Transcript The Civil War, 1861-1865

The Civil War,
1861-1865
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Chapter 14
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The two nations that
existed in 1861, the US
and the Confederate
States of America, were
surprisingly similar
Communities Mobilize for War
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Fort Sumter -Charleston, SC
The fort was low on supplies so Lincoln, hesitantly, ordered nonmilitary supplies be sent to them
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April 10 General P.T. Beauregard was ordered to attack if the fort did
not surrender
Two days later the stars and bars hung over Fort Sumter
When war broke out the 8 border states had to choose sides
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VA, AR, TN and NC join the South
The other 4 controlled key assets
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MO Mississippi River and access to the West
KY Ohio River
MD main RR; Washington, D.C.
DE access to Philadelphia
All 4 states would ultimately choose to stay with the Union
Communities Mobilize for War
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Advantages for the North:
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More people
Industry
firearms production
RR, textiles and footwear
By the end of the war the North was able to feed, cloth and care for
their 2M soldiers (South only had 800K)
South’s advantages:
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Desire and defense
Military personnel, many of the regular Federal troops choose to side
with the South
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Gen. Robert E Lee – home state of Virginia
Communities Mobilize for War
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North’s Plan
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Anaconda Plan- cut off south from trade
Must control coast and Mississippi river to be succesful
South’s Plan
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Gain Europe’s support because of their dependence on the south’s
cotton
Strategies
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How North paid for War
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Legal Tender Act of 1862 -national currency (greenbacks)
National Bank Act of 1863 forced state banks to apply for federal
charters
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war bonds, borrowed $2.6B, first federal Income Tax (3%) was imposed
Printed paper money (disputed by Congress)
These two acts took away the independence of state banks
Republican agenda:
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Morrill Tariff Act, as well as other acts doubled tariff rate
two federal corporations to build a transcontinental railroad
Homestead Act
Morrill Land Grant Act (1863)
1862—Creation of the Department of Agriculture
The Lincoln Presidency
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Gen. Seward fought to keep Britain and France from recognizing
the Confederacy
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King Cotton did not gain European support
turned to Egypt and India for their supplies
did allow the Confederacy to use their ports and Britain built 6 ships
for them
When Britain built two iron clad ships for the South, Union
threatened war
France had used the war to invade Mexico, violating the Monroe
Doctrine
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France withdrew from Mexico in 1866
The Lincoln Presidency
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Jefferson Davis’ job included not only fighting the war but creating
a nation based on a loose relationship between 11 States
Failure of “cotton diplomacy” shocked Southerners
States refused to raise taxes for war
After the initial surge of volunteers the Confederacy was forced to
institute a draft
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All able bodied white men age 18-35 were eligible
Purchasing substitutes was allowed
owned more than 20 slaves were exempt which created class
resentment
The Confederacy
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USS Monitor v Merrimack – first ironclad battle
Richmond (1862) – McClellan too indecisive, 7 days of battle,
Confederate victory, forced war to continue longer, created
opportunity for moral war
Antietam (1862) – McClellan and Lee, Union Victory, Gave Lincoln
opportunity to give Emancipation Proclamation
Gettysburg (1863) – last Southern advance to the North, turning
point, Gettysburg Address
Vicksburg (1863) – General Grant, control of Mississippi River,
transport of supplies, England and France cancel contracts of ships
and supplies for South
March to the Sea (1864) – General Sherman, total war
Appomattox Court House (1865) – Lee, surrender, all
Confederates have to lay down their arms
Major Battles
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Vicksburg (1863) – General Grant, control of Mississippi River,
transport of supplies, England and France cancel contracts of
ships and supplies for South
March to the Sea (1864) – General Sherman, total war
Appomattox Court House (1865) – Lee, surrender, all
Confederates have to lay down their arms
Major Battles
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As slaves fled to Union lines it became apparent that any policy
would have to include emancipation of the slaves
Lincoln began his presidency by declaring that slavery would go
untouched
Lincoln proposed that every state undertake gradual, compensated emancipation
Former slaves were to be resettled in Haiti and Panama (neither under
US control)
 Some such as Horace Greenly believed it was foolish to fight the
rebellion without immediately freeing the slaves
Lincoln had already decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, he
was just waiting for the right time
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The Death of Slavery
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On Jan. 1, 1863, as promised, Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation
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The symbolic gesture of the Emancipation Proclamation was met
with cheers from African Americans outside the White House
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Problem
work stoppage among southern slaves
Sopporters pushed Lincoln to support a constitutional amendment
outlawing slavery
Lincoln made it part of his 1864 platform, and the 13th Amendment was
ratified in 1865 (without any say from the southern states)
After the Proclamation is passed, Lincoln supported the idea of free
blacks joining the military
The Death of Slavery
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Many thought that the Civil War would be one of “brotherly”
fighting, avoiding excessive violence
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injured men would often be left in the fields to die
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Due to more accurate weaponry this was not true
The Generals were using outdated strategies
medical ignorance
battle of Shiloh
Many people were opposed to the idea of women working in army
hospitals taking care of strange men
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Despite objections from army doctors, women became nurses in
military hospitals thanks to the leadership of Dorothea Dix
Clara Barton – Red Cross
The Front Lines
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Stephen Douglas helped promote unity in the north between
Democrats and Republicans
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Wartime needs caused massive economic growth in the North
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His death created a separation between the “War Democrats” and the
“Peace Democrats”, known as “Copperheads”
“Copperheads” will be the reason Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus
Industries such as coal, iron, and agriculture are some of the
beneficiaries
Most people did not realize any economic upturn
Except big business
New York City Draft Riots
Home Front
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The opening of 1863 saw a stalemate between North and South
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In May, Robert E. Lee daringly divided his forces
General “Stonewall” Jackson lead his men to Chancellorsville, VA,
Conf. Victory
Lee took his forces to Gettysburg in July, where on the last day he sent
George Pickett and 15,000 men to advance on the Union lines
“Pickett’s Charge” representation of the Confederate war efforts
On July 4th, 1863, Ulysses S. Grant took Vicksburg
Grant devised a plan of strangulation
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Grant -Lee in Virginia, William Tecumseh Sherman -Tennessee into
Atlanta
Total War was evident as Sherman marched to Atlanta, earning the
nickname “Burnin’ Sherman”
The Tide Turns
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The war was the main focus of the election of 1864
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Radicals thought Lincoln was too conciliatory with the south, while
conservatives balked at emancipation
Lincoln anticipated losing unless a miracle occurred
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The miracle was Sherman’s capture of Atlanta
Lincoln’s reelection was a mandate from the people to continue war
In a last-ditch effort to replace Confederate soldiers, the South
armed slaves to serve in the Confederate army.
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Slaves who fought for the Confederacy were granted freedom
South sent VP to negotiate
Grant advanced on Lee’s men, leading to full surrender at the
Appomattox
The Tide Turns
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While attending a play at Ford’s Theater on April 14th, Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
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He died the next day,
Booth was a Southern supporter, but killed the best friend the
South had when he assassinated Lincoln
The Death of a President