Transcript Ch. 11
Section 1 The Opposing Sides
Robert E. Lee:
One of the best senior officers in the US Army
Offered from Winfield Scott to command the
Union’s troops
Resigned from the Army and joined the Confederacy
(originally from the South)
1860 the US had 8 military colleges- 7 were in
the south
North had strong naval traditions and all but
one shipyard was under Union control
SOUTH
NORTH
Economic Advantages
Population- 22 million
80% of factories
Produced 90% of countries
clothing, boots, and shoes
93 % of unrefined iron
Firearms manufactured in
north
Experienced officers
Population- 9 million
Tredegar Iron Works,
Richmond: the only factory
capable of producing
cannons
No major facilities for
producing gun powder
Confederacy Ordinance
Bureau: gun powder mill
1862: all caught up
(weapons, gun powder and
ammunition)
Produced its own food
Only ½ as many rr tracks
NORTH
Advantages:
Controlled the national
treasury
Had revenue from tariffs
Northern banks had huge
reserves of cash
Legal Tender Act 1862
People were concerned about
northern ability to win the
war so they withdrew their
gold and silver
Created a national currency
and allowed the government
to issue paper money (green
backs)
SOUTH
Financial situation not
good
Best hope was to raise
money was to tax trade
Banks small with few reserves
Problem: Union navy
blockaded southern ports
Result: direct taxation
Lack of money caused
south to print = inflation
Confederate became almost
worthless
By the end it had experienced
9000% inflation
Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union even if it
meant slavery would continue
Democrats were divided
War Democrats: supported conflict, wanted to restore the
Union to the way it was before, opposed ending slavery
Peace Democrats: opposed war, reuniting through
negotiations
Viewed by republicans as treason (anyone against the war)
Called Copperheads
Disagreements between republicans and democrats
Civil liberties
1862 Congress Militia Law- conscription
Democrats strongly oppose
To enforce conscription Lincoln suspends writs of
habeas corpus (a person’s right to not be
imprisoned unless charged with a crime and given
trial)
Suspending means imprisoning indefinitely with no
charge or trial
Lincoln did this to anyone supporting rebels or resisting
the draft
Jefferson Davis: states rights interfered with
ability to conduct the war
1862 he met opposition
He supported conscription and martial law, draft
and new taxes
Alexander Stephens (VP) opposed him
US didn’t want European interference
Confederacy wanted European recognition (British)-to
declare blockade illegal- use British navy to assist south
To pressure they refused to sell Europe cotton
Confederacy met with British and French May 1861
French promised to recognize
British not ready
Fall of 1861 Britain and US came close to war
Trent Affair: south slipped pass blockades, went to Havana Cuba and
boarded the Trent (British Ship)
Union intercepted and arrested two confederates
North applauded, British mad for interference
Demanded release of confederates
British sent troops to Canada to strengthen Atlantic Fleet
After a few weeks Lincoln freed the prisoners
Huge armies of mostly volunteers-required huge
amounts of supplies and equipment
Military Technology and Tactics
Officers were well trained and experienced
Fired in mass volleys
At close range-charged with bayonets
Developed Conoidal bullets- much more accurate
Used trenches, barricades=high casualties
War of attrition
North able to replace
South not as many
The South’s Strategy
Passive approach-picked battles, attacked and retreated
as necessary, avoid large battles
Defensive war of attrition
Southerners angry-saw themselves as superior fighters
The Union’s Anaconda Plan
Winfield Scott-idea Union blockade of Confederate ports
Send gunboats down the Mississippi to divide the
Confederacy=Separate the south
This would run them out of resources and surrender
North rejected because it was too slow