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Explore the causes and divisions that led to the outbreak of the American Civil War, including slavery, sectional differences, and economic disparities.
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THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865
Causes There were many causes for the outbreak of the Civil War. Many people agree slavery was the main cause for the war. In addition, sectional differences led to conflicts. Northern and Southern states were developing different lifestyles and cultures. Differences in the economic life of the North and the South also contributed to the conflict. The North’s economy focused on finance and manufacturing, and the South specialized in crops and agricultural trade. Southern states also began to question the extent of the federal government’s power.
The Leaders Jefferson Davis was President of the Confederate States of America. During the Mexican War, he had been an officer in the United States Army. Davis also had served as the United States Secretary of War. When the South surrendered, he was charged with treason and prohibited from running for public office again. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States. He opposed the expansion of slavery. A Republican, Lincoln led the Union during the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865.
A Divided NationComparing Northern and Southern Societies The North’s population was three times that of the South. Most other countries recognized the Union as the government in America. However, Britain and France had friendly relations with the Confederacy and considered aiding the South. The North also was more affluent. The South had about nine million people, including about three million slaves. The average Southerner was not as wealthy as the average person living in the North. About 90 percent of American industry and railroads were in the North. Reliance on slave labor discouraged the creation of new jobs in the South. This discouraged immigration, and most immigrants settled in the North.
NORTH 22,000,000 population Industrial economy 109 manufacturing plants 22,000 miles of railroad 90% of industrial power SOUTH 9,000,000 includes 3.5 M slaves Agricultural economy Exports, not food. 31,000 manufacturing plants 9,000 miles of railroad mostly export crops (cotton, tobacco) so food was scarce Coordinated and balanced economy vs. distorted, agriculture-based economy
Advantages of the Union (North)? - population - 22 million - 90% of industrial goods, esp. munitions - efficient railroad system - controlled the navy, which could be used to blockade southern ports and shut down the South’s economy. - but would have to fight an offensive war (long supply lines, unfamiliar territory...) - capable military leaders, e.g. Ulysses S. Grant
Union Strategy • Aggressive offensive to crush the rebellion. • Attrition • Gen Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan • Links economics and combat • Blockade and seizure of ports • Implemented piecemeal and half-heartedly • Take Richmond • Thought to be CSA center of gravity. • Ironworks • Urgency (3 month enlistments) • Don’t allow Confederacy to rest. • Napoleonic tactics.
Confederate (Rebel) advantages (South) and disadvantages • Confederates had excellent generals too -Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jackson • Defending is always easier than attacking - (familiar w/climate and territory, possible psychological advantages) • Farmers fight better than factory workers • Profitable economy based on cotton exports • But disadvantages…a smaller pop. of 9 million (inc. 3.5 million slaves) • had to import industrial goods; very little munitions production
Confederate Strategy • Defend and delay until Union gives up. • Need support/intervention from Europe. • Emancipation Proclamation made foreign support politically unviable. • Used as a strategic “weapon” by Union? • Threaten Washington, and keep the war distanced from Richmond. • Sought decisive battle that would convince the Union it wasn’t worth it (Gettysburg?). • Lee favored tactical defense. • Dug in regiment can tie down a division, allowing the remainder of forces to maneuver and attack.
GREAT BRITAIN… • The S. was looking for an add. adv., namely an alliance w/ GB (since GB industry was dependent on "King Cotton")...but GB was wary of events and did not want to become involved: • GB had stockpiled cotton as the conflict was escalating; they had also found other sources (Madras, India) • most Br. workers who lost their jobs in cotton factories had been able to find work in the new munitions factories that were mostly supplying the N. • most Br. citizens resented slavery • Br. crop failures had led to increased grain trade w/ the N.
Tensions b/n the N. and GB: A Br. ship. the Trent, was intercepted by the N. on its way to GB from the S.; it was carrying S. "ambassadors"...the N. resented Br. interference, leading some to call for war; Lincoln simply defused the situation by releasing the ship and the southern "agents" GB had also sold several ships to the S., namely theFlorida and the Alabama - they had sunk many n. ships
A few southerners had managed to get into Canada, from which they launched several raids into the N.; including a number of bank robberies in Vermont (the best known was the St. Alban's Raid)...some Northerners wanted to invade Canada as punishment • this forced Canadians to begin to consider a Confederation to protect themselves against the US...by 1867, GB agreed w/ the Canadian "Fathers of Confederation" (Canada had become an expensive hassle for the Br…)
Emancipation Proclamation It freed the slaves only in states that have seceded from the Union. It did not free slaves in border states.
South Carolina Fort SumterApril 12, 1861 The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Major Robert Anderson of the United States Army had moved his troops to the base because he feared a Confederate attack. In the early morning of April 12, 1861, the Confederates launched an attack. Northern troops under Anderson’s command returned fire, but were ineffective. The Confederacy continued its attack with prolonged gunfire, and the Union troops in the fort surrendered a day later. One Confederate soldier and four Union soldiers were killed in the battle.
Virginia First Bull Run/ManassasJuly 21, 1861 The First Battle of Bull Run took place on July 21, 1861. General Irvin McDowell led the Union army toward Richmond, Virginia. General P.G.T. Beauregard’s Confederate troops intercepted them. The battle lasted about five hours. Confederate forces began to retreat due to losses, except General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson who continued to fight until reinforcements arrived. The reenergized Confederates pushed McDowell’s forces out of the area. Union casualties were high, almost three thousand; and the Confederates suffered two thousand casualties.
Tennessee ShilohApril 6-7, 1862 The Battle of Shiloh raged from April 6 until April 7, 1862. Union troops had found Confederate General Albert Johnston’s forces near Corinth Road, but they were not prepared for an attack. The Southern troops forced them to retreat toward the river. Although the Confederate soldiers had gained ground, they suffered many losses. On the second day the Union army claimed ground in the early morning, throwing off Beauregard’s troops. The Confederacy, however, had an exceptional defense and stopped the Union soldiers before the Confederates retreated.
The War at Sea The Battle of the Ironclads also is known as the Battle of Hampton Roads and the Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack. This battle was fought off Sewell’s Point near Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was the first naval battle between two ironclad ships, the Union’s USS Monitor and the Confederacy’s CSS Virginia, which was rebuilt from the USS Merrimack. The battle took place over two days, and the Virginia destroyed many of the Union’s wooden ships. The next day, the two ironclads clashed at sea, and the Virginia was damaged. Neither side claimed victory in this battle, but the battle revealed the future of naval warfare. Ironclad, steam-driven ships were at a decisive advantage against wooden sailing vessels.
Maryland AntietamSeptember 17, 1862 The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was fought on September 16–18, 1862. It was a confrontation between Union and Confederate forces under Generals George McClellan and Robert E. Lee. Federal armies brutalized the Confederacy; the combined casualties were more than twenty-three thousand. The Union pushed Lee and his troops back to Antietam Creek, but the stubborn Confederate general counterattacked with all his troops. The two sides fought to a standstill, and both armies withdrew.
Virginia FredericksburgDecember 13, 1862 Fredericksburg was the site of a battle in December 1862. Union General Ambrose Burnside led a march on Richmond, but was delayed for more than two weeks because of late-arriving supplies. General Lee positioned his army, deploying snipers to pick off Federal troops. Confederate artillery decimated Union forces in their attempts to capture Marye’s Heights. Many Union soldiers were left in the open after crossing military pontoon bridges, and they became easy prey for Confederate troops. Burnside had no choice but to retreat with the remnants of his army.
Mississippi VicksburgMay 2-July 9, 1863 The lengthy Battle of Vicksburg began in Warren County on May 13, 1863. The North and the South considered Vicksburg an important stronghold. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched massive assaults on Vicksburg and terrorized the inhabitants. Confederates achieved a minimal victory at Milliken’s Bend against untrained black troops. Federal troops pushed Confederate forces back as the size of the Union forces continued to increase. Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 3, 1863.
Gettysburg – turning point Lee realized that the South was in dire straits and decided that it was crucial to attack the North on its own territory July 1-3, 1863 - BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, Pa. Confed. bombardment; Union held firm on July 3, General Pickett led 15,000 Confed. Troops across open fields - Union mowed them down (= "Pickett’s Charge") Lee was defeated and retreated to Virgnia Gettysburg is the largest battle in the history of the Western hemisphere. Over 100, 000 people died in 3 days It was the last time the South invaded the North.
Gettysburg Address • that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abe Lincoln
Virginia WildernessMay 5-7, 1864 Union General Grant continued his march to Richmond, Virginia, planning to use three armies to lay siege to the city. He wanted to cut Lee’s food and artillery supply lines and to block a Southern retreat. Grant’s troops encountered Confederate General Richard Ewell’s soldiers. The Union forces outnumbered the Confederate. Because of gunfire and the Wilderness’ dry land, forest fires were sparked. Confederates achieved some success and inflicted Union casualties. Grant refused to retreat and continued his march to Richmond.
Virginia Cold HarborMay 31-June 12, 1864 The Battle of Cold Harbor lasted from May 31 to June 12, 1864, in Hanover County, Virginia. Union General Philip Sheridan led a successful attack against Confederate troops, which lasted until the Confederacy called reinforcements to the area. Sheridan followed in similar fashion, enlisting the help of General Grant. As in the Battle of Wilderness, Grant battled on, launching his soldiers at the Confederacy. The Grant-led army suffered almost five thousand losses. Grant’s march to Richmond had been thrown off, so now he attempted to regain footing in Petersburg.
Sherman’s March to the SeaNovember 15-December 20, 1864 Union General William T. Sherman already had captured Atlanta, but he wanted to leave sixty thousand troops there while he marched the rest of his army to the Atlantic Ocean through Savannah, Georgia. During this time, Confederate General John Hood had led troops in a raid on Tennessee, leaving Sherman’s soldiers to face fewer than five thousand Confederate soldiers. Sherman’s troops burned buildings and infrastructures along the way, destroying many towns and cities. Sherman’s troops defeated the depleted Confederate army and took Savannah on December 22, 1864. As the Union army moved through the South, they destroyed train tracks by heating the rails and bending them into a bow. This became known as “Sherman’s Neckties”
Technology made Civil War . . . The Monitor
Blacks in the Military After the Emancipation Proclamation blacks began to join the Union Army Initially they were only used for manual labor Eventually, Blacks saw live combat 54th regiment out of Massachusetts William Carney
The South Surrenders • April 3, 1865 - Grant took Richmond Va. - final blow to Lee's army • Lee surrenders on April 9, 1865 at APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE • All Confed. troops forced to take an oath of loyalty to U.S. • otherwise, terms of surrender were lenient • Lincoln didn't want a humiliated South and further conflict • issue of states' rights now "solved"- fed. gov't had asserted its status
After four bloody years of civil war, the South was defeated.
Impact on Future Conflicts • Expanding battlefield due to new technology. • Defense is favored. • fortification. • Beginnings of trend toward dispersal and increased “individual” combat. • Shift to Total War • Whole government had to be removed for success. • Civil and military “targets”. • Sherman’s March to the Sea. • Emancipation Proclamation.
POLITICAL / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS w/o Southerners in fed. gov't, many changes occurred that benefited the North: 1) Homestead Act passed by Congress in 1862 - encouraged W. expansion w/o slavery - 165 acres given to anyone who would farm it 5 yrs. 2) Union-Pacific Railway was authorized - great trade potential, focused on the Northern States. 3) Tariffs were put in place to protect Northern industry
4) Congress established a single federal currency - same value in all states - known as "Greenbacks" • 5) to cover war debts, Union gov't issued war bonds and intro'dincome tax • 6) in a further illustration of fed. gov't power, Lincoln's gov't restricted civil liberties so nothing would detract from Union war effort (suspended Habeas Corpus) - free press/ speech also interrupted • 7) 1864 Election - only in Union - pitted Republican Lincoln against Democrat General McClellan Lincoln won easily, assuring that war will continue (N. Democrats wanted an end)
EFFECTS OF CIVIL WAR creation of a single unified country abolition of slavery increased power to fed. government – killed the issue of states rights U.S. now an industrial nation a stronger sense of nationalism w. lands increasingly opened to settlement South was economically and physically devastated, w/ the plantation system crippled...thus Reconstruction(rebuilding the U.S.) - but a deep hatred of the North remained...
