The American Civil War

The American Civil War

Acquisition of Federal Forts… Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter Map

Lincoln’s Plan Can’t abandon the fort Lincoln showed political and tactical brilliance Lincoln maneuvered the situation so that if fighting ensued, the Confederates would have to fire the first shot.

Confederate Reaction Push to surrender On April 12 at 4:30am, Confederate leader PT Beauregard opened fire

Southern Secession • The remaining Southern states seceded shortly after this • Virginia – April 1861 • Arkansas & North Carolina – May 1861 • Tennessee – June 1861 Stars and Bars: First Flag of the Confederacy

Southern Reaction to War Choosing Sides Volunteers Southern War-Time Production Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond, Va

Lincoln’s Reaction to Ft. Sumter Called for 75,000 troops *** Anaconda Plan - naval blockade Made efforts to secure the border states Suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus *** Mobilized the army His goal is to preserve the Union *** considered unconstitutional by some

Constitutionality – How did Lincoln pull this off? • Both increasing the size of the army (Article I, Sec 8, Pgh 14-15) and suspension of Habeas Corpus (Article I, Sec 9, Pgh 2) are powers granted to Congress, not the President • Congress would not return to session until July • Lincoln cited gravity of situation • He had to make a call • When Congress returned they supported Lincoln

Military Action – Summer 1861 Newspapers called for an attack Lincoln put some heat on his commanding general

Bull Run I – July 61 Picnic at the battlefield The Union had early success Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson Reinforcements Rebel Yell The Great Skedaddle 5,000 casualties

Limited War

McClellan Makes an Impact = • Aug 1861 – McClellan takes over and found the army in shambles • McClellan turning them into an organized army • Newspapers called him “Young Napoleon”. • Lincoln was pleased with his initial results • He would prove to be a timid and ineffective leader

West in Early 1862 Union Victory at Shiloh (Apr) – cuts Tenn in half 1st of the bloody battles – 23,000 casualties Grant just wins, baby! Admiral David Farragut captured New Orleans The Union was on the move in the West They had captured the Northern and Southern portions of the Mississippi River, but the South still controlled a stronghold at Vicksburg

Road to Emancipation Several considerations were involved in the emancipation decision Lincoln was convinced emancipation was … legitimate war power military necessity for preservation of Union Difficult for European nations to recognize the Confederacy He felt the border states would remain in the Union Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation on July 13, 1862. After considering that McClellan was making no progress in Virginia and the armies in the west were encountering issues in Mississippi…. William Seward suggested that they wait for a Union victory

Antietam – Sept 1862 Lee advances into Union territory - Maryland Bloodiest day in American history Oct 1862 photographer Mathew Brady opened an exhibit in NYC called “The Dead of Antietam” Homefront got to see what war was like Lee retreated, but both sides suffered McClellan did not pursue Lincoln ordered him to pursue, McClellan did not Lincoln relieved McClellan of command

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Antietam was a Union victory Announced the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22 Any slave in a state still in rebellion would be free effective January 1, 1863

Reactions to the Emancipation Proclamation Abolitionists and freemen - did not go far enough Southern Unionists - betrayed Republicans - pleased Democrats - a war to free the slaves now, a perversion of the true war effort South - outraged Neither France nor England were interested in opposing the Union now

Gettysburg, Pa – July 1863 • Day 1 – Union holds the high ground • Day 2 – Lee fails to dislodge Union – Round Tops • Day 3 – Pickett’s Charge • 51,000 men were lost • 23,000 Union • 28,000 Confederate • Lee retreated the next day and would never go north again • Meade did not pursue

Vicksburg • Every day since late May, Grant pounded the city with artillery as did Adm. David Porter on his gunboats on the Mississippi • Civilians dug caves into the hillside • People ate dogs and horses • On July 4, after 48 days under siege, the Confederates surrendered the city • 31,000 rebels were captured • Mississippi was in the Union’s control • Texas and Arkansas were cut off from the Confederacy • Gettysburg and Vicksburg were decided within a day of eachother. • Turning Point Battles

First Federal Draft • In July 1863, Lincoln issued the first federal draft • 20-45 yr olds • Lincoln claimed it was within Congresses power to institute a draft • Some judges allowed drafted men to avoid service, but Lincoln threatened to arrest any judge that interfered with the draft • How to avoid getting drafted • Pay $300 or • Find a sub • It was a rich man’s bill. • In the end, 164,000 men were drafted – less than 10% of the army

Grant Takes Over in 1864 • Total War is engaged • Grant forces Lee toward Richmond • Grant takes tremendous losses • Petersburg • Sherman • Held at Atlanta until Sept 1864

Election of 1864 • Abe Lincoln is reelected by almost all states crushing McClellan and confirming that the Union is behind the idea of victory. • Sherman’s and Sheridan’s victories changed the odds. • Lincoln won 55% of the popular vote. • Electoral college - 212-21 • He carried all but 3 states, Del, NJ, Ky. • Virtually all of the Army of the Potomac (McClellan’s old command) voted for Lincoln • This election was the last, best hope for the South

Death Blows • Sherman’s March to the Sea – late 64 – early 65 • Siege at Petersburg broken – Grant hunts Lee down • Appomattox – Apr 65 • Lincoln shot a week later • John Wilkes Booth

The American Civil War