The Civil War

The Civil WarThe Civil War

1861 – 1865 1861 – 1865

North

South

How did it come to this?How did it come to this?

A War to Restore the Union?A War to Restore the Union?

Northern Northern Strengths/WeaknessesStrengths/Weaknesses Strong industry.Strong industry.

Northern factories produced more than 90% Northern factories produced more than 90% of the nation’s manufactured goods.of the nation’s manufactured goods.

70% of the nation’s rail lines.70% of the nation’s rail lines. Strong navy.Strong navy. Almost 4 times as many free citizens as Almost 4 times as many free citizens as

the South.the South. Invading unfamiliar land.Invading unfamiliar land. Supply lines were much longer and thus Supply lines were much longer and thus

more open to attack.more open to attack.

Southern Strengths/WeaknessesSouthern Strengths/Weaknesses

Fighting a defensive war.Fighting a defensive war. A war for independence.A war for independence. Strong reason to fight.Strong reason to fight. Southern soldiers were familiar with the Southern soldiers were familiar with the

terrain.terrain. Economic weakness.Economic weakness. Few factories for producing weapons.Few factories for producing weapons. Political problems.Political problems.

States’ rights vs. Federal governmentStates’ rights vs. Federal government Small population in the South.Small population in the South.

9 million citizens; 1/3 of the population is African 9 million citizens; 1/3 of the population is African American.American.

Antietam – Antietam – September 17, September 17,

18621862 The bloodiest one day battle in American The bloodiest one day battle in American

history.history. Ended the Confederate army’s first invasion into Ended the Confederate army’s first invasion into

the North.the North. General George McClellan – Union General George McClellan – Union General Robert E. Lee – Confederate General Robert E. Lee – Confederate Over 23,000 casualties.Over 23,000 casualties. Opportunity for President Lincoln to issue the Opportunity for President Lincoln to issue the

emancipation proclamation. emancipation proclamation.

Emancipation Emancipation ProclamationProclamation

President Lincoln issued the President Lincoln issued the preliminary in September, preliminary in September, 1862, following the Union 1862, following the Union victory at Antietam. January victory at Antietam. January 1, 1863, is the date of the 1, 1863, is the date of the official issuance.official issuance.

Freed most slaves in states Freed most slaves in states not under Union control.not under Union control.

Allowed black soldiers to Allowed black soldiers to fight for the Union armies.fight for the Union armies.

Made the war about slavery.Made the war about slavery.

Fredericksburg – Fredericksburg – December, 1862December, 1862

At the Rappahannock River in Virginia.At the Rappahannock River in Virginia. General Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding General Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding

the Union Army of the Potomac, planned to the Union Army of the Potomac, planned to take the Confederate capital of Richmond.take the Confederate capital of Richmond.

General Robert E. Lee, in command of the General Robert E. Lee, in command of the Confederate forces, created a blockade in the Confederate forces, created a blockade in the town of Fredericksburg.town of Fredericksburg.

A significant loss for the Union army. A significant loss for the Union army. Confederates lost 5,300 men; Union lost Confederates lost 5,300 men; Union lost 12,600.12,600.

Vicksburg – Spring 1863Vicksburg – Spring 1863 General Ulysses S. Grant – UnionGeneral Ulysses S. Grant – Union Lieutenant General John Pemberton – Lieutenant General John Pemberton –

CSCS One of the most brilliant military One of the most brilliant military

campaigns of the war.campaigns of the war. Grant gained control of the Mississippi Grant gained control of the Mississippi

River, cutting the Confederacy in half.River, cutting the Confederacy in half.

Gettysburg – July 1, 2, 3, 1863Gettysburg – July 1, 2, 3, 1863 General George Meade – UnionGeneral George Meade – Union General Robert E. Lee – Confederate General Robert E. Lee – Confederate Union forces prevailed after 3 days of Union forces prevailed after 3 days of

fighting.fighting. Lee’s second campaign to the North Lee’s second campaign to the North

had failed.had failed. CasualtiesCasualties

23,000 US23,000 US 28,000 CS28,000 CS

““Total War”Total War”

Eliminate the support of the Eliminate the support of the civilians, and the Confederate civilians, and the Confederate soldiers will run out of resources.soldiers will run out of resources.

An effort to cripple the local An effort to cripple the local economy.economy.

Waging war on the population of Waging war on the population of the region; not just the soldiers the region; not just the soldiers fighting for that region.fighting for that region.

Sherman’s March to the SeaSherman’s March to the Sea

Began in Atlanta in 1864.Began in Atlanta in 1864. General Sherman and his troops burned towns, General Sherman and his troops burned towns,

pillaged property, and destroyed railroads pillaged property, and destroyed railroads across the south.across the south.

Sherman’s men covered 450 miles in50 days.Sherman’s men covered 450 miles in50 days.

Appomattox CourthouseAppomattox Courthouse Final engagement of the war in Virginia.Final engagement of the war in Virginia. General Ulysses S. Grant – USGeneral Ulysses S. Grant – US General Robert E. Lee – CSGeneral Robert E. Lee – CS Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865.Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865.