The Civil War

1. The Civil War

2. Ft. Sumter • When Southern states seceded, they took over U.S. forts within their borders • The U.S. troops who were stationed at Ft. Sumter in Charleston, SC held on, but were running out of supplies • Lincoln told SC that he was sending supplies • The South attacked Ft. Sumter before the supplies got there, forcing the troops to surrender and starting the Civil War • Key Question: what was brilliant about Lincoln’s strategy?

3. After Fort Sumter • When the Union troops at Ft. Sumter surrendered, Lincoln asked each state that hadn’t yet seceded to send troops to put down the rebellion • Those Southern states who hadn’t yet seceded now did (VA, NC, TN, AR)

4. Virginia • When VA joined the Confederacy, two big things happened: • The confederacy moved their capital to Richmond • Robert E. Lee, who personally had mixed feelings about slavery and secession, decided to stick with his home state

5. Pair up with anyone in the room and list both sides’ advantages – use p204 (green), and/or 483-484 (red) Union (U.S.A./North) • Confederacy (C.S.A./South) (When you’ve finished the chart) Which side do you think has the stronger advantages, and WHY?

6. The Union’s Strategy • General Winfield Scott developed the Anaconda Plan, which had two parts • The Union would use their navy to blockade Southern ports so that the South could not trade with anybody (strangling the South’s economy like a snake) • The Union would gain control of the Mississippi River, which would split the Confederacy in two

7. Anaconda Plan (cont’d) • The main problem with this plan is that it would take time to work • To address this issue, the Union proceeded with the Anaconda Plan and invaded VA to try and capture the Rebel capital (Richmond)

8. The Confederate Strategy • The Confederacy didn’t want to conquer new territory; they simply wanted to be independent • If they could just keep on fighting, eventually the Union might give up • The South also stopped selling cotton to Europe to try to get European countries to ally with them

9. New Tech: Minie Ball • Most common weapon for either side was the rifled musket • Minie Ball

10. First Manassas/Bull Run (July 1861) • Union troops heading for Richmond met rebel troops at Manassas, VA • Confederate troops held their ground until reinforcements arrived, and then the rebels forced the Union to retreat

11. First Manassas/Bull Run (cont’d) • Thomas Jackson earned the nickname “Stonewall Jackson” in this battle • OUTCOME: This gave the South tremendous encouragement, and made the North realize that they had underestimated the South

12. New Technology: Ironclads • Warships covered in iron armor could devastate older ships • The Union could produce these new ships faster

13. Ulysses S. Grant in the West (Feb. 1862) • U.S. Grant was a very aggressive leader

14. Ulysses S. Grant in the West (cont’d) • Using ironclads, Grant captured the Confederate Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson, which guarded the Mississippi River system • OUTCOME: The Union could use ironclads to control the Cumberland River as far as Alabama

15. Battle of Shiloh (April 1862) • Grant clashed with A.S. Johnston at Shiloh, TN • At the end of the first day, both sides had lost many men and neither had won • A.S. Johnston was killed in battle • During the night, the Union had fresh troops brought in by boat

16. Battle of Shiloh (cont’d) • With the reinforcements, Grant led an attack at dawn and forced the South to retreat • OUTCOME: • The two sides lost a total of 24,000 men • U.S. Grant became Abe Lincoln’s most trusted general – “I can’t spare this man – he fights.” • The Union pushed further into the South

17. The Fall of New Orleans (April 1862) • A Union fleet led by David Farragut sailed into New Orleans and captured it OUTCOME: • The Union now controlled the South’s largest city • The Union now controlled all but 125 miles of the Mississippi River

18. Robert E. Lee in the East (1862) Jeb Stuart • George McClellan brought Union troops within miles of Richmond • Lee sent Jeb Stuart to spy on the Union troops and then attacked

19. Lee in the East (cont’d) George McClellan • The battle took a week and was known as the Seven Day’s Battles • The Union again was stopped short of Richmond • Later, the Confederates beat McClellan & the Union at Manassas/Bull Run a second time

20. Lee in the East (cont’d) • OUTCOMES: • The Union was pushed out of VA and could not attack Richmond • Lincoln distrusts McClellan • The South gained confidence and thinks that if they can win a battle in the North, they would win the war

21. Right now, who is winning? • Take a moment to think about it • Decide and have an answer ready – you may be called on!

22. Lee Goes On The Offensive (Sept. 1862) • After driving the Union out of VA, Lee thought that if he could win one major victory on Union soil, Abe Lincoln would call for peace • Also, bringing the war to the North would give Southern land a break for harvest season • A major rebel victory might convince France and England to ally with the South

23. Antietam (Sept. 1862) • A Rebel officer mistakenly left a copy of Lee’s battle plan at a campsite in Maryland • A Union soldier found the plans and gave them to McClellan • Even though the Union knew the rebel plans, nobody gained any ground in the battle

24. Antietam (cont’d) • Basically, there were 25,000 casualties (both sides) and nobody gained anything • This was the bloodiest day in American history • Lee, who lost over 1/3 of his troops, retreated • McClellan could have pursued and finished off the rebel army, ending the war

25. Antietam (cont’d) OUTCOMES: • Both sides lost a ton of soldiers • The South lived to fight another day • Lincoln fired McClellan • Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation

26. The Emancipation Proclamation • P490-491 in your Green book • What are impacts of the Emancipation Proclamation?

27. The Emancipation Proclamation • Was a chance for the South to end the was and keep their slaves – but they didn’t take it • This freed all slaves in Confederate territory • Very few slaves actually got freedom instantly, but as the war went on, more and more slaves escaped the South and became free • Many ex-slaves joined the Union army • It also makes the war largely about slavery

28. New Technology: Repeating Rifles • Christopher Spencer invented his repeating rifle in 1860 • The North was able to buy these weapons from factories • The South could only use rifles that they captured, but only until they ran out of captured ammo • This gave the Union a considerable advantage

29. Gettysburg (July 1863) • Lee learned of a supply of _______ in Gettysburg, PA, and he decided to capture the town • The rebels captured the town, and Union troops set up on a hilly area outside of town • 90,000 Union troops fought 75,000 Confederate troops in the hills for 3 days

30. Gettysburg (cont’d) • Neither side made much progress until Lee ordered General Pickett to directly attack the middle of the Union line • The Union decimated Pickett’s charge • The South retreated, and the Union again failed to finish them off

31. Gettysburg (cont’d) • OUTCOMES: • Lee, losing 1/3 of his army, retreated to VA and never entered the North again • Lincoln makes the Gettysburg Address, inspiring the United States as to what they were fighting for

32. The Gettysburg Address • Turn to p524 in the Red Book • You can do this right in your notes • What does Lincoln say that the nation is founded in and dedicated to? • Many have died – on both sides – as a result of this war. Does that make Lincoln want to give up? Explain.

33. Vicksburg (1863) • Vicksburg was the last rebel fort on the Mississippi River • Grant had tried to attack it numerous times but failed, and eventually decided to siege the city • Siege • After 1 ½ months, and on the day after the Union victory at Gettysburg, the Southern troops at Vicksburg surrendered

34. Vicksburg (cont’d) • OUTCOMES: • The Union now controlled the entire Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two • With two major victories in two days, the Union morale – the mental and emotional condition of a group – greatly increased • No European country thought the South would win • Abe Lincoln promotes Grant to be commander of the entire U.S. Army

35. The Trials of William T. Sherman & Robert E. Lee • Tomorrow we are going to put William T. Sherman on trial: is he guilty of being a war criminal? • War crime – doing something that is unusually cruel or unfair, even for war • You’ll be placed on the prosecution or defense team • Find evidence that you could use for him being guilty or innocent • Tomorrow we are going to put Robert E. Lee on trial: is he guilty of treason against the United States? • Treason – the crime of betraying your country • You’ll be placed on the prosecution or defense team • Find evidence that you could use for him being guilty or innocent

36. Trial Procedures • Planning • 10 minutes to organize your evidence • Prosecution states case (5 min or less) • Defense states case (5 min or less) • Prosecution gets to respond to defense (2 min or less) • Defense gets to respond (2 min or less) • Jury votes

37. Sherman’s March to the Sea (1864-1865) • Grant ordered William T. Sherman to attack the deep south • Sherman led Union troops through MS, AL, TN, GA, SC, & NC • Sherman had the soldiers destroy everything that supports the rebel troops • They destroyed crops, tore up railroads, and burned cities & towns (including Atlanta)

38. Sherman’s March (cont’d) • OUTCOMES: • Much of the South was left in ruins • The South’s morale reached a new low – many Southerners just wanted the war to end • Lincoln won reelection

39. Sherman’s March – Think, Pair, Share • Sherman’s March to the Sea practiced what we now call “Total War.” Was Sherman a villain or hero? Think about: • It brought the enemy to its knees more quickly, probably ending the war much quicker • It probably saved thousands of soldier’s lives • It severely hurt the relationship between the North and the South • It left incredible damage in the South, causing much poverty and hunger • It hurt civilians just as much, if not more, than Southern soldiers and politicians

40. Grant in Virginia (1864-1865) • Grant chased Lee through VA, fighting then resting, fighting then resting, always getting closer to Richmond • The South killed far more Union troops, but Grant kept pushing • Grant sieged Richmond for 10 months, and finally, Lee retreated leaving Richmond undefended

41. Surrender at Appomattox (1865) • Lee sent word to Grant that he was ready to surrender, which he did at Appomattox Court House in VA • Union troops saluted Confederate troops as they arrived • Grant allowed them to keep all possessions but weapons and Grant also gave them food

42. [Some of] The Costs of War • Look at the charts on p521 & 523 (red book) • Create a one-sided Cause & effect map showing effects of the Civil War • There are not necessarily 5 effects; this is just an example! Civil War Effects