Big Ideas & Main Idea

Big Ideas & Main IdeaCIVIL WAR & LEADERSHIP

“The secession of Southern states caused the North and the South to take up arms.”

Essential Questions1) What makes a civil war different from a foreign war?

2) How has the nation’s identity been forged in part by the Civil War?

3) How might a civil war affect U.S. economy and society?

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

Fort Sumter Confederate soldiers start taking Federal

courthouses, post offices, and forts in South WHY? Willie Sutton quote 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

Lincoln’s DilemmaDilemma? His possible choices?

Option #1: Shoot way into Charlestown Harbor Risk of this action?

Option #2: Surrender of fort Risk of this action?

Lincoln’s GeniusMessage to Davis that he wants to send in “food for hungry men”

Why genius?Puts ball back in Davis’ courtDavis’ options?

War Begins!Davis chooses war4/12/1861 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

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 4 Remaining Slave States

Delaware (easy Union victory) Maryland (Lincoln suspend writ of habeas

corpus) Missouri (guerilla bands) Kentucky (would have debilitating loss for

South)

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?

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?

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

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

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?

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

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

Battle of Bull Run Loss causes

Lincoln to: Call on 1

million volunteers

Gen. George McClellan to lead army

Lessons of Bull RunWhat 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?

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”

Seven Days Battle (May, 1862)

McClellan finally decides to attack Richmond from SE

Waterways (York and James) cleared 130K troops land and march up Yorktown

Peninsula Gen. Joseph Johnston then Gen. Robert E.

Lee to lead Army of Northern Virginia Lee is McClellan’s foil and has great

supporting cast Lee pushes McClellan back down (30K

casualities) Question on Lee and slavery Lincoln replaces McClellan with John Pope

Second Bull Run (August, 1862)Lee faces off against PopeLee is outnumbered but through superior commanding and better soldiers, South pushes Pope back to Washington, D.C.

Lincoln fires Pope and brings McClellan back

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

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

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

Union Victories in the Western Theater

Ulysses S. Grant West Point and Mexican

War veteran “Take it to the South”-

Why this strategy? Armored gunboats to

take 2 Confed. forts on 2 Tenn. rivers Forts Henry (Tenn.

River) and Donelson (Cumberland River)

Battle of Shiloh“Blankets and coffee” battleWhy did Confed. use surprise attack?Grant pushes Confed. back on 2nd dayDraw but opened way to Mississippi River for Union

Huge causalities and people call for his job; Lincoln says no because “he fights.”

New OrleansDavid Farragut

Why important?

Most population and biggest port

Vicksburg still the key to the Anaconda Plan

Revolutions in WarfareHow does technology affect warfare? Reverse?

Rifle: more accurate & greater rate of fire than musket

Minie Ball: soft lead bullet that is more deadly; WHY?

Early hand grenades & minesPoor medical treatment

Ironclads: Monitor vs. Merrimack

What are they? Used to win at

Forts Henry and Donelson

Strengths? Draw but Union

victory b/c South can not break Union blockade

Ironclads: Monitor vs. Merrimack

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?

Paying for the WarBoth sides used war bonds and taxes

Both sides printed money and suffered from inflation

Labor North (increased industry and labor shortage)

South (slave labor)

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

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

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!

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

Poor EconomyBlockadeShortages (shoes, 1863 Bread Riots)

InflationDesertionSlaves escape to the North

The Government and Economy

Labor problems b/c wages did not keep pace with inflation

Government Programs Homestead Act of 1862 Pacific Railway Act of 1862 Legal Tender Act of 1862 National Banking Act of 1863 Internal Revenue Act Protection tariffs to protect domestic

industry

Women during WartimeReplaced men on farms and in industry

Clerks and secretariesNurses

Elizabeth Blackwell Clara Barton

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

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

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

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

The Gettysburg Address 2 minute speech November 1863 Dedication

ceremony Brought Union

together to end immorality of slavery

Unified the North

The Confederacy Wears Down

Two victories cost South badlySupplies and public support very low

Weak gov’t-no central authorityLincoln appoints Grant head of army

Grant appoints William Tecumseh Sherman his right hand man Belief in TOTAL WAR

Grant and Lee in VirginiaGrant 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

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

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

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