America – 1861-1865 – The American Civil War

• Plantation culture in the South needed Plantation culture in the South needed slaves to provide the labor.slaves to provide the labor.

• Most northerners did not like slavery but Most northerners did not like slavery but said little until the west was opened and the said little until the west was opened and the issue of slave- or free-state became critical.issue of slave- or free-state became critical.

• Abolitionist activities and Republican party Abolitionist activities and Republican party threatened plantation life.threatened plantation life.

• South favored weak central government and South favored weak central government and popular sovereignty. popular sovereignty.

Prelude to the Civil WarPrelude to the Civil War

• John Brown’s raids and the fighting in John Brown’s raids and the fighting in “Bleeding Kansas”“Bleeding Kansas”

• Abolitionist movements and the Abolitionist movements and the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad

• Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel called Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel called Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin

• Abraham Lincoln’sAbraham Lincoln’s electionelection• Secession of southern statesSecession of southern states• Firing on fort in Charleston HarborFiring on fort in Charleston Harbor

Points of no return…Points of no return…

John Brown’s raids John Brown’s raids shed bloodshed blood

Brown learned that the Armory at Harpers Ferry held guns and gun powder. Brown and his followers stole the guns and took hostages. Some hostages escaped and told others what was happening. Gen. Robert E. Lee and some marines recaptured the Armory and arrested John Brown. He was put on trial and the jury found him guilty of murder and helping slaves rebel. He was hanged in 1859 and became a martyr to the abolitionist cause.

Firing on Fort Sumter Firing on Fort Sumter shed bloodshed blood

Firing from Charleston’s shore batteries and other forts began on April 12, 1861. Shelling lasted 33 hours before the Union forces surrendered and withdrew. Blood had been shed and the Civil War began.

• By April 17, 1861, there were eleven states in By April 17, 1861, there were eleven states in the Confederacy with a population of about the Confederacy with a population of about 9,000,000, but 4,000,000 of those were 9,000,000, but 4,000,000 of those were slaves.slaves.

• The Union had twenty-one states and a The Union had twenty-one states and a population of over 20,000,000.population of over 20,000,000.

• April 19, 1861 – Lincoln issues a Proclamation April 19, 1861 – Lincoln issues a Proclamation of Blockade which limited the ability of the of Blockade which limited the ability of the South to obtain supplies.South to obtain supplies.

One by one the states One by one the states seceded from the Unionseceded from the Union

• The people in the South were fighting for The people in the South were fighting for their homes, their states, and the rights of their homes, their states, and the rights of popular sovereignty. They were also popular sovereignty. They were also protecting a way of life which, for some, protecting a way of life which, for some, included owning slaves.included owning slaves.

• The people of the North were doing The people of the North were doing something that no people had ever done something that no people had ever done before - they were fighting to make other before - they were fighting to make other men, women, and children free.men, women, and children free.

Why Did They Fight?Why Did They Fight?

• April 4, 1861 – Robert E. Lee declined the April 4, 1861 – Robert E. Lee declined the offer to head Union forces and resigned offer to head Union forces and resigned from the US Army… "I cannot raise my hand from the US Army… "I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my against my birthplace, my home, my children." Lee was offered command of the children." Lee was offered command of the military and naval forces of Virginia. military and naval forces of Virginia.

• July 4, 1861July 4, 1861 - Lincoln stated that the war - Lincoln stated that the war was "a struggle for…a government, whose was "a struggle for…a government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of leading object is, to elevate the condition of men..." Congress authorized a call for men..." Congress authorized a call for 500,000 men. 500,000 men.

The Armies Formed…The Armies Formed…

• Gen. Irvin McDowell was defeated at Manassas, VA, 25 miles Gen. Irvin McDowell was defeated at Manassas, VA, 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. JacksonJackson earned the earned the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resisted Union attacks. Union troops fell back, in chaos, to resisted Union attacks. Union troops fell back, in chaos, to Washington. President Lincoln realized the war would be Washington. President Lincoln realized the war would be long. long.

First Bull RunFirst Bull Run or or ManassasManassas

Union forces fled the field at Bull Run in what was known as the Great Skedaddle…

…while General Thomas J. Jackson’s Virginians stood like a “Stonewall.”

Foolish citizens who had never seen a Foolish citizens who had never seen a war packed picnic baskets and went to war packed picnic baskets and went to watch the show. They became watch the show. They became entangled with the fleeing Union entangled with the fleeing Union soldiers and many died.soldiers and many died.

• February 1862February 1862 – was a good month for Gen. Ulysses S. – was a good month for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, as he captured Fort Henry, and ten Grant in Tennessee, as he captured Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Gen. Grant earned the nickname days later Fort Donelson. Gen. Grant earned the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.

• Admiral Farragut assisted in the capture of these forts from Admiral Farragut assisted in the capture of these forts from the water side.the water side.

Failing in the North, Union Failing in the North, Union forces turned to the West…forces turned to the West…

Fighting in the West…Fighting in the West…

Gen. Grant and Adm. Farragut attacked Forts Henry and Donelson from land and river. The vital forts fell and so did the western Confederacy’s strength. The fall of these forts left the Union in control of the Mississippi and isolated Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the rest of the Confederacy in late 1862.

• A wall of Union warships blocked southern A wall of Union warships blocked southern ports from shipping valuable cotton to ports from shipping valuable cotton to Europe and kept needed supplies from Europe and kept needed supplies from getting in.getting in.

• Blockade runners did get boats in but Blockade runners did get boats in but mostly they held profitable luxury goods. mostly they held profitable luxury goods.

• The blockade helped defeat the South.The blockade helped defeat the South.• The The MerrimacMerrimac, an ironclad vessel, was built , an ironclad vessel, was built

to help run the blockades. Metal plates to help run the blockades. Metal plates made it safe against wooden ships. made it safe against wooden ships.

The Union BlockadeThe Union Blockade

• After the successes of the After the successes of the MerrimacMerrimac, the union built the , the union built the MonitorMonitor and it defeated the and it defeated the Merrimac.Merrimac.

Battle of the Battle of the ironclads…ironclads…

The Merrimac The Monitor

• Eventually the South Carolinians built a semi-submersible Eventually the South Carolinians built a semi-submersible called the called the Little David Little David and a submarine called the and a submarine called the Hunley. Hunley. Both had limited success but neither was able to stop the Both had limited success but neither was able to stop the union blockade.union blockade.

Later iron vessels…Later iron vessels…

CSS David

CSS Hunley

• As if it were not enough As if it were not enough to watch his country to watch his country bleeding on both sides of bleeding on both sides of the terrible war, on the terrible war, on Feb Feb 20, 186220, 1862, President , President Lincoln was struck with Lincoln was struck with grief as his beloved 11-grief as his beloved 11-year-old son Willie died year-old son Willie died from fever, probably from fever, probably caused by polluted caused by polluted drinking water in the drinking water in the White House. White House.

President Lincoln’s President Lincoln’s GriefGrief

• In the Peninsular Campaign, March 1862, McClellan's Army In the Peninsular Campaign, March 1862, McClellan's Army of the Potomac moved from Washington down the Potomac of the Potomac moved from Washington down the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay to the peninsula south of the River and the Chesapeake Bay to the peninsula south of the capital in Richmond, Virginia. Then the Union army began capital in Richmond, Virginia. Then the Union army began an unsuccessful advance toward Richmond. an unsuccessful advance toward Richmond.

Lincoln needed a Lincoln needed a generalgeneral

• Joe Johnston led the Confederate forces but Joe Johnston led the Confederate forces but was badly wounded and replaced by Robert was badly wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee.E. Lee.

• Instead of advancing, McClellan withdrew. Instead of advancing, McClellan withdrew. Union losses were 16,000 while Lee lost Union losses were 16,000 while Lee lost 20,000 (1/5 of his army), but he prevented 20,000 (1/5 of his army), but he prevented the capture of Richmond.the capture of Richmond.

• President Lincoln was so angry that he President Lincoln was so angry that he temporarily relieved McClellan and took temporarily relieved McClellan and took direct command of the Union Armies. direct command of the Union Armies.

McClellan and Lee met McClellan and Lee met on the Peninsula…on the Peninsula…

• April 6-7, 1862April 6-7, 1862 - Confederates surprised - Confederates surprised Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River leading to a Shiloh on the Tennessee River leading to a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates, more wounded and 10,000 Confederates, more men than in all previous American wars men than in all previous American wars combined to that time. combined to that time.

• The president was pressured to relieve The president was pressured to relieve Grant but he resisted. "I can't spare this Grant but he resisted. "I can't spare this man; he fights," Lincoln says. That was more man; he fights," Lincoln says. That was more than he could say for McClellan.than he could say for McClellan.

The Battle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh

Shiloh was called a Union Shiloh was called a Union victory, but with so many victory, but with so many losses, who really won?losses, who really won?

• Like history repeating itself, on August Like history repeating itself, on August 29-30, 1862,29-30, 1862, 75,000 Union troops under 75,000 Union troops under Gen. John Pope were defeated by 55,000 Gen. John Pope were defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. James Longstreet at the second and Gen. James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. Once battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. Once again the Union Army retreated to again the Union Army retreated to Washington. The frustrated president then Washington. The frustrated president then relieved Pope. relieved Pope.

Second Battle of Bull Second Battle of Bull RunRun

Leaders at Second Bull Leaders at Second Bull RunRun

Union General John Pope

with 75,000 was defeated by…

…Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson (l) and James Longstreet, with a combined force of 55,000. Union forces withdrew and Lincoln relieved yet another general.

• Sept 17, 1862Sept 17, 1862 - The bloodiest single - The bloodiest single day in U.S. military history saw Gen. day in U.S. military history saw Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederates Robert E. Lee and the Confederates stopped at a bloody spot known as stopped at a bloody spot known as Sharpsburg/Antietam in Maryland by Sharpsburg/Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men were dead, wounded, or missing. Lee, were dead, wounded, or missing. Lee, having lost fewer men still felt the need having lost fewer men still felt the need to withdraw to Virginia save the rest of to withdraw to Virginia save the rest of his dwindling army. his dwindling army.

Battle of Sharpsburg/AntietamBattle of Sharpsburg/Antietam

Reenactors portray the battle of the sunken road at Antietam

Confederate dead following the battle of the sunken road at Antietam

Antietam gave Lincoln the victory he Antietam gave Lincoln the victory he needed to issue, on Jan. 1, 1863, the needed to issue, on Jan. 1, 1863, the Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation

This is popular propaganda about the Emancipation Proclamation. The irony is that the document applied only to slaves in the states that were in rebellion

Chancellorsville

On May 1-4, 1863, the Union Army under Gen. Hooker was decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of

Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own soldiers, causing Lee to say he had “lost his right arm.” Hooker retreated. Union losses were 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of an army of 130,000. The Confederates lost 13, 000 out of 60,000.

• In July 1863, Lee and his army moved on Gettysburg, In July 1863, Lee and his army moved on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania.

• What followed was to be the beginning of the end of the What followed was to be the beginning of the end of the Civil War.Civil War.

• For three bloody, horrible days in July the two sides threw For three bloody, horrible days in July the two sides threw themselves at each other in what became relentless themselves at each other in what became relentless slaughter and the death knell of the Confederacy.slaughter and the death knell of the Confederacy.

Lee invaded the Lee invaded the North…North…

Pickett’s Charge was an ill-fated attempt to Pickett’s Charge was an ill-fated attempt to break Union lines – disastrous and deadly!break Union lines – disastrous and deadly!

Pickett’s Charge was repulsed by Union fire with great losses to the Confederate army. Lee led his army on a torturous retreat back to Virginia. Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day battle.

July 4, 1863July 4, 1863 - - VicksburgVicksburg, the last , the last Confederate stronghold on the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrendered to Gen. Mississippi River, surrendered to Gen. Grant and the Army of the West after a Grant and the Army of the West after a six-week siege. With the Union now in six-week siege. With the Union now in control of the Mississippi, the control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in two, Confederacy was effectively split in two,

cut off from its western allies.cut off from its western allies. The The inevitable march of Sherman through inevitable march of Sherman through Georgia and South Carolina would soon Georgia and South Carolina would soon follow.follow.

July 18, 1863 July 18, 1863 -- 'Negro troops' of the 54th 'Negro troops' of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Col. Robert G. Shaw assaulted fortified Rebels at Fort Robert G. Shaw assaulted fortified Rebels at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Col. Shaw and half of Wagner, South Carolina. Col. Shaw and half of

the 600 men were killed.the 600 men were killed.

• Sherman’s idea was to use any means to Sherman’s idea was to use any means to destroy the enemy’s ability to fight.destroy the enemy’s ability to fight.

• By splitting the South and destroying food, By splitting the South and destroying food, supplies, and morale of the soldiers and supplies, and morale of the soldiers and civilians, Gen Sherman shortened the war.civilians, Gen Sherman shortened the war.

• His army made a bloody march through His army made a bloody march through Georgia, burning and looting in a wide area, to Georgia, burning and looting in a wide area, to destroy all support for the army. He burned destroy all support for the army. He burned Atlanta and then took Savannah in December Atlanta and then took Savannah in December 1864, presenting it to President Lincoln as a 1864, presenting it to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift.Christmas gift.

Sherman’s March to the Sherman’s March to the SeaSea

• While Sherman was making his bloody, fiery While Sherman was making his bloody, fiery march through the South against Gen. Joe march through the South against Gen. Joe Johnston, Gen. Lee was making his last Johnston, Gen. Lee was making his last defense of Petersburg and Richmond. South defense of Petersburg and Richmond. South Carolina and North Carolina faced the same Carolina and North Carolina faced the same fate as Georgia.fate as Georgia.

• Lee finally withdrew from Petersburg and Lee finally withdrew from Petersburg and within days Union troops marched into within days Union troops marched into Richmond.Richmond.

The Last Battles…The Last Battles…

Columbia (top) and Charleston (right), both suffered heavily as a result of the Union army. Sherman left behind even worse poverty than he found when he arrived but it wasn’t easy. Pockets of rebel victory were found in Aiken, Johnson’s Station, and Florence. The Battle of Bentonville in NC broke the South’s ability to fight.

The End of the Siege of PetersburgThe End of the Siege of Petersburg

Unwilling to delay the inevitable and cause any more death and destruction, Gen. Lee announced his

intention to surrender to Gen. Grant.

Surrender at Appomattox Surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865Court House, April 9, 1865

• The Civil War lasted almost exactly four The Civil War lasted almost exactly four years and cost the young country almost an years and cost the young country almost an entire generation of young men.entire generation of young men.

• Union forces lost 360,222 men.Union forces lost 360,222 men.• Confederate forces lost 258,000.Confederate forces lost 258,000.• In South Carolina and many other In South Carolina and many other

Confederate states, as few as half the Confederate states, as few as half the soldiers who went to war returned home. soldiers who went to war returned home.

• Economic devastation was almost as bad. Economic devastation was almost as bad.

The End of the Civil The End of the Civil WarWar

America – 1861-1865 The American Civil War

Created by Carol PooleJanuary 2007