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US Civil War. 1861-1865. A. Fort Sumter. One of 2 federal forts still in south. Supplies at Ft. Sumter running low – Lincoln had 2 choices – both bad No supplies to fort=surrender and ruin his reputation. Send in reinforcements = act of war and North would be seen as the aggressor.
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US Civil War 1861-1865
A. Fort Sumter • One of 2 federal forts still in south. • Supplies at Ft. Sumter running low – Lincoln had 2 choices – both bad • No supplies to fort=surrender and ruin his reputation. • Send in reinforcements = act of war and North would be seen as the aggressor. • SOLUTION= Lincoln sent supplies ONLY, let SC know there were no weapons or troops.
3. Fort bombarded 3 days later (April 12, 1861) with 70 cannon for 34 hrs. – no casualties 4. April 15 – Lincoln calls for blockade of Southern ports – seen as act of war.
B. Border States (MD, MO, KY and DE) • Slaves states that stayed with Union because they were not the aggressors. • Crucial to Union cause – contribute 300,000 troops. • West Virginia secedes from VA to join Union in mid 1861. • Contained over 50% of South’s white population and the fewest slaves. • Lincoln promises that main purpose of the war is to preserve the Union, not free the slaves.
C. Confederate Assets • Needed only a stalemate to “win” • On the defense; north had to invade and conquer • Had the stronger moral cause (initially) of self – determination, culture and homeland. • Superb military leaders • Robert E. Lee • Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson • Strong cavalry and infantrymen
D. Confederate Drawbacks • South still very agricultural – lacked industrial capacity to wage war. • Border states did not secede. • Did not get much needed foreign support. • Only 9 million ppl in South (3.5 mil of which were enslaved) • Slaves not enlisted to fight until 1 mo. before end of war. • Union blockade devastated southern economy.
E. Northern Advantages • 22 million people – 3:1 advantage over South. • Possessed ¾ of nation’s wealth. • Possessed ¾ of nation’s railroads. • Controlled sea though blockade of Southern ports. • Border states
F. Northern Disadvantages • Ineffective generals. • “Copperheads” in north supported South. • Robber barons becoming wealthy off of war at expense of war effort.
G. Union War Strategy • Union originally thought war would be over in 90 days. • Union suffers major losses in 1861 – early 1862. • First Bull Run • Peninsula Campaign • Vicksburg • Chancellorsville • Initial losses a wake-up call for the North – this was going to be a long, hard fought war.
4. War develops into 4 Stages: • Strangle the south with blockade – “Anaconda Plan” • Control the Mississippi and divide the South in 2. • Destroy the South by cutting a swath through Georgia and turn northward. • Capture Richmond
H. Antietam and Emancipation Proclamation • Sept 17, 1862 – arguably the most important battle of the war – and the bloodiest • Lee invades MD hoping to take it from the Union and gain foreign support. • Ended in stalemate, Lee retreats • McClellan should have won or pursued Lee in retreat – did neither and was removed as commander of Union Army. • 25% of southern troops died in battle, yet never so close to victory. • Foreign gov’ts decide NOT to intervene on South’s behalf • 52:20 on Ep 3
7. Lincoln got the victory he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation • Issued on Sept 22, 1862 but to go into effect on Jan. 1. 1863. • Only frees slaves in “states in rebellion”, not the 4 border states that fought for the Union and still had slavery. • North had new moral purpose and needed boost in morale. • Some northerners thought it went too far, others thought it did not go far enough.
I. War Rages On • Western Theater • Led by US Grant, Lincoln’s most able general. • Wins at Fts Henry and Donelson • Wins at Shiloh in April 1862. • Eastern Theater • South more successful • Lincoln goes through string of generals – Burnside, Hooker, Meade…
c. Gettysburg • July 1-3, 1862 • Lee moves into North again in hopes of peace settlement OR foreign support. • 3 days of fighting ends in Lee retreating, Meade allows him to retreat – war could have been over. d. Vicksburg • South surrenders the following day (July 4th) after 7 mo. Siege at Vicksburg, TN • North gains control of Mississippi - South split in two • Grant promoted to General of the East • Boost in Union morale • Ep 5
J. Sherman’s March • William T. Sherman pushed his way through Georgia and captured Atlanta in Sept 1864. • Cut 60 mi wide swath and got to Savannah by Dec. • Determined to inflict horrors of war on civilians to break its will to fight = TOTAL WAR. • Despite brutality of campaign, it probably shortened the war.
K. Election of 1864 • Elected to 2nd term vs. Geo B. McClellan (former general). • Cites “with malice towards none and charity for all” in his 2nd inaugural address – showing mercy for reconstruction of south. • His election a crushing blow to south – total war would continue.
L. Appomattox • South tried to negotiate a “peace between two countries” – Lincoln would accept nothing but “unconditional surrender”. • Confederate Army surrounded near Appomattox Court House in VA • Lee surrenders April 9, 1865 – 30,000 captured allowed to go home and keep horses for spring planting.
M. Assassination • 5 days after surrender, Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theater. • Died at the height of his popularity. • South cheered initially but soon realized that it spelled disaster for them • Lincoln’s Reconstruction moderate compared to what radical Republicans had in mind • North now more bitter towards South after Lincoln’s death – wanted them to pay.
Questions for Discussion • Why did the South lose? Was it because of a loss of will or something more? • What was the turning point of the war? • Lincoln is perennially ranked as the best (or second best) President of the 43 we’ve had – is this deserved or is his reputation inflation because he was assassinated?
