The Civil War 1861 – 1865

1. The Civil War1861–1865

2. Essential Questions • What social, political, and economic issues tended to divide Americans in the period prior to the Civil War? • Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln seem to exacerbate sectional tensions in the prewar period? • What impact did political and military leadership have on the conduct of the war? • How did the war affect minorities during the period (women, free blacks, slaves, immigrants)? • How did the Civil War “make” modern America?

3. Fundamental Causes of the War • Sectionalism and states’ rights • Slavery • Economic issues

4. The Dividing Union • Missouri Compromise (1820) • Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law • Kansas–Nebraska Act (1854) • Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Dred Scott Cartoon criticizing the Fugitive Slave Law

5. The Election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln Stephen A. Douglas John C. Breckin-ridge John Bell

6. Electoral Votes in 1860

7. Secession • South Carolina was first to secede • Several other states followed soon after • Virginia seceded after the Battle of Fort Sumter Seceding states appear in green

8. Discussion Questions • What were the three fundamental causes of the Civil War? Which do you think was the most important? Why? • How did the Dred Scott decision help bring the country closer to civil war? Do you think the decision made civil war inevitable? Why or why not? • While running for president, Abraham Lincoln said that he had no plans to abolish slavery. Why then did Southerners fear his election so much?

9. The Creation of the Confederacy • Delegates met in Montgomery, Alabama • Formed the Confederate States of America • Jefferson Davis elected president, with Alexander Stephens as vice president CSA President Jefferson Davis

10. Buchanan’s Inaction • Believed secession was illegal, but that acting to prevent it was also illegal • Decided to let the incoming administration handle the problem President James Buchanan

11. Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address • March 4, 1861 • Promised not to interfere with slavery where it already existed • Attempted to reconcile with the South A crowd listens to Lincoln’s speech at the Capitol building

12. Lincoln and Fort Sumter • Confederates demanded that the fort be surrendered • Lincoln received urgent message from Ft. Sumter’s commander • Lincoln faced with dilemma of resupplying Sumter • Decided to send only “food for hungry men” Fort Sumter

13. The War Begins • Bombardment began on April 12, 1861 • Anderson surrendered to Gen. Beauregard, a close friend and colleague Painting depicting the bombardment of Fort Sumter

14. The “Anaconda Plan” The Union’s strategy: • Naval blockade from Louisiana to Virginia • Control of the Mississippi River Confederate strategy primarily defensive Cartoon about the “Anaconda Plan”

15. Advantages & Disadvantages: The Union Advantages: • Industry and railroads • Larger population • Legitimate government • Strong political leadership Disadvantages: • Funding difficulties • Offensive war • Lack of skilled military leaders A Massachusetts factory

16. Advantages & Disadvantages: The Confederacy Advantages: • Defensive war on home turf • Common cause • Strong military tradition and outstanding leaders Disadvantages: • Weak economy • Smaller population • Ineffective central government and leadership Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

17. War Aims: North and South • The North: to preserve the Union • The South: safeguarding states’ rights, as well as protecting the South from “Northern aggression” Abraham Lincoln Horace Greeley

18. Discussion Questions • Pretend you are a member of Buchanan’s cabinet. How would you advise him to deal with the secession crisis in the period before the next president took office? • Do you think the “Anaconda Plan” was an effective strategy for subduing the Confederacy? If not, what strategy would you have recommended? • Which side’s goals for the war seem more reasonable to you? Why?

19. Recruiting Soldiers • Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for three months’ enlistment • Response was overwhelming • Union also encouraged enlistment with bounties New Yorkers line up to enlist

20. Ethnic Recruitment • Both sides appealed to ethnic pride in order to recruit • Many nationalities joined both sides • Irish Americans among the most common An enlistment poster aimed at Irish Americans

21. Bull Run • First major battle of Civil War • About 25 miles from Washington, D.C. • “Stonewall” Jackson became famous • Confederate victory Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson

22. The Trent Affair • Union forces seized two Confederate diplomats from aboard a British ship, the Trent • British contended the seizure was an act of war • Union eventually released the diplomats • Confidence built between the U.S. and British governments • Britain refused to support Confederacy The San Jacinto accosting the Trent

23. Shiloh • Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant • Confederate attack nearly wiped out Union forces on first day • Grant counterattacked the next day • Union victory A view of Shiloh after the battle

24. Ironclads • Confederates built the Merrimack from a sunken Union ship • Union quickly built the Monitor • Monitor and Merrimack fought to a draw in first battle between ironclads A painting of the battle

25. New Technologies in Warfare • Minie ball • Submarine • Heavy artillery • Aerial reconnaissance • Gatling gun • Trench warfare A Gatling gun

26. A New Union Commander • McClellan selected as commander after Bull Run • McClellan popular with troops • A thorough administrator • Overly cautious Gen. George B. McClellan

27. Lee Takes Command • General Joseph E. Johnston wounded • Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederate army • Lee proves an able commander Gen. Robert E. Lee

28. Antietam • Attempt by Lee to invade the North • Near Sharpsburg, Maryland • McClellan tipped off to Lee’s plans when a soldier found secret orders wrapped around cigars • Single bloodiest day in American history Artillery Hell, a painting of early morning hostilities at Antietam

29. Antietam: Battle Scenes Dead soldiers await burial after the morning fighting in the Miller cornfield

30. Antietam: Battle Scenes A view of the Burnside Bridge from the “Confederate side”

31. Antietam: Battle Scenes An Army field hospital

32. Antietam: Battle Scenes Confederate dead along the Hagerstown turnpike

33. Antietam: Aftermath • Lincoln met with McClellan after the battle • Lincoln fired him, complaining that he “had the slows” • McClellan replaced by series of commanders Lincoln meets with McClellan at Antietam

34. Alabama Claims • Confederates purchased commerce raiders from Britain • Alabama highly successful in disrupting Union shipping • U.S. government demands compensation from Britain • In 1872, an arbitration commission ordered Britain to pay $15.5 million Painting of the CSS Alabama fighting the USS Kearsage

35. Discussion Questions • Compare Lee and McClellan as commanders. Which do you feel was more effective? Why? • Why do you think McClellan refused to pursue Lee’s army into Virginia after the battle of Antietam? Do you think Lincoln should have fired him for this? Why or why not? • Which of the inventions/innovations in warfare do you think was the most effective? Why?

36. Prelude to Emancipation • At first, Lincoln did not believe he had the authority to end slavery • However, every slave working on a plantation allowed a white Southerner to fight • Lincoln saw emancipation as a strategic issue as well as a moral one Slaves on a South Carolina plantation, 1862

37. Advantages to Emancipation • Cause “union” in the North by linking the war to abolishing slavery • Cause disorder in the South as slaves were freed • Kept Britain out of the war Lincoln discussing emancipation with his cabinet

38. The Emancipation Proclamation • Lincoln announced proclamation after Antietam • Took effect on January 1, 1863 • Freed slaves only in “territories in rebellion” A cartoon celebrating emancipation

39. Women’s Roles in the War Clara Barton Mary Bickerdyke Dorothea Dix Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

40. Women Warriors • Some women posed as men in order to fight • Frances Clayton (right) fought in artillery and cavalry units • Total number unknown

41. Civil War Espionage Belle Boyd Rose Greenhow Pauline Cushman Sam Davis

42. Dealing With Dissent • Copperheads • Led by Rep. Clement Vallandigham of Ohio • Lincoln suspends habeas corpus Rep. Clement Vallandigham

43. Manpower for the War • Mostly volunteers • Conscription needed to sustain troop levels • In the North, draftees could hire substitutes or pay $300 to opt out An illustrated sheet music cover protesting the inequities of the draft

44. New York Draft Riots • July 1863 • Rioters mainly poor whites and Irish immigrants • Opposed to freeing slaves • More than 100 people killed Rioters loot a New York store

45. African American Enlistment • Congress allowed black enlistment in 1862 • 54th Massachusetts commanded by Colonel Shaw • Half of 54th killed in assault on Ft. Wagner • Helped spur further enlistment Col. Robert Gould Shaw Memorial to the 54th Massachusetts

46. The Sanitary Commission • Poor health conditions in army camps • U.S. Sanitary Commission created • Purposes included improving hygiene and recruiting nurses • Developed better methods of transporting wounded to hospitals A Civil War field hospital

47. Civil War Medicine • Infection often deadlier than the wounds • Amputations more common • Anesthesia widely used A surgeon at the Camp Letterman field hospital at Gettysburg prepares for an amputation

48. Andersonville • Confederate POW camp in Georgia • 32,000 prisoners jammed into 26 acres • One-third of all prisoners died • Superintendent was executed as a war criminal Severely emaciated POWs rescued from Andersonville

49. Discussion Questions • Do you think issuing the Emancipation Proclamation was a necessity for Lincoln? Why? • Do you think Lincoln was justified in suspending habeas corpus during the war? Why? • Why do you think that both sides allowed sanitary conditions in prison camps and within their own armies to deteriorate to such a level?

50. Chancellorsville • Jackson’s forces surprised Union troops • Confederates won unlikely victory • Jackson hit by “friendly fire” and died a week later • Lee pressed on to Pennsylvania A painting of the battle