Transcript Major Events of the Civil War

Bellwork
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Describe the Missouri Compromise.
What role did the industrial revolution and
westward expansion play in sectionalism?
What were the economic differences between
the North and the South?
What is the significance of the Dred Scott
decision?
Name 3 abolitionists and explain what role they
played in the abolitionist movement.
Why did the election of 1860 lead the session of
the southern states?
Major Events of the Civil War
Changes in Technology
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Ironclads
 It was a steam-propelled
warship of the later 19th
century, protected by
iron or steel armor
plates.
 During the war, most of
the Navy remained with
the Union. Ironclads
were the future of naval
warfare. Wooden ships
were obsolete because of
new exploding artillery
shells.
 The most famous point in
the war for ironclads
occurred at the Battle of
Hampton Roads. The
USS Monitor (Union)
battled the CSS Virginia
also called the Merrimack
(Confederacy). They
fought to a draw with
neither side being able to
defeat the other.
Changes in Technology
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Rifled Musket
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During the mid-19th
century, the use of the
rifled musket dramatically
changed how the war was
conducted.
How? Its range could be
accurate up to 500 yards.
Tactics had to be changed
as a result of this new
weapon.
This musket was not
smoothbore but rather
rifled which gave it better
accuracy.
Changes in Technology
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Medicine
 Doctors at the time did not
understand infection or
keeping their utensils
sterile.
 Twice as many men died of
disease than of gunshot
wounds in the Civil War.
 Amputations was the main
surgery performed. Due to
the enormous number of
wounded, the Civil War
Surgeons became
proficient at performing
amputations. In many
cases the amputation
would be performed in 10
minutes.
 Embalming became a new
procedure practiced.
Importance of Resources
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The North was industrialized
and had no problem making
the tools for war and having
the proper funds to run the
war.
The South was not
industrialized and relied on the
export of their cotton to make
money.
With the Union blockade of the
Eastern coastline and up the
Mississippi River, the South did
not have the capital ($)
needed for war.
Major Battles
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1st Battle of Bull Run (July of 1861)
 This was the first major battle of the war.
 The South routed the North who were
expecting a quick victory and were forced to
retreat back to D.C.
 Some argue that the South should have
followed the retreating army back to D.C.
and captured Washington.
 P.T. Beauregard was given the credit for the
Southern victory although Stonewall Jackson
was the strategist behind it.
 General McDowell took the blame for the
Union after the defeat & General McClellan
took his spot.
 Casualties:
 North: 460 killed, 1100 injured, 1100
missing/captured
 South: 387 killed, 1,582 wounded, and
13 missing
General McDowell
P.T. Beauregard
Major Battles
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Shiloh (April 1862)
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Was a 2 day battle and a Union victory,
however it was costly.
It was fought in southwestern
Tennessee.
The South launched a surprise attacked
that nearly worked. P.T. Beauregard and
Johnston were the southern generals and
Grant was in charge of the North. This
was fought in the western theatre of the
war.
Johnston was killed in this battle.
Casualties:
 North: 1,754 killed, 8,408 wounded, &
2,885 missing
 South: 1,728 killed, 8,012 wounded,
and 959 missing
General Johnston
Major Battles
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Antietam (Sept. 1862)
 It was the bloodiest of battle of
the Civil War. 23,000 soldiers
were killed in one day.
 It was fought on Northern soil in
Maryland. Lee took his army into
Maryland after a victory at the 2nd
Battle of Bull Run. He wanted to
seek new supplies and recruits.
 General Lee positioned behind
Antietam creek was attacked by
General McClellan.
 Several assaults were made by the
North but each time were turned
away.
 The following day, a truce was
made and Lee’s army began to
withdraw back to Virginia.
Burnside’s Bridge
Major Battles
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Vicksburg (May-July
1863)
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General Grant in this
battle crossed the
Mississippi River and
drove the South back
into the fortress city of
Vicksburg.
A 2 month siege
followed until the
South surrendered and
gave up control of the
Mississippi to the
North.
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Major Battles
Gettysburg
 This battle was fought in
Pennsylvania & was the
major turning point of the
Civil War for the South.
 This battle pitted General
Lee’s Army of Virginia vs
General Meade’s Army of
the Potomac.
 Lee ordered an assault on
the center of the Union’s
line after 2 days of trying
to outflank the North had
failed. Cemetery Ridge
was that point. Major
General Pickett ordered the
attack (Pickett’s charge)
 The South never fully
recovered after this.
 There were between 46-50
thousand casualties during
this 3 day battle.
Major Events
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Sherman’s March to the Sea
 This march took place at the end
of 1864.
 The march started in Atlanta,
Georgia & stopped at the port
town of Savannah, Georgia
 Sherman felt that the Civil War
would end only if the
Confederacy's strategic,
economic, and psychological
capacity for warfare were
decisively broken.
 Sherman therefore applied the
principles of scorched earth,
ordering his troops to burn crops,
kill livestock, consume supplies,
and destroy civilian infrastructure
along their path.
 This policy is often also referred
to as total war.
Major Events
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Appomattox
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General Lee determined
to make one last attempt
to escape the closing Union
army and get re-supplied in
a nearby town.
However, the Union was
able to surround 3 of Lee’s
sides and he was forced to
surrender.
He surrendered to Grant on
April 9, 1865.
His Farewell:
http://www.sonofthesouth.
net/leefoundation/Lee's%2
0Farewell.htm