The American Civil War

Jan 2011 C. Corning

Civil War

S Definition S What other Civil Wars have you studied? Common

Characteristics?

Characteristics of a Civil War

S An organized military action 1,000 battle deaths/year

and 5% of deaths inflicted by the weaker party.

S At least two factions within a single country/nation-state

one of which is the national government which are divided over religious, ideological, political, economic and/or social issues.
S The war occurs in the country in which the opposing

factions originate and the primary leadership of each faction is from that country.

Why Study the American Civil War?

S The Civil War remains the deadliest and most destructive

of all Americas wars.

S The first modern war on the continent (and maybe the

world).
S Only conflict in U.S. history fought entirely on the nations

soil.
S Strengthened the power of the Federal Government. S Forever destroyed the institution of slavery in the U.S.

Causes of the American Civil War

S Economic and social differences between the North

and the South.

S States versus federal rights. S The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State

Proponents.
S Growth of the Abolition Movement. S The election of Abraham Lincoln.

Causes
S Economic and social differences between the North

and the South:

S The southern economy became a one crop economy,

depending on cotton and therefore on slavery.

S On the other hand, the northern economy was based

more on industry than agriculture. In fact, the northern industries were purchasing the raw cotton and turning it into finished goods.
S This disparity between the two set up a major difference

in economic attitudes.

Causes
S States versus federal rights.

S Many States Rights proponents felt that the U.S. Constitution

ignored the rights of states to continue to act independently.

S They felt that the states should still have the right to decide if

they were willing to accept certain federal acts. This resulted in the idea of nullification, whereby the states would have the right to rule federal acts unconstitutional.
S The federal government denied states this right. However,

proponents such as John C. Calhoun fought vehemently for nullification. When nullification would not work and states felt that they were no longer respected, they moved towards secession.

The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents.

Causes

Missouri Compromise passed in 1820 made a rule that prohibited slavery in states from the former Louisiana Purchase the latitude 36 degrees 30 minutes north except in Missouri.
Wilmot Provision in 1846 which would ban slavery in the new lands. However, this was shot down to much debate. The Compromise of 1850 was created by Henry Clay and others to deal with the balance between slave and free states, northern and southern interests. Many of these states were formed in territory won in the Mexican-American War (1846 1848). Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. It created two new territories that would allow the states to use popular sovereignty to determine whether they would be free or slave.

Causes
S Growth of the Abolition Movement. S Increasingly, the northerners became more polarized

against slavery. Sympathies began to grow for abolitionists and against slavery and slaveholders.
S Major events included:
S the publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's

Cabin, S The Dred Scott Case S John Brown's Raid S Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act that held individuals responsible for harboring fugitive slaves even if they were located in non-slave states.

Causes
S The election of Abraham Lincoln

S When Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina issued

its "Declaration of the Causes of Secession." They believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of Northern States interests.
S Before Lincoln was even president, seven states had

seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

The Birth of the Republican Party

S Question: Why do new political parties form? S By the end of the 1850s the nations political landscape had

shifted. New concerns increase in immigration, Whig party split over the issue of slavery and a weak Democratic party. (Review pg 320)
S Nativism Know Nothing Party S Free-Soil Party no more extension of slavery (however not a

party of abolitionism).
S Discontented Whigs formed the Republican party (sound

familiar? Ie the Tea Party?).

Events Leading up to Secession discussions Slavery begins to dominate most political

Constitutional Rights Do Not Extend to Blacks
S He was the Chief Justice blacks cannot be citizens

S Dred Scott Decision (1857) Roger Taneys Majority Opinion

S Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1858 Illinois Senate Race

S Douglas (D) supported popular sovereignty (believed that

slavery would die out) S Lincoln (R) slavery was immoral, fear that it would spread to new territories
S Harpers Ferry (VA) John Brown Oct 1859 slave uprising

Lincolns Election
S 1860 Presidential Election three candidates: Lincoln

(R), Douglas (D) and Breckinridge (D)

S Lincoln won but with less than half of popular vote not a

strong mandate no electoral votes from the South

S The South felt that they had no voice in national politics
S South Carolina seceded from the Union on Dec 20, 1860, S S S S

followed by Mississippi and Florida in Jan 1861 Later Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas Feb 1861 delegates from these states met formed the Confederate States of America (The Confederacy) Constitution similar but protected and recognized slavery Jefferson Davis - President

The Beginning
S After the seven southern states seceded and formed the

Confederacy, soldiers began to take over federal buildings in their states government buildings and military installations.
S Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor Confederates demanded

S S

S S S

surrender, Lincoln only sent food, Confederates attack April 12, 1861. Lincoln responded by calling for 75,000 troops April 17th Virginia seceded (unwilling to fight against other southern states) and brought ironworks and factories to the Confederate side. By May Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina secede Western counties of Virginia secede from VA and become West Virginia (1863 statehood special exception) Four remaining slave states: Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri remain in the Union.

Military History
S Northern and Southern Resources page 339 unevenly

matched (although it could be argued at the beginning of the war that the South had better military leadership!)
S Strategy: both sides thought it would be a quick war
S Union pursued what became known as the Anaconda Plan

three prong strategy:

S S S

Navy Blockade Southern ports Union riverboats and armies move down Mississippi Rv why? Union armies capture the Confederate capital Richmond, VA

S Confederacy mainly defensive strategy

Battles
S How to read a military history map the key is crucial!
S Pages 340, 358, 361, 363,

S First Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861 about 25 miles south

of Union capital and 100 miles north of the Confederate capital.

S Lasted most of the day, Union winning in the morning but the

Confederate rallying in the afternoon, led by Stonewall Jackson S Lincoln responded to the Union lost by calling up 1 million men for a three year enlistment and appointed George McClellan as commander of Union Army (aka Army of the Potomac).

Battles in the West

S Feb 1862, the Union army led by Ulysses S. Grant invaded western

Tennessee - within 2 weeks captured Ft. Henry on the Tennessee River and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River.
S March 1862, Grant camped his army near a Tennessee church named

Shiloh, close to the Mississippi border. S April - Confederate soldiers surprised the Union army and inflicted significant casualties before the Union army could re-group and force Confederate forces to retreat. S Both sides became aware of the need for defensive measures while in camp, bloody engagement and failure of Confederates to hold onto Ohio-Kentucky frontier.
S April Union takes hold of New Orleans why significant?

Battle for the Seas

S March 1862, the ironclads the Monitor (Union) and the

Merrimack (Confederate) fought a duel at sea.

S Ironclad ships could splinter wooden ships, withstand cannon fire

and resist burning. S The Merrimack attached three Union ships, the Monitor responded the attack and in the end the battle was a draw.
S The Confederate submarine CSS Hunley (named for one of its

financiers, Horace Lawson Hunley) was intended for attacking the North's ships, which were blockading the South's seaports. The sub was extremely hazardous to operate, and had no air supply other than what was contained inside the main compartment. February 17, 1864, it sank the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor.

The War for the Capitals

S The third prong of the Union strategy was to capture the Confederate

capital. Problem: Gen McClellan was slow to act and did not move against Richmond until the spring of 1862. S McClellan moves South and into the armies of Robert E. Lee Seven Days Battles (June 25 July 1, 1862). McClellan moved away from Richmond and headed towards the sea.
S Lee captured the advantage of momentum and moved against the

Washington D.C. On August 29 and 30, his troops won a big victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run. A few days later Lee takes his army

across the Potomac River into Maryland.

S McClellan ordered his army to intercept and the two armies fought at

Antietam on Sept 17th bloodiest single day battle in US history. S Union victory but Lee is able to retreat and Lincoln fires McClellan.

The Politics of War

S At the beginning of the war, the Southern states expected Britain

to support them why?

S However Britain pursues a policy of neutrality India and wheat.

S The abolition movement pressured Lincoln to resolve the

question of slavery
S Although Lincoln did not agree with slavery, he felt that the federal

govt did not have the power to abolish it where it already existed. S My object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy Slavery. S Just as Union soldiers could confiscate Confederate supplies, Lincoln also authorized the army to emancipate slaves. S Since England support abolitionism, this was also a diplomatic move.
S gg

Emancipation Proclamation 1863 Excerpt on page 346 the proclamation only applied to those slaves
within States that were in a state of rebellion. slaves in Confederate areas, outside Union control. S Did not apply to those areas of the south under Union military control nor to slave states who did not secede.

S It did NOT free any slaves immediately because it only applied to those

S Reactions: turned the fight into a moral struggle and allowed free blacks

to enlist in the Union army. ( Blacks already were used in the Confederate army as labor.) S Democrats concerned that it would antagonize the South S Confederacy saw this as confirmation of their fears about federal govt. S Now there was no opportunity for compromise to end the war.

Problems Associated with Civil Wars How to deal with dissenters?

sympathizers in the North and the same in the South. How did each govt handle their critics?
S Lincoln often suspended habeas corpus suspected Confed.

S Neither side is homogenous there were Confederate

sympathizers were arrested and held without trial; he also sent federal troops against civilian populations and seized telegram offices. S What was the constitutionality of his actions? S Jefferson Davis also had to suspended many civil liberties. S Lincolns actions set a precedent for the expansion of Presidential power in a time of war. (WWII, Vietnams, Iraqi War)

Problems Associated with Civil Wars How to Find Soldiers for Your Army?
not enough to staff a full military fighting force

S Volunteers initially usually a good number but usually

S Conscription the draft that forces certain members of

the population to serve in the Army

S Union men 20 45 years old passed in 1863; however

92% of Union forces were volunteer

S

Draft riots in New York immigrants not our war

Breakdown of social stablility

S Confederate men 18 35 years old (later 17 50) passed

in 1862, rich mans war but poor mans fight - ??

Other Wartime Issues

S African-American Soldiers S Slave Resistance in the Confederacy

S Inflation and Shortages in the South

S Northern Economic Growth S Health and Sanitation issues disease, Dorothea Dix, Clara

Barton (trained nurses)

S Prisoners of War Andersonville, prisoner exchange,

treatment of Black Union soldiers

Battle of Antietam
S Articles Thesis:

S Impact of the Battle on the rest of the war:

S Legacy of the Civil War:

Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg

S Battle of Gettysburg (Penn.) July 1863 three day battle.

Lee, Jackson, A.P. Hill, James Longstreet and Jeb Stuart vs. George Meade and David Gregg (map pg 361)
S Result: Both sides suffer massive casualties (close to 30%), Lee

forced to retreat south (never to penetrate North again) S Nov 1863 Lincolns Gettysburg Address Four score and seven years (page 361)
S Vicksburg Campaign (Miss) April to July 1863 Grant set

up a seige, by July the Confederate commander surrendered and the Confederacy was cut in two.

Civil War 1863- 1865

S Confederacy is weak low on food, supplies, guns and

ammunition holding on long enough for an armistice, rather than a surrender.

S Deteriorating civilian morale, some planters continue to grow

cash crops to sell North, increasing desertions, discord within the Confed. govt, growth of peace movements
S March, 1864 Grant becomes the commander of all Union

armies and appoints William Sherman as commander of the western division.

S Both focused on total war, with the goal of destroying the Souths

will to fight/support the war

Beginning of the End

S Grant occupies Lee in Virginia while Sherman focused on

Georgia, the last strong hold of the Confederacy (pg 363)

S Grant was willing to suffer high casualties in order to force Lee

into surrender The Butcher

S Shermans March Fall of 1864 he abandons his supply

line and marches his army through Georgia, living off the land and creating a wide path of destruction culminating in the burning of Atlanta in November.
S Then the Army turned north to help Grant, 25,000 former slaves

following, greater destruction in South Carolina

S 1864 Presidential election pg 364

Surrender at Appomattox
S Sherman approaching Richmond from the South, Grant and

Sheridan from the West

S Grant wins against Lee at Petersburg, President Davis and his

cabinet abandon Richmond and set it on fire

S Lee and Grant met to arrange a Confederate surrender on

April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House

S At Lincolns request, the terms were generous: Lees soldiers

were paroled and sent home with rations. S The war was over.

Legacy of the War

S Political Changes S Economic Changes

S Social Changes

S Assassination of Pres. Lincoln April 14, 1865 John Wilkes

Booth (Southern sympathizer) killed him in the Fords Theater in Washington, D.C. Andrew Johnson becomes President

S Reconstruction the period during which the United States

Restoration

began to rebuild after the Civil War, 1865 1877.

S Lincolns Reconstruction Plan wanted a lenient plan, to

make it as quick and painless as possible, 10% plan to reinstate a new state govt and gain representation in Congress
S Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia first states
S Radical Republicans disagreed with the plan and wanted to

punish the former slave holders, and give former slaves full citizenship and the right to vote S Pass Wade-Davis Bill Congress, not the President, responsible of the reconstruction Lincoln pulled a pocket veto.
S Johnson intended to deal harshly with the Confederate

leaders

Johnstons Plan
S The remaining Confederate states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia,

Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas) could be readmitted to the Union if:
S Each state withdrew its secession S Swear allegiance to the Union S Annul Confederate war debts

S Ratify the 13th Amendment

S Johnson wanted to prevent high-ranking Confederates and wealthy

Southern landowners from taking the oath for voting privileges.

S Radicals Republicans were upset because Johnson failed to

address the needs of former slaves: land, voting rights and protection under the law. But the white Southerners were relieved.

The Southern Response

S The remaining Confederate states quickly agreed to

Johnsons terms. All the states (except for Texas) held conventions to draw up new state constitutions, set up new state governments and elect new representatives to Congress.
S Congress in Dec 1865 refused to seat the Southern

Congressmen S The moderate Republicans enlarged the Freedmens Bureau in Feb 1866 to assist former slaves S April 1866 the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which gave African-Americans citizenship and forbade discriminatory laws (black codes). S Johnson vetoed the Freedmens Bureau Act and Civil Rights Act.

Congressional Reconstruction
S Congress is unhappy with the Presidents plan and the radical

and moderate Republicans worked together to shift the power over the Reconstruction program to the Congress.
S 14th Amendment in 1866 passage in 1868 (all Southern states

except for Tennessee reject it). S Reconstruction Act of 1867 did not recognize any State Govts formed under Lincoln or Johnsons plan (WHAT??) except Tenn because it had ratified the 14th Amendment
S

The act divided the other 10 former Confederate States into 5 military districts, each headed by a Union General. The voters white and African-American men would elect delegates to conventions to draft new state constitutions and elect representatives to Congress (sound familiar?) States had to ratify the 14th Amendment and ensure the African-American men could vote in order to be readmitted to the Union.

Reconstruction Terms
S 15th Amendment S Public Works Program S Scalawags S Carpetbaggers S Black migration to southern cities S Segregation S 40 Acres and Mule S Restoration of Plantation System, Sharecropping and Tenant

Farming

Collapse of Reconstruction
S White Southerners were divided about the reaction to the role

of African-Americans in government. Most Southerners wanted to move on and restore political, economic and social stability however a minority of Southerners were very unhappy and used violence against African-Americans
S Ku Klux Klan (KKK) started as a social club for Confederate

soldiers, started in Tennessee in 1866, by 1868 in every southern state. S The KKK used both the threats of physical violence and economic pressure to prevent the African-Americans from making progress S By May 1872, the Amnesty Act was passed which allowed former Confederate leaders to hold federal and state offices most of whom would vote Democratic.

The Pendulum Swings the Other Way

S The Republicans suffer a serious of political scandals which

eventually divide the Republican party

S The Panic of 1873 what was the effect on the Republican party? S Supreme Court began to undo some of the more radical social and

political changes made by the Radical Republicans.

S Northern voters began to grow weary of the problems in the South

and of the Reconstruction process

S Redemption Process (1869 1875) Democrats regaining control of

Southern state governments. Federal Troops removed home rule

Legacy of Reconstruction
S Was the Reconstruction process a success or a failure?

(pg 400)
S Legacy? Short-term? Long-term? (pgs 400 401)