Introduction to the Civil War 1861-1865

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Introduction to the Civil War1861-1865
The regimental colors of the 19th Massachusetts
Infantry Regiment were damaged in battle during
the American Civil War.
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The Civil War

• Who was involved?

1 The Confederate States of America
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The Civil War

• Who was involved?

2 The Union (Free States Territories)
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The Civil War

• Who was involved?

3 The Border States
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The Civil War
I hope to have God on my side but I have to have
Kentucky -- Abraham Lincoln

• Why were the Border States so important?

• Important geographically

Why were the Border States so unusual?

• Slave states that stayed with the Union

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The Civil War

• How did they fight?

• Total War - organisation of all the resources
  (people and products) of a country towards the
  war effort
• The resources of enemy civilians are fair targets
  in total war (ex. Farms, food, etc)

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Thinking Question

• (Dont write! Just think!)
• Are governments ever justified in targeting
  civilians (non-soldiers) in wartime?

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Advantages and Disadvantages

• North
• Population 22 million
• 4 million men of combat age

• South
• Population 9 million
• 1.2 million men of fighting age
• 3.5 million slaves

North has the advantage in population
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Advantages and Disadvantages

• North
• Economy100,000 Factories
• 70,000 miles of Railroad
• 190,000 in bank deposits

• South
• Economy 20,000 factories
• 9,000 miles of Railroad
• 50,000 in bank deposits

North has the advantage in industrial power
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Advantages and Disadvantages

• North
• Armed Forcesmostly drafted soldiers with overly
  cautious officers
• More soldiers
• African Americans - 10 of Union forces
• Strong navy

• South
• Armed Forces better trained soldiers better
  leadership
• No real navy

North has the advantage in of soldiers, but
South in the quality of soldiers generals
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Advantages and Disadvantages

• North
• Government - Strong well-established government

South Government - Weak government, most power
given to states
North has a stronger government, better able to
direct resources (people products) towards the
war
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Advantages and Disadvantages

• North
• Motivation Preserve the union
• Later - free the slaves

• South
• Motivation Preserve way of life

Who has the advantage in motivation? You decide.
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Goals

• North
• Anaconda Plan
• 1. Blockade the South
• 2. Divide - Split the Confederacy by gianing
  control of the Mississippi River
• 3. Conquer - remaining parts

South 1. Defend existing territory 2. Gain
recognition of Confederacy as independent nation
Whose goals would be easier to reach?
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Leaders

• Abraham Lincoln

A House divided against itself cannot stand --
A. Lincoln

• Little political experience (served 1 term in the
  House of Representatives)

• Strong reputation for honesty, temperance, jokes
  and storytelling

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Leaders
Jefferson Davis
All we ask is to be left alone -- J. Davies

• West Point graduate, Colonel in Mexican-American
  war, Secretary of war, Senator from Miss.

• Not a popular president, especially with big fans
  of states rights

Who has the advantage in leadership?
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Northern Commanders
George G. Meade
Joseph Hooker
George McClellan
Irwin McDowell
A. E. Burnside
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Northern Commanders
Ulysses S. Grant
-- When in doubt, fight U.S. Grant

• Son of an Ohio tailor drunken failure until the
  Civil War

• Reputation for boldness, resourcefulness,
  persistance

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Southern Commander
Robert E. Lee
It is a good thing war is so terrible else we
should grow too fond of it -- R.E. Lee

• Brilliant southern gentleman from one of
  countrys oldest families

• Offered command of Union armies

• Family plantation occupied early in the war and
  turned into Arlington National Cemetary

Who has the advantage in Commanders?
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Thinking Questions

• (Dont write Just think!)
• Is it more important to have strong generals or
  strong civilian leadership in a war?

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So how did it begin?

• Fort Sumter

Where?

• Fort Sumter lies in the harbor of Charleston, S.C.

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So how did it begin?

• Fort Sumter

Why?

• When Lincoln enters office, fort is running out
  of food

What?

• Lincoln can either defend the fort and risk war
  or abandon it and look weak in the eyes of the
  South

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So how did it begin?

• Fort Sumter

So...

• Lincoln sends unarmed vessel with food, giving
  the governor of S.C. plenty of warning

• S.C. attacks anyway and Lincoln asks for Northern
  volunteers

• This attack on the Union probably helps him keep
  many of the border states