Transcript The Civil War

THE CIVIL WAR
Chapter 11
THE OPPOSING SIDES
Ch 11 Sec 1
Objectives
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Assess the strengths & weaknesses of each region’s
economy.
Contrast the political situations of the Union & the
Confederacy.
Choosing Sides
o
o
o
Robert E. Lee was senior officer with the US Army.
Virginia seceded he stayed true to his state.
1/3 of the Union’s military officers chose the
Confederacy
ADVANTAGES &
DISADVANTAGES
UNION ADVANTAGES
-More than 2X railroad
- larger population
-More $ in banks
-Functioning government
- Strong navy
CONFEDERATE ADVANTAGES
-Better military leaders (7 out of 8 military colleges in the
South)
-Defensive war-did not have to win, just not lose
-Better soldiers
Industry & Agriculture- North
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Made most of the
nations clothing
Most pig iron
Most firearms
factories
All gunpowder
Industry & Agriculture- South
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One foundry that could
produce iron (Tredegar Iron
Works)
No facility for gunpowder
Produce all its own food,
but couldn’t distribute it
Only one east/west rail line
(Memphis to Chattanooga)
Discussion

What military advantages did the North and South
have at the start of the war?
Financing the War
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North controlled national treasury, tariffs, & could
easily borrow $.
Many people took gold & silver out of banks, so
Congress passes Legal Tender Act- created a
national currency (paper $)
“greenback”
Financing the War
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Southern economy
was bad, & got
worse as the war
continued
Southern planters
were in debt &
couldn’t buy bonds
Financing the War
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South had to tax citizens- people refused to pay
South had to print paper $ to pay bills- caused
inflation
Discussion

What financial advantages did the North have over
the South?
NORTHERN POLITICS
Party Politics
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Many Republicans were abolitionists
Lincoln wanted to preserve Union, no matter what
My paramount objective in this
struggle is to save the Union, and is
not to either save or destroy slavery. If
I could save the Union without freeing
any slave, I would do it, and if I could
save the Union by freeing all the
slaves, I would do it; and if I could
save it by freeing some and leaving
others alone, I would also do that.
~Abraham Lincoln
Party Politics

2 groups in Democrat
Party War
Democratssupported the war &
restore the Union and
preserve slavery
 Copperheads (Peace
Democrats) opposed
war, reunite
peacefully.
Party Politics


Conscription- forcing people into military service
(the draft)
Democrats opposed the draft, Republicans
supported it
Party Politics

Lincoln suspended
habeas corpus for
anyone that
openly criticized
the war effort or
supported the
South
Discussion

Who did Lincoln suspend habeas corpus for?
DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES
Relations with Europe
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USA did not want Europe to interfere or recognize
the CSA
Wanted Europe to honor blockade
Relations with Europe

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CSA wanted recognition
Wanted British Navy to break blockade
Europe (especially England) needed Southern cotton
Fr. & GB both promised to recognize CSA and give
aide IF they won a major battle
Discussion

At the outbreak of the war, what did Confederates
want from Europeans?
FIRST MODERN WAR
Military Technology & Tactics

Military firsts:
 Submarine
(Hunley)
 Machine gun (Gatling gun)
 Trench warfare (Petersburg)
Military Technology & Tactics
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Military leaders
organized soldiers
into tight columns
Concentrate fire
When troops got
close, they charged
with bayonets
Military Technology & Tactics
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New guns invented
More accurate at greater
ranges
Defensive tactics changed
Defenders got in trenches or
behind barricades
High casualties
Southern Strategy
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War of Attrition- wear North down
Didn’t have to win, just not lose
Union Strategy
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Blockaded the South
Send gunboats down Mississippi River to divide
South
“Anaconda Plan”
Discussion

Why was the Confederate’s defensive war of
attrition unsuccessful?