Transcript The Civil War

The Civil War
The Civil War (1861-1865) took more American lives
than any other war in history. It so divided the people
of the United States that in some families brother
fought against brother. The Civil War was between
the Southern States, trying to preserve slavery and
an agricultural way of life, and the Northern States,
dedicated to a more modern way of life and to ending
the expansion-and, later, the existence-of slavery.
The terrible bloodshed left a heritage of grief and
bitterness that declined only slowly and, even today,
has not fully disappeared.
The Election of Abraham Lincoln
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Background
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Born very poor in a log cabin in Kentucky
Self educated lawyer; deep respect for the law
Known for his character, sincerity, and humor
Married to Mary Todd and had 4 sons, two died
young
The Election of Abraham Lincoln
Election on 1860
1. The North had enough electoral votes to choose
the president
2. The South leaves the Union
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Jefferson Davis elected president
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began occupying federal buildings, post offices, forts and
other federal government property
Union soldiers held Fort Sumter, SC until Confederates
forcefully took it
The South becomes the aggressor in the war
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Election on 1860
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Jefferson Davis’ view of slavery was how
he personally treated his slaves, which was
good, and he was not well traveled.
Ft. Sumter- after many compromise
attempts, Lincoln promises only to hold and
occupy all federal property. He stayed on
the defensive as long as possible
The Civil War
Advantages of the North
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huge population
standing army and navy
American industrial might
large transportation system
The Civil War
Advantages of the South
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grim and determined
abundance of military leadership and
combat expertise
only had to survive to succeed
The Civil War
Lincoln’s Goals
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preserve the Union
keep the border states on the side of the
Union
keep foreign countries from helping the
Confederacy
What is missing from this list???
Lincoln’s Goals
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preserve the Union
keep the border states on the side of the
Union
keep foreign countries from helping the
Confederacy
Lincoln’s Goals
“My paramount object in this struggle is to
save the Union, and is not either to save or
to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union
without freeing any slave I would do it, and
if I could save it 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.” (Lincoln's Letter to Horace
Greeley)
The Civil War
Emancipation
 Pressure from Abolitionists
 Union army
a. began to see the real evils of slavery
b. runaways began delivering themselves to the
troops
c. the Fugitive Slave Act proved to be impractical
 The enslaved themselves took it upon themselves
to become free
The Civil War
Lincoln’s view on Slavery
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Enforcing slavery corrupted the law
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Slavery put liberty and equality of both races at
risk
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“A house divided against itself cannot stand”
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Not to call evil, evil; is to call it good
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“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I
feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him
personally.”
Effects of the Civil War
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More than 618,000 men died
The war literally put brother against brother,
especially in the border states.
The Federal government proved itself
supreme over the states.
Effects of the Civil War
Constitutional Amendments
 13th Amendment- outlawed slavery
 14th Amendment- required states to uphold
“equal justice under the law”
 15th Amendment- equal voting rights to
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