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The crucible of war

The crucible of war. American Studies I (Honors) Mr. Calella. Part I. “And the War came.”. Initial Issues for Both Leaders. Lincoln Secession before Oath of Office Worst of times and the chance for greatness Jefferson Davis Wanted to permanently establish Confederacy

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The crucible of war

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  1. The crucible of war American Studies I (Honors) Mr. Calella

  2. Part I “And the War came.”

  3. Initial Issues for Both Leaders • Lincoln • Secession before Oath of Office • Worst of times and the chance for greatness • Jefferson Davis • Wanted to permanently establish Confederacy • Needed to bring Upper South into the War

  4. Fort Sumter • Confederate soldiers start taking Federal courthouses, post offices, and forts in South. WHY? • Fort Sumter (island at mouth of Charleston Harbor) only 1 of 2 Union forts remaining in Deep South • Important? (See map & slide) • Confederacy demands that Union soldiers inside surrender • Union soldiers short on supplies and ammunition • Major Anderson’s plea to Lincoln for food and support

  5. Lincoln’s Dilemma • Dilemma? His possible choices? • Option #1: Shoot way into Charlestown Harbor • Risk of this action? • Option #2: Surrender of fort • Risk of this action?

  6. Lincoln’s Genius • Message to Davis that he wants to send in “food for hungry men” • Why genius? • Puts ball back in Davis’ court • Davis’ options?

  7. War Begins! • Davis chooses war • 4/12/1861 South bombards Fort Sumter • No casualties, EXCEPT during 50 gun salute • Lincoln calls for 75K volunteers-they pour into enlistment offices • 90-day term • SHOW VIDEO ON BATTLE

  8. Southern States Take Sides • Upper South secedes after Lincoln’s call (VA, AK, TN, NC) • Why? Would they fight Lower South? • Creation of West Virginia (mountainous so few slaves) • 4 Remaining Slave States • Delaware (easy Union victory) • Maryland (Lincoln suspend writ of habeas corpus) • Missouri (guerilla bands) • Kentucky (would have debilitating loss for North)

  9. Justification for Both Sides • South • Felt that secession was justified by democracy • Only slave owners with stake, but poor whites fought, WHY? • “Yankee Aggression” • Like colonists in 1776? • North • Preserve Union at all costs • “I would save the Union….” (read full quote) • Free soiler mentality • Act of treason?

  10. Part II The Combatants

  11. Lincoln, his Cabinet, his Plan • Lincoln • Little military and political experience, but learns quick • Great writer-How is this important? • Cabinet • “Team of Rivals” (e.g., Seward and Chase) • Wise choice by Lincoln? • War Plan (the “Anaconda Plan” by Lincoln and Scott) • Naval blockade, why? • Take Mississippi River, why? • Take Richmond, why?

  12. North’s Advantages and Disadvantages • Advantages • Population (immigration)-How important? • Industry • Navy and Railroads • Lincoln • Disadvantages • Textile business would suffer-Explain! • Foreign intervention-Why would England get involved? • Loss of Southern markets

  13. Jefferson Davis and Strategy • Jefferson Davis • Military-West Point and war hero • Political-Secretary of War and Senator • Perfect choice?-not really • The South’s Strategy • Just don’t lose-What does this mean? • Fight defensive war and attack at right times • Hope for loss of public support in North • Like colonists in 1776? War of 1812? • Fight for George Washington

  14. South’s Advantages and Disadvantages • Advantages • Home field-How is this an advantage? • Defend homes, family and way of life • Military leaders-Why important? • Weapons industry • Honor-based society with military tradition (cavalry) • Disadvantages • Lack of railroads-Why important? • Weak form of government-Why did they go with it even with its history of failure?

  15. Part III Battling It Out, 1861-1862

  16. Stalemate in the Eastern Theater • Bull Run (N) or Manassas (S) • Seven Days Battle • 2nd Bull Run • Antietam (N) or Sharpsburg (S) • Fredericksburg

  17. Battle of Bull Run • Irwin McDowell to lead 35K new recruits • Lincoln orders attack of 20K Confederates at Manassas • July ,1861 • 35 miles SW of D.C. • People watch as they picnic • Both sides inexperienced troops • “Stonewall” Jackson wins day with counterattack • Union retreat through picnics (mass chaos) • 1st victory to the Confederacy • Casualties (wounded and dead) were relatively light • 2K for S and 1.6K for N

  18. Battle of Bull Run • Loss causes Lincoln to: • Call on 1 million volunteers • Gen. George McClellan to lead army

  19. Lessons of Bull Run • What did the North realize by losing the 1st battle of the war? • Why did some in the South think the war was over after battle? • What could Confederate soldiers have done after victory?

  20. McClellan: The Reluctant Warrior • Makes West Virginia possible • Considered Union’s 1st war hero • Overly cautious; over-preparing for invasion of Va • This tried Lincoln’s patience; QUOTE • His major flaw-felt it was more important to capture Richmond than to destroy the Confederate army • Lincoln knew this, but he was unable to convince McClellan to think “outside the box”

  21. Antietam (September 17, 1862) • Lincoln knows only way for Union to lose war and Lee knows too and decides to counterattack • Lee spilts forces and crosses into Union (MD) • Lucky find by Union soldier • 9/17/1862, near small creek to funnel Lee’s troops • Bloodiest single day battle in U.S. history (26K causalities) • Lee pushed back but McClellan again too cautious and does not pursue back to VA • Lincoln fires McClellan afterward (Burnside); Why? • He runs as Dem. in 1864 Election • SHOW VIDEO ON BATTLE

  22. Fredericksburg (December, 1862) • Burnside vs. Lee • Lee dug in behind stone wall on heights of Rappahannock River with ½ mile open ground separating the two armies • Burnside too aggressive; full frontal assault • What happens? Remind you of another battle? • One of the worst losses of Union and one of Lee’s greatest victories • Lee seen as immortal and unbeatable by Union and his own men

  23. Battle of Chancellorsville • Hooker replaces Burnside • South defeats North at this Virginia town • North think Lee is undefeatable • North’s consolation-Stonewall Jackson shot by his men; later dies • “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.” • Lee then invades North to get supplies and try to win on Northern soil (dishearten public support for the war)-sets up Battle of Gettysburg

  24. Grant • Ulysses S. Grant • West Point and Mexican War veteran • “Take it to the South”- Why this strategy?

  25. Battle of Shiloh • “Blankets and coffee” battle • Why did Confed. use surprise attack? • Grant pushes Confed. back on 2nd day • Draw but opened way to Mississippi River for Union • Huge causalities and people call for his job; Lincoln says no because “he fights.”

  26. Revolutions in Warfare • How does technology affect warfare? Reverse? • Rifle: more accurate & greater rate of fire than musket • Minie Ball: soft lead bullet that is more deadly; WHY? -SHOW MUSKET VIDEO • Early hand grenades & mines • Poor medical treatment-SHOW VIDEO

  27. International Diplomacy • Cotton did not stay “king” • Surplus, other sources and wheat trade with Union • Lincoln knows of Europe’s hatred of slavery • South had “belligerent status” with Europe • The Trent Affair • San Jacinto and Trent • Robert Mason and James Slidell • Why do you think they were going to England? • Lincoln releases two men and avoids possible war, Why important?

  28. Part IV Union and Freedom

  29. Paying for the War • Both sides used war bonds and taxes • Both sides printed money and suffered from inflation • Labor • North (increased industry and labor shortage) • South (slave labor)

  30. From Slaves to Contraband • Lincoln’s main goal-reunite the Union • Lincoln had to consider • Border states, the North, Democratic party • Pressure by abolitionists • Radical Republicans in Congress • 1861 Confiscation Act • 1862 “contraband of war” • Lincoln’s colonization plan and black reaction

  31. From Contraband to Free People • Lincoln did not want to alienate Border States • Changes his mind to get support from Europe • January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation • Freed slaves only in areas of rebellion (not Border States) • So, did it free any slaves in South? • What did the South realize? • Reactions to Proclamation

  32. African-American Soldiers • Eman. Procl. -blacks to join Union army • 54th Massachusetts • 1% of North’s pop. and 10% Union army • What do these numbers tell you? • Discrimination-divisions, less pay, no officers • Death rates higher-NO POWs!

  33. Politics and Dissent • Democrats in Congress-status quo antebellum • Copperheads • Republicans (Moderates and Radicals) • Lincoln • Suspended writ of habeas corpus • Imposed martial law • Ignored unfavorable USSC decisions

  34. Part V Grinding Out Victory, 1863-1865

  35. Vicksburg • July 4, 1863 Union win under Gen. Grant • Important b/c cut Confed. in ½ • Besieged the city and starved them out • It was last spot on Mississippi River in which Confederates could send troops and supplies from west to east where most fighting occurred • Lincoln makes Grant supreme commander of Union army

  36. Gettysburg (July 1-3 1863) • Lee know he must win major battle in North • Lee and Meade meet at this PA town • Day 1: Confederates take town and Union takes heights • Day 2: Colonel Joshua Chamberlain’s charge • Day 3: General Pickett’s Charge • Lee then retreats and Meade does not follow • 30% casualties on both sides (Union 23K, Confederacy 28K) • Why did the battle hurt the South more? • Lee never again able to invade North • Turning point of the war

  37. Conscription and Impressment • Conscription (1862)- military draft • 18 to 35, then 17 to 50 • “Rich man’s war, poor man’s fight.” Meaning? • Impressment • Confiscate items and pay below market prices • Would do the same for slaves

  38. The Draft and Riots • The Draft • Less volunteers, so 1863 Conscription • “$300 Man” • The Draft Riots • NYC in 1863; burned for 4 days; 100+ killed • Irish-Catholics formed majority of rioters • Attacked blacks and rich • Upset at having to fight a war to free blacks • Gettysburg troops-SHOW RIOT VIDEO

  39. The Gettysburg Address • 2 minute speech • November 1863 • Dedication ceremony • Brought Union together to end immorality of slavery • Unified the North

  40. The Confederacy Wears Down • Two victories cost South badly • Supplies and public support very low • Weak gov’t-no central authority • Lincoln appoints Grant head of army • Grant appoints William Tecumseh Sherman his right hand man • Belief in TOTAL WAR

  41. Grant and Lee in Virginia • Grant chases Lee throughout area of Virginia, the “Wilderness” near Fredericksburg-tough fighting • Grant willing to sacrifice lots of men & knew that Lee could not • Grant losses 60K men to Lee’s 32K • Loss of public support in North; Lincoln’s 1864 campaign suffers

  42. Sherman’s March to the Sea • 1864, public support in North falling due to human losses and indecisive battles • Lincoln/Johnson vs. McClellan • Looks like Lincoln might lose, but tide is turned with news of Sherman’s march to Atlanta (waging total war) • Lincoln wins; 212 to 21; 55% of popular vote • Sherman reaches Atlanta (September 2, 1864) and marches North taking Savannah (December 1864) and then heads towards Grant

  43. The Surrender at Appomattox • Grant and Sherman closing in on Lee • Davis abandons Richmond and burns city so Union could not take it (900 buildings &100s homes) • April 9, 1865-Lee met Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in VA to surrender • Grant allowed Confed. soldiers just to go home without charging them; 4 years

  44. Results of the War • Soldier Dead: 360K Union & 260K Confederate • Soldiers Injured: 275K Union & 225K Confederate (amputees) • $3.3 billion combined spending (budget!) • Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865 at the Ford’s Theatre during Our American Cousin • Booth escapes to Virginia; large manhunt; nation grieves • He was shot dead 12 days later • Lincoln dies; Andrew Johnson president

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