Transcript Fort Sumter, April 12
Fort Sumter, April 12-15, 1861
Mobilization • Lincoln prepares North for war • VA, AR, TN, NC secede • 4 slave states remain – Delaware – Border states / regions • Maryland • Kentucky • Missouri • Western Virginia
Temporary measures • Lincoln would take no chances with MD • Imprisonment of pro-secession state legislators • Suppression of disloyal newspapers • Suspended habeas corpus – Supreme Court struck it down – Lincoln ignored Taney – just like Jackson
American Civil War 1861-1865
North v. South • On the eve of war, one certainty: • North has material advantage • 2x the population – 4x the white pop.
• More fighters and workers • Northern advanced industrial complex • South improved, still reliant on Europe • North has better transportation: • More and better roads; 2x the rails • Better integrated rails – uniform gauges • By 1864 Southern inferior rails collapse
Comparing Sides
Railroads 1860
Hindsight is 20/20 • At the time, South seems better situated • Defense war, positions --so… • North fighting in the South –so… • Southern commitment mostly uniform • Northern commitment divided, shaky to end • One decisive victory away from failure of Northern will • Perhaps even European intervention for South
Strategy and Diplomacy • • •
Militarily
– Initiative to fight is up to the Union – To keep South it has to defeat South
Diplomatically
– South has to gain recognition from Europe – North needs to maintain status quo
Attack and Die
– South adopts a “Celtic” strategy – full frontal assault
• Commander-In Chief • Material Advantage • Sees goal – destroy Armies – not territories • Lincoln is more competent than his generals – Not schooled in war – “By the power of his mind, [he] became a fine strategist.”
Lincoln’s Generals
Winfield Scott Irwin McDowell George McClellan Joseph Hooker Ambrose Burnside George Meade Ulysses S. Grant George McClellan, Again!
Joint Committee on the Conduct of War • Congress’ voice in formulating war policy • Very powerful, interfering • Joint investigative committee from both houses • Chair: Sen. Benjamin Wade of Ohio • Radical Republicanism • Function • Constantly plague Lincoln
Confederate States of America • Professional Solider (West Point) • Fails to create effective system of command • 1862 names Robert E. Lee principal military advisor • No plan on sharing • Fed up, Lee goes to field
The Confederate Generals
“Stonewall” Jackson George Pickett Nathan Bedford Forrest Jeb Stuart James Longstreet Robert E. Lee
The North’s Plan
Anaconda • Gen. Scott • Naval blockade • River control • Eventually “squeeze” toward Richmond
Advantage at Sea 1. Logistics most important 2. Union Blockades – Not fully effective – Smugglers (Gone with the Wind) – Union is able to squeeze Southern ports • South tries to break the Blockade – Ironclads – Merrimack v. Monitor – Torpedo boats – Hand-powered submarines • CSS Huley v. USS Housatonic
USS Cairo
Europe • England and France Southern sympathizers at start – Cotton importation – Weaken USA – Aristocratic nature of society • France stays out – will follow Britain • Britain stays out – Popular Union support • Freedom v. slavery • Emancipation Proclamation fuels this view
Death of King Cotton • 1861 UK cotton surplus • No need for CS cotton • Turn to Egypt and India to meet demand • Major southern bargaining tool undermined • No foreign recognition – never proves its close enough
Battle of Bull Run (1 st Manassas) July, 1861
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North defeated
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Disorganized retreat
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Stonewall Jackson got his name
The Battle of the Ironclads, March, 1862 The Monitor vs.
the Merrimac
War in the East: 1861-1862
Battle of Antietam “Bloodiest Single Day of the War” September 17, 1862
Order No. 191 • Lee’s battle plan for Antietam • Fell into Union hands • McClellan knew exactly how Lee would attack • Still, McClellan refused to commit to victory
23,000 casualties
The Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation in 1863
The Famous 54 th Massachusetts
Extensive Legislation Passed Without the South in Congress 1861 – Morrill Tariff Act 1862 – Homestead Act 1862 – Legal Tender Act 1862 – Morrill Land Grant Act 1862 – Emancipation Proclamation (1/1/1863) 1863 – Pacific Railway Act 1863 – National Bank Act
The War in the West, 1863: Vicksburg
The Road to Gettysburg: 1863
Gettysburg Casualties
The North Initiates the Draft,
1863
NYC Draft Riots, (July 13-16, 1863)
Inflation in the South
The Progress of War: 1861-1865
Sherman’s “March to the Sea” through Georgia, 1864
1864 Election
Pres. Lincoln (R) George McClellan (D)
The Peace Movement: Copperheads Clement Vallandigham
Presidential Election Results: 1864
The Final Virginia Campaign: 1864-1865
Surrender at Appomattox
April 9, 1865
Casualties on Both Sides
Civil War Casualties in Comparison to Other Wars
Ford’s Theater (April 14, 1865)
The Assassin
John Wilkes Booth
The Assassination
“Sic semper tyrannis!”