The Opposing Sides

1. The Opposing Sides Chapter 11 Section 1

2. Choosing Sides • Once the Civil War began, hundreds of military officers had to choose to support the Union or Confederacy • Robert E. Lee-> one the best officers in the U.S. Army, chose the Confederacy over commanding the Union Army • About 1/3 of all officers joined the Confederacy

3. Choosing Sides • South contained 7 of 8 military schools = well trained military leaders and a military advantage • North had ¾ of U.S. Navy’s officers, also contained most of U.S. warships and shipyards (South had 1)

4. Robert E. Lee

5. Review • What military advantages did the North and the South have at the start of the Civil War?

6. Review • What military advantages did the North and the South have at the start of the Civil War? • One-third of the Union’s military officers resigned and joined the Confederacy. The South had a strong military tradition. Seven of the eight military colleges were in the South, so the South had a large number of trained army officers. • The North had a strong naval tradition. Three-fourths of the U.S. Navy’s officers were from the North. The North had a large pool of trained sailors from merchant ships. Most of the navy’s warships and all but one shipyard were under Union control.

7. Advantages • North • Larger population • Industrial: produced all war materials=more than 90% of clothing, 93% of unrefined iron=weapons and equipment, produced majority of firearms and gunpowder • Better transportation: more railroad availability • Financial: controlled the National Treasury, revenue from tariffs, The banks held large reserves of money, could pass legislation to raise funds ex. Legal Tender Act(Greenbacks) • Fighting for just cause

8. Greenbacks

9. Greenbacks

10. Advantages • South • Had strong military leadership • Good source of food • Fighting for just cause • Only had 1 Railroad

11. Review • How was having a larger population than the South an advantage for the North? • What was a problem with a 1/3 of the South’s population? • In your opinion, what was the North’s greatest advantage?

12. Disadvantages • South • Industrial: limited resources (only one factory able to manufacture cannons=Tredegar Iron Works), • Transportation: limited railroads ,only had one rail line connecting East to West in Confederacy (Memphis to Chattanooga) • Financial: couldn’t raise sufficient funds for the war effort • Eventually taxed southerners=very upset

13. Review • In your opinion, which disadvantage was the most crippling for the South?

14. Party Politics in the North • As the Civil War began, President Lincoln’s main goal was to preserve the Union • Both parties were going to challenge his policies in the process • Two Factions of Northern Democrats: • War Democrats->supported the war & opposed ending slavery • Peace Democrats (Copperheads)-> opposed war and called for reuniting through negotiation

15. Abraham Lincoln

16. War Democrats

17. Copperheads

18. Party Politics in the North • One major disagreement between Democrats and Republicans concerned civil liberties • In 1862, Congress passed a militia law requiring states to use conscription (Draft) • Many Democrats opposed it • President Lincoln suspended writs of habeas corpus-for anyone who openly supported or encouraged others to resist military draft

19. Conscription

20. Review • How were Northern Democrats divided over the Civil War? • What was put into place by Congress and eventually caused tensions to rise within the Democratic Party?

21. Weak Southern Government • Even though he had no opposition in the South, Jefferson Davis still faced political problems • Confederate Constitution • Emphasized state’s rights and limited central government’s power • Often interfered w/ his ability to conduct war • Jefferson Davis also ran into problems when he supported conscription->enforced by martial law • His own Vice-President Alexander Stephens disagreed, objected to forcing people to join the army • Davis eventually also suspended writs of habeas corpus

22. Jefferson Davis

24. The Diplomatic Challenges • U.S. Civil War put major gov’ts in Europe in a difficult situation • U.S. didn’t want European interference • Confederate leaders wanted the exact opposite-> especially the British • Wanted British to declare Union blockade illegal and assist the Confederates • Britain and France->depended on the South’s cotton • Some Southern planters refused to sell cotton to them unless they recognized the Confederacy

25. The Diplomatic Challenges • British and French met with the Conf. in May 1861 • Neither nation was going to recognize the Conf. until they witnessed decisive victories in the conflict • Trent Affair -> James Mason (Britain) and John Slidell (France),Conf. ministers to Britain and France, were to leave for Europe • Slipped past the blockade and boarded the British ship Trent • Charles Wilkes Union captain of the San Jacinto intercepted the ship and arrested Mason and Slidell • Were eventually released due the threat of war with Britain

26. Trent Affair

27. Trent Affair

28. Review Question • Why did the Confederacy want Britain and France to recognize them? • Why did the Union want to avoid war with Britain?

29. The First “Modern” War • 1st Modern War • Economic and political situation was very important to outcome • Involved huge armies->made up mostly of civilian volunteers • Required vast amount of supplies and equipment

30. The First “Modern” War • By 1850’s French and American inventors had improved the new bullet->conoidal->cone shaped • More accurate fire • Troops defended positions using trenches and barricades to protect themselves • Caused deadly situation for attackers • Led to high casualties->attrition • Advantage North-> larger pop.