The Civil War Begins

1. The Civil War Begins 1861-1862

2. Section 1: War Erupts • To describe how fighting began at Fort Sumter • To analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each side • To explain each side’s basic strategy • To summarize the results of the First Battle of Bull Run

3. First Shots at Fort Sumter • Union = States Loyal to the United States • Fort Sumter remained under federal control • Lincoln had to make a decision • If he resupplied the fort… • If he order the troops out… • Confederacy = States that seceded to form a new government in 1861 • Confederates would attack Fort Sumter before the Union could resupply it • Shelled the fort for 34 hours and started the Civil War on April 12Th

4. Lincoln Calls Out the Militia • President Lincoln calls for a militia of 75,000 • The North responds quickly and with enthusiasm • The upper South not so much • Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas join the Confederacy • Particularly Virginia was a major loss for the north • Large population • Wealthy • Robert E. Lee Why were the border states important?

5. Choosing Sides • Both North and South knew that the border states (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, & Missouri) would play a key role in the war • Their location and resources were needed • Pro-Union forces kept the states officially a part of the United States • West Virginia would be formed at this time What were the strengths of each side?

6. Strengths and Weaknesses • The Union – Abraham Lincoln • 22 Million People • About 85% of the Nations Production • 2 times the railroad mileage • Nearly all of the Navy • The Confederates – Robert E. Lee • 9 Million People (3.5 million were slaves) • More experienced officers • Defensive war What were southerners hoping for if they withheld cotton from the market?

7. Confederate Strategy • At first it would be a defensive war • “All we ask is to be let alone.” Davis • Depended on King Cotton • The South grew most of Europe's cotton • Cotton was withheld in the hopes that it would force Europe nations into helping them fight… • Europe had a surplus of cotton, and didn’t want to be involved • Switch to demoralizing the North

8. The Union Strategy • General Winfield Scott created the Anaconda Plan

9. Battle of Bull Run • The Anaconda Plan would take time, many pushed for an immediate attack on the south • In order to get to Richmond Virginia, Union troops had to defeat Confederates at Manassas. • July 21, 1861 troops clashed near a creek call Bull Run • General Thomas J. Jackson and reinforcements won the day • Lincoln would now call for a real army of 500,000

10. Section 2: Life in the Army • To explain who joined the armies • To describe military training and supplies of the era • To summarize the hardships of army life • To identify changes in military technology

11. Those who fought • Most were between 18 and 30 years old • Union had just over 2 million soldiers • Farmers, Immigrants, Native Americans, and later African-Americans • Confederates had just under 1 million soldiers • Mostly poor farmers, Native Americans • Both sides attracted soldiers for all sorts of reasons ranging from boredom to a sense of duty

12. Turning Civilians into Soldiers • After enlisting, volunteers found a different world • A tent/log camp that would promote unity in platoons • Shared workload • Drills, drills, and more drills • North had plenty of uniforms, but not always the correct size • Southern states lack of unity left many a Confederate scrounging for goods

13. Hardships of Army Life • Wet, muddy, cold, and filthy • Exposure, and poor hygiene would lead to more deaths than battle • The concept of germs was unknown • Army surgeons would use the same tools on multiple people. • Food and water was more often than not contaminated

14. Changes in Military Technology • Weaponry caused tactics to changes because of the massive amounts of death • Rifle – gun with a grooved barrel • Minie Ball – Bullet with a hollow base • Ironclads – warships covered in iron • Merrimack and Monitor had a four hour battle

15. Section 3: No End in Sight • To analyze the importance of the Union victories in the West • To explain how the fall of New Orleans helped the Union • To analyze Lee’s victories in the East and his decision to invade the North • To describe the outcome of the Battle of Antietam

16. Union Victories in the West • General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union troops in the West • Feb. 1862, Grant invades Tennessee. Using ironclads to fight down the river. • He would capture Fort Henry, and Fort Donelson

17. The Battle of Shiloh • After Grants victories, Confederates decide to pull back farther south. • While pursuing Grant stops at Pittsburg Landing • Gen. Albert S. Johnston attacks Grant while he waited for reinforcements • Everyone was involved in the fighting • Union lost 13,000 men • Rebels lost 11,000 out of 41,000

18. The Fall of New Orleans • A major loss to the South • April 25, Union fleet led by David Farragut captured New Orleans • Farragut’s ships had to run a gauntlet of cannon fire and burning rafts • Farragut loses only one ship • The goal of cutting the south in half is nearly complete only Vicksburg remains

19. Lee Claims Victories in the East • General McClellan led an attack on Richmond in the spring of 1862 • Robert E. Lee would be appointed general of the Army of Northern Virginia and would slowly out maneuver McClellan • South would suffer more losses but they forced the Union to retreat after the Seven Days’ Battle

20. Lee Invades the North, and Bloody Antietam • In the east Lee is winning one battle after another • General Lee decides to take the battle to the North • Driven by 3 major reasons • Force Peace Talks • Virginia Farmers • Plunder in the North • Lee’s plans were discovered by Union Troops • McClellan, armed with Lee’s battle plans, went on the attack • Battle of Antietam, bloodiest day in American history • 25,000 men dead and no progress either way • Lee retreats…but so does McClellan?