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The Civil War Era

The Civil War Era. Unit Overview (1844-1877). Big Picture.

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The Civil War Era

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  1. The Civil War Era Unit Overview (1844-1877)

  2. Big Picture • The Civil War was the most devastating war in American history. Lincoln’s call for 75,000 men in April of 1861 to end the menace of secession with a brief, limited military campaign proved to be nowhere near enough. As the fighting of the Civil War commenced, the war to preserve the union would prove to be neither brief nor limited. Though Lincoln began the war with no designs to “save or destroy slavery,” the conflict would ultimately morph into a war of emancipation.

  3. Bull Run • Public clamors for action • Wants to end the “Ninety-Day War” • Lincoln plans to attack smaller Confederate Army • Manassas Junction (30 miles D.C.) • “Demonstration” of Union’s strength • Battle of Bull Run (21 July 1861) • South wins—unexpected reinforcements • Union retreats • Outcomes • Southern overconfidence inflated • Northern realizations • Buckle down

  4. McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign • George “Young Napoleon" McClellan • Perfectionist • Cautious • Arrogant • “On to Richmond!” • 100,000 men approach by water • Yorktown • Richmond in his sights • Lincoln uses McClellan’s reinforcements • D.C. and Stonewall Jackson • Seven Days’ Battles (June 26—July 2) • Lee’s counterattack • Bloody, but successful • McClellan retreats—removed

  5. Union Strategy Changes Shift toward total war: • Slowly suffocate the South by blockade • Liberate the slaves to undermine economic foundations • Control the Mississippi River—cut the South in two • Chop Confederacy to pieces—occupying armies • Decapitate the South—capture Richmond • Engage enemy’s main strength to grind it into submission The South…“cannot experiment for ten years trying to destroy the government and if they fail still come back into the union unhurt.” ~Abe Lincoln

  6. The War at Sea • The Anaconda Plan • 3,500 miles of coast • Difficult to enforce • U.S. Navy • Included converted yachts and ferryboats • Recognized by the British • Warned British shippers • Implications on future wars • Blockade running • Profitable (700%) • Union Navy: “ultimate destination” justification • Ironclads: Virginia (scuttled) • Submarine: Hunley

  7. Antietam • Confederate Army in MD • Lee’s success at Second Bull Run • Encourage foreign intervention • Seduce MD to rally to rebellion • McClellan vs. Lee at Sharpsburg • 17 September 1862 • Bloodiest day of the war • McClellan knows Lee’s plans • Fight to a draw—Lee retreats • McClellan does not pursue—removed from command • Outcomes • Closest Confederacy would come to victory • Hopes of foreign intervention dashed • Emancipation Proclamation

  8. The Emancipation Proclamation • Issued 01 January 1863 • “an act of justice” • Emancipated slaves in areas of open rebellion • Did not emancipate slaves in Border States and Union secured pockets of the South (800,000) • Stronger on proclamation than emancipation • Encouraged more slaves to make for Union lines (1/7) • Controversial • Changes nature of war • Blacks allowed to enlist in army • Democrats gain seats in 1862 (NY, PA, OH, &IL) • Foreign affairs • Popular support among working class Europeans

  9. Blacks Battle Bondage • Black soldiers • Stats: • 180,000 serve (mostly from the South) (10% total enlistment) • Emancipation, manhood, and citizenship • Fight in 500 engagements • 22 medals of honor • High casualties (38,000) • Confederate execution (Fort Pillow Massacre) • Slaves • Southern labor battalions • “Stomach of the Confederacy” • Loyalty? • “Home Guards” • “Intelligent Contraband”

  10. On to Gettysburg • Crisis in military leadership • Ambrose E. Burnside • Replaces McClellan in protest • Attacks Lee at Fredericksburg, VA (12/13/62) • Burnside’s men are slaughtered • “Fighting Joe” Hooker • Replaces Burnside • Flanked by Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson at Chancellorsville, VA (05/2-4/63) • Jackson killed by friendly fire  • Lee uses momentum to stage invasion of North • On to Gettysburg, PA • George G. Meade • Replaces Hooker

  11. Gettysburg & the Speech that Followed • Gettysburg (07/1-3/1863) • Shoes! • Meade’s men • Defensive: a ridge atop a valley • 92,000 strong • Lee’s men • Take the offensive • 76,000 strong • Three days of seesawed combat • Pickett’s Charge • “high tide of the Confederacy” • Last chance of rally • Gettysburg Address—“dishwatery”

  12. The War in the West • Ulysses S. Grant • Bold, resourceful, tenacious • Tennessee • Fort Henry and Fort Donelson (Feb. 1862) • Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers • Impact: secures KY and opens TN • Shiloh (Apr. 6-7, 1862) • Grant moves to capture Corinth, MS • Confederate wins at a high cost • The Mississippi River—dividing the South • New Orleans (Spring 1862) • Vicksburg (July 4, 1863) • Port Hudson (July 9, 1863)

  13. Sherman to the Sea • Grant to TN • Siege of Chattanooga (Nov. 1863) • Opens up GA • Grant named General in Chief • William Tecumseh Sherman • Total war • Atlanta (Sept. 1864) • March to the Sea • Destroy supply lines • Sink morale of Confederacy • Seizure of Savannah (Dec. 22, 1864) • North to the Carolinas • Burning of Colombia

  14. The Politics of War • Political infighting • Radical Republicans • Salmon P. Chase • Distrusted Lincoln’s ability • Doubted his commitment to abolition • Congressional Committee on the Conduct of War (1861) • Detested the Lincoln’s wartime powers • Northern Democrats • War Democrats: supported Lincoln • Peace Democrats • “Copperheads” • Attacked: Lincoln, conscription, and emancipation

  15. The Election of 1864 • The Union Party • Republicans and War Democrats unite • “Ditch Lincoln” movement—fails • Lincoln nominated • Andrew Johnson (TN) as VP candidate • Democrats • Peace and Copperheads • Nominate George McClellan • Election • Lincoln wins! • Union successes • The “bayonet” vote

  16. Grant Outlasts Lee • Grant vs. Lee • Grant: superior resources • takes offensive • multiple engagements • Lee: declining army • takes defensive positions • Peace negotiations? • Terms at Hampton Roads (Feb. 1865) • Lincoln: Union and emancipation • Confederacy: Independence • Failed • Richmond—captured! • Appomattox Courthouse—Lee surrenders (April 9, 1865)

  17. “Now he belongs to the ages.” • Lincoln’s Assassination • Ford’s Theatre (Apr. 14, 1865) • John Wilkes Booth • Conspiracy? • Rumors • Legacy? • “With malice toward none and charity for all.” • The North? • The South?

  18. The Aftermath • Casualties • 1,000,000 • Over 600,000 dead • Impacts: widows and potential fathers • Costs • $15,000,000,000 • Plus pensions and interest on debt • Intangibles* • National > State government question • Slavery question

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