The Civil War Chapter 2, Section 4
The Union Dissolves Seceding states met and on February 8, 1861, declared themselves to be the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy The Confederate Constitution was similar to the U.S. Constitution except it stated that each state was independent and it guaranteed the existence of slavery in the Confederacy. It also banned protective tariffs and limited the term of the presidency. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was chosen president of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis
EQ: What factors led to the Civil War and the Union s victory over the Confederacy? VOCAB: Martial law Greenback Conscription Habeas corpus Emancipation Proclamation Attrition Siege Mandate Subordinate 13th Amendment
Civil War Begins.. In his inaugural speech, Lincoln told seceding states that he would not interfere with slavery where it existed, but he said, the Union of these States is perpetual. He also said that the Union would hold on to the federal property in the seceding states. President Lincoln announced that he would resupply Fort Sumter. Confederate President Jefferson Davis demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter, but the fort s commander, U.S. Army Major Robert Anderson, refused. Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter and, after 33 hours, Anderson surrendered. The Civil War had begun. Fort Sumter is a seaport in Charleston, South Carolina
Civil War President Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteers to serve in the Union army. States in the Upper South seceded, beginning with Virginia. The capital of the Confederacy immediately was changed to Richmond, Virginia. Led to crisis in Upper South States did not want to secede Did not want to take up arms vs. fellow Southerners
Martial Law Lincoln did not want the border states to secede, especially Maryland. Since Virginia had seceded, he did not want Washington, D.C., to be surrounded by Confederate territory. Martial law was imposed in Baltimore to prevent Maryland s secession. Under martial law, the military takes control of an area and suspends certain civil rights. Kentucky was important to the Union because it controlled the Ohio River s south bank. Kentucky remained neutral until the Confederate forces invaded it. Then Kentucky s legislature voted to stay in the Union. Missouri voted to stay with the Union, but needed the support of federal forces.
The Opposing Sides General Winfield Scott asked Robert E. Lee to command Union troops. Lee was one of the best senior officers in the United States Army. Lee, however, was from Virginia, so when his state voted to secede, Lee chose to support the Confederacy. Hundreds of other military officers chose to support the Confederacy. Advantage for the South-The South had a strong military tradition. Seven of the eight military colleges were in the South. So the South had a large number of trained army officers.
Advantages of the North The North had a strong naval tradition. Three-fourths of the U.S. Navy s officers were from the North. The North had a large pool of trained sailors from merchant ships. The North s population was more than twice as large as the South s population. This gave the North an advantage in raising an army and in supporting the war. The North s industries gave it an economic advantage over the South. The North had almost 90 percent of the country s factories, and it could provide ammunition and other supplies more easily.
Opposing Economies The South had only one railroad line connecting the western states of the Confederacy to the east. Northern troops easily disrupted the South s rail system and prevented the distribution of supplies and troops.
Financial Advantage The North had several financial advantages over the South. The North controlled the national treasury and was able to continue collecting money from tariffs. Northern banks loaned the federal government money by buying government bonds. Congress passed the Legal Tender Act in February 1862. This created a national currency and allowed the government to issue green-colored paper money known as greenbacks.
Confederate Money The Confederacy s financial situation was not good to start, and continued to worsen. Southern planters and banks could not buy bonds. The Union Navy blockaded Southern ports, so money raised by taxing trade was greatly reduced. To raise money, the South taxed its own people. Many Southerners refused to pay the taxes. The South was forced to print its own paper money, which caused rapid inflation in the South.
The Political Situation As the Civil War began, there were many Republicans and Northern Democrats who challenged Lincoln s policies. Lincoln s goal was to preserve the Union, even if that meant allowing slavery to continue. In 1862 Congress introduced a militia law that allowed states to use conscription the drafting of people for military service to fill their regiments. Many Democrats opposed the law, and riots erupted in many cities.
Limiting Civil Liberties To enforce the militia law, Lincoln suspended writs of habeas corpus a person s right not to be imprisoned unless charged with a crime and given a trial (charge or let go). The Confederate Constitution s commitment to states rights limited president Jefferson Davis s ability to conduct the war (weak central government) Many Southern leaders opposed president Jefferson Davis s policies. They objected to the Confederacy forcing people to join the army. They also opposed suspending writs of habeas corpus.
Recognition of the Confederacy? The United States did not want Europeans to recognize the Confederate States of America as an independent country. The South wanted Europeans to recognize the Confederacy and provide it with military assistance. To pressure France and Britain, Southern planters stopped selling cotton to these countries. Despite pressure, both Great Britain and France chose not to go to war against the United States.
The First Modern War The Civil War was the first modern war. The war involved huge armies made up of mostly civilian volunteers who required vast amounts of supplies and equipment. The new military technologies, including cone-shaped bullets, and tactics caused attacking forces to suffer high casualties. Attrition the wearing down of one side by the other through exhaustion of soldiers and resources meant that the armies had to keep replacing their soldiers.
The general in chief, Winfield Scott, suggested that the Union blockade Confederate ports and send gunboats down Mississippi to divide Confederacy in twocausing the South to run out of resources.
The Early Stages of War Confederate reinforcements at the First Battle of Bull Run turned the tide for the Confederacy in the first major battle. The reinforcing troops were led by Thomas J. Jackson Stonewall Jackson. He became one of the most effective commanders in the Confederate Army.
Conscription-a.k.a. The Draft At first many Northern and Southern men enlisted in the armies. As the war dragged on, fewer young men enlisted. The North tried to get volunteers to enlist by offering a bounty an amount of money given as a bonus to men who enlisted for three years of military service. Eventually both the Confederacy and the Union instituted the draft.
To be continued.
War in the East As Union troops withdrew, Lee attacked the Union forces defending Washington. This became the Second Battle of Bull Run. The South forced the North to retreat. Confederate troops were just 20 miles from Washington. Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis believed that an invasion of the North was the only way to convince the Union to accept the South s independence, gain help from Great Britain, and help the Peace Democrats win control of Congress in upcoming elections. So Lee and his troops invaded Maryland. McClellan and his troops took position along Antietam Creek, east of Lee.
After Antietam, Britain Continues Neutrality The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day battle of the war. McClellan inflicted so many casualties on the Confederate army that Lee decided to retreat to Virginia. This was an important victory for the Union. The South lost its best chance to gain international recognition and support. The defeat convinced Lincoln that it was time to end slavery in the South.
The Emancipation Proclamation In September of 1862, Abraham Lincoln, encouraged by the Union victory at Antietam, announced that he would issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This decree would free all enslaved persons in states still in rebellion after January 1, 1863. In September of 1862, Abraham Lincoln, encouraged by the Union victory at Antietam, announced that he would issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This decree would free all enslaved persons in states still in rebellion after January 1, 1863.
Economy Makes a Difference As a result of the collapse of the South s transportation system and the presence of Union troops in many agricultural regions, the South suffered severe food shortages by the winter of 1862. The food shortages hurt Southern morale and led to riots. Rapid inflation drove up prices. The North had an economic boom because of the war. The large, well-established banking industry made raising money for the war easier. The increased use of mechanical reapers and mowers made farming possible with fewer workers. Women entered the workforce to fill labor shortages.
African Americans in the Civil War African Americans were officially allowed to enlist in the Union army and navy, as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation. Thousands of African Americans joined the military.
The Turning Point- Battle at Gettysburg In June 1863, Lee invaded the North. There Lee s army met the Union cavalry. On July 1, 1863, the Confederates pushed the Union troops out of Gettysburg. The Union forces had 23,000 casualties at Gettysburg. The Confederates had 28,000 casualties more than one-third of Lee s army. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the war in the east. Lee s forces remained on the defensive, the Republicans were strengthened, and the battle ensured that the British would not recognize the Confederacy.
Gettysburg Address President Lincoln came to Gettysburg in November 1863, to dedicate part of the battlefield as a military cemetery. Lincoln s Gettysburg Address became one of the best-known speeches in American history.
Sherman s March Union General Sherman marched his troops from Chattanooga toward Atlanta in late August 1864. To avoid being trapped in the city, Confederate General John B. Hood evacuated Atlanta. On November 15, 1864, Sherman began his March to the Sea. His troops cut a path of destruction through Georgia in which they ransacked homes, burned crops, and killed cattle. They reached the coast and seized Savannah on December 21, 1864.
New Tactics in Modern Warfare After reaching the sea, Sherman and his troops turned north toward South Carolina. The Union troops pillaged, or looted, almost everything in their path. They burned at least 12 cities, including South Carolina s capital Columbia. After reaching the sea, Sherman and his troops turned north toward South Carolina. The Union troops pillaged, or looted, almost everything in their path. They burned at least 12 cities, including South Carolina s capital Columbia.
Purpose of War Shifts The capture of Atlanta came in time for Lincoln s re-election. Lincoln considered his reelection a mandate, a clear sign from the voters, to end slavery by amending the Constitution. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, banning slavery in the United States, passed the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865.
End of the Civil War General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. The terms of surrender guaranteed that the United States would not prosecute Confederate soldiers for treason. Lincoln gave a speech in which he explained his plan for restoring the Southern states in the Union. Lee surrendering to Grant