/Manassas • 1st major battle – July 21, 1861 • US army was marching to attack Richmond, VA (Capital of CSA) • Encountered CSA army, attacked • Both armies very inexperienced

  18. Battle of Bull Run/Manassas • Seesaw battle, CSA won • US retreated, CSA should have pursued • Might have ended the war right then • CSA Gen Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was the hero of the battle

  19. War in the West • US Gen Ulysses S Grant commanded troops in west • Was attempting to take control of the Mississippi River

  20. Battle of Shiloh • Grant had troops camped out near Shiloh church in TN • CSA ambushed them, US counterattacked next day • Battle ended as basically a tie

  21. Lessons of Shiloh • Armies must have spies & defenses to survive • War isn’t easy or clean – about 25,000 casualties at Shiloh

  22. Antietam/Sharpsburg • September 1862 • US Gen George McClellan retreated north • Lee followed north but he was headed to Washington DC • One of Lee’s men lost the battle plans – US soldiers found them • McClellan intercepted Lee near Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, MD

  23. Antietam/Sharpsburg • The worst single day in US military history – 23,000 dead • Lee retreated back to VA • McClellan could have wiped out Lee’s army if he pursued • He didn’t, he wasfired by Lincoln

  24. What you need to know • Fort Sumter • West Virginia • Anaconda Plan • Bull Run • Shiloh • Monitor & Merrimack • Antietam

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