Civil War and ReconstructionChapter 6 and 7 overview

Chapter 6 Overview

When the nation gained new territory, the slavery controversy intensified. Would new states be slave or free? Who would decide? States that allowed slavery were determined to prevent free states from gaining a majority in the Senate. Political compromise broke down by 1860, and when Lincoln was elected president, many Southern states decided to secede.

Chapter 6 Overview

The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and led to over 618,000 casualties. Its causes can be traced back to tensions that formed early in the nation’s history.

Causes of the Civil War:Economic differences between the North and South: the

history and economy of the North is very different from that of the South. Factories developed in the North, while large cotton plantations developed in the South.

The Southern plantation owners relied on slave labor for economic success. Their crops were sold to cotton mills in England, and ships returned with cheap manufactured goods.

Northern factories started producing the same goods, and Northern politicians were able to pass heavy taxes on imported goods from Europe so that Southerners would have to buy goods from the North.

Chapter 6 Overview◦ States’ rights: Southerners felt that the Federal

government was passing laws, such as import taxes, that treated them unfairly. They believed that individual states had the right to “nullify,” or overturn, any laws the Federal government passed.

◦ They also believed that individual states had the right to leave the United States and form their own independent country.

◦ Northerners felt that “nullification” and “states’ rights” would make the United States a weak country.

◦ Fight over new territory: As America expanded, first with the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican War, the question became whether new states admitted to the union would be free or slave.

◦ Missouri Compromise: Passed in 1820 stated all land north of the 36th parallel would ban slavery, and all land south would allow slavery.

◦ However, after the War with Mexico the question was again what would happen with the territory gained with victory.

Chapter 6 Overview◦ This led to the Wilmot Proviso and the

Compromise of 1850. One provision was the Fugitive Slave Act. The slaveholder or owner could point out an alleged runaway and they would be taken into custody.

◦ Another issue that increased tension was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. It created 2 new territories that would allow the states to use popular sovereignty to determine whether it would be free or slave. The real issue occurred in Kansas where proslavery Missourians began to pour into the state to help force it to be slave. They were called “Border Ruffians.” This led to violence and this was called “Bleeding Kansas.” The fight even erupted on the floor of the Senate when antislavery proponent Charles Sumner was beat over the head by South Carolina’s Senator Preston Brooks.

Chapter 6 Overview

◦ Slavery: Northerners became increasing more opposed to slavery. They were morally opposed to the idea that one person could “own” another. Abolitionists in the North wrote books, published newspapers; spreading their ideas about slavery, and often assisted slaves to freedom when they ran away from their masters. Major events that increased Northern sympathies was the publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the Dred Scott case, John Brown’s raid, and the Fugitive Slave Act.

◦ Southerners believed that abolitionists were attacking their way of life and the Federal government was not doing enough to protect their “property” from running away. They were also concerned about new states that were entering the Union that did not permit citizens to own slaves, because the more “free” states that entered the Union, the weaker Southerners’ influence in the federal government would become.

Chapter 6 Overview◦ The Election of Abraham Lincoln: Many Southerners

viewed Lincoln’s election as a threat to their society and culture, even their lives. For many, they felt they had no other option but to secede. South Carolina was the first state to secede. Before Lincoln was even president seven states had seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

War Begins: In Lincoln’s inaugural address, he stated that he intended to hold on to all federal property in seceded states. In April he sent supplies to Fort Sumter, one of the few military bases the Southerners had not already seized.

President of the Confederacy (Jefferson Davis) demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter before the supply ship arrived, but the Army General refused. The Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter for 33 hours on April 12 and 13 until the General surrendered. No one was killed, but the Civil War had begun.

Chapter 7 Overview

The Civil War was a milestone in American History. The four-year-long struggle determined the nation’s future. With the North’s victory, slavery was abolished. The war itself introduced modern military innovations such as the use of railroads to move troops, the telegraph to speed communications, and reliance on conscription in a “total war” effort. After the war, the nation struggled to bring the South back into the Union during a contentious period known as Reconstruction.

Chapter 7 Overview

Strong Military tradition and

Leadership

Fighting in their territory.

On the defensive

Geography of the South

Fighting spirit

More populous

Could raise an army faster

Could finance the war

Industry

Lincoln

Strong naval tradition

Chapter 7 Overview

Lincoln faces major divisions in Washington, even within his own party. This was especially true over issues such as Conscription (forced military service through a draft) and Lincoln’s decision to suspend writs of habeas corpus.

In the South there was also political disagreements which led to a very weak southern government. This left Jefferson Davis with very little power.

Both the North and South faced diplomatic challenges. The North wanted European countries to not become involved in the war. However, Southerners used trade as a way to sway European leaders to recognize the Confederacy.

Chapter 7 Overview

The Civil War was the first modern war. The war was fought by huge armies that consisted of mainly volunteers which required vast amounts of supplies and equipment.

New fighting styles: new bullets (cone shaped) that were more accurate. They also began to use trenches, and engaged in attrition.

South Strategy: wage a defensive war of attrition.

Union Strategy: Anaconda Plan page 248.

Union focused on blockading the South’s most important ports such as New Orleans

Battle of Antietam: turning point in the war and a crucial victory for the union forces.

Chapter 7 Overview

The bloodiest one-day battle in American History. Due

to this victory the British, who had been on the verge of

intervening in the war decided to wait. It also

convinced Lincoln that the time had come to end

slavery in the South.

Emancipation Proclamation: the primary purpose in the

beginning of the war was to preserve the Union.

However, Lincoln decided that slavery had to end (to

punish the south, and make the soldier’s sacrifices

worthwhile); he did this with the Emancipation

Proclamation. This decree freed all enslaved African

Americans only in states at war with the union; it did not

address the boarder states.

Chapter 7 Overview

Life During the War: in the South rapid inflation drove up

prices of food. Food shortage hurt southern morale.

In the North, the economy was booming.

Military Life: Both Union and Confederate soldiers endured

hardships and few comforts.

Southern soldiers had little. They often did not have shoes,

slept without blankets, and had little food. The Union soldiers

had hardtack and dried meat.

Disease (smallpox, typhoid, and pneumonia) killed many

soldiers. Doctors used drastic measures in treating the

wounded, such as amputation.

Women helped in the war effort, many were nurses. The

most famous was Clara Barton

Chapter 7 Overview

Major Battles

Vicksburg: with the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the last major confederate stronghold on the river, the North could cut the South in two. (Grant)

Gettysburg: General Lee marched to Gettysburg in order to seize a shipment of shoes, but was met by union forces.

Lee ordered 15,000 men under Gen. George Pickett, to make a massive assault against Union forces stationed on Cemetery Ridge. This would be known as Pickett’s Charge. The Confederate forces marched through open farmland toward Union troops. They suffered 7,000 causalities in less then 30 minutes of fighting. Only about 5,000 men made it across. Lee eventually withdrew his troops.

Total Union Causalities: 23,000

Total Confederate Causalities: 28,000 (1/3 of Lee’s entire force).

Chapter 7 Overview

Gettysburg was the turning point in the east. For the remainder of the war Lee’s forces would remain on the defensive giving up ground to the Union.

Gettysburg Address: Given by Lincoln to dedicate part of the battlefield as a cemetery.

Grant was put in charge of all Union forces.

Sherman’s March-led his troops through Georgia on the way to the Atlantic coast. He left a path of destruction in his path. His troops pillaged and set fire to at least 12 towns.

13th Amendment: passed January 31, 1865 banning slavery in the United States.

Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. Grant allowed Confederate forces to go home without being charged for treason.

Chapter 7 Overview

Lincoln’s Assassination: April 14, 1865 at

Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth.

Results of the Civil War:

◦ Strengthened the power of the Federal

government.

◦ Ended slavery

◦ Left the South socially and economically

devastated

◦ Question of how to bring the South back into

the Union

Reconstruction

Various plans to bring the South back into the Union.

Lincoln’s Plan: ◦ Amnesty/pardon

◦ Had to accept Union’s proclamation on slavery.

Radical Republicans:◦ Wanted to prevent Confederate

leaders returning to power.

◦ Strengthen the Republican Party.

◦ Wanted Federal government to help African Americans achieve equality by guaranteeing them the right to vote in the South.

Johnson’s Plan:◦ Similar to Lincoln’s

◦ Many former Confederate leaders were elected in the South.

◦ Many Southern states passed Black Codes limiting the rights of African Americans.

Congressional Reconstruction:◦ Passed Civil Rights Act of

1866-granted citizenship to all person born in the U.S. except Native Americans.

◦ 14th Amendment: granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and declared no state could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property “without due process of the law”

Reconstruction

Military

Reconstruction:

◦ Nullified all

Johnson’s programs

◦ Divided all former

Confederate states

except Tennessee

into 5 military

districts with Union

Generals in each.

Freedmen’s

Bureau:

◦ Was created to take

on the task of

feeding and clothing

war refugees

◦ Helped former

slaves find jobs

◦ Worked toward

advancement in

education for African

Americans.

Reconstruction

Johnson’s Impeachment: Challenged the Tenure of Office Act when he fired Sec. of War Stanton without Senate approval as stated in the Tenure of Office Act. Was impeached but not convicted.

Election of 1868: Grant won

15th Amendment: no one could be denied the right to vote based on race, color, or previous servitude.

Carpetbaggers: Northerners who came to the South

Scalawags: White Southerners who supported Reconstruction

Southern Resistance: organized secret society such as the Ku Klux Klan.

Reconstruction

Grant’s 2nd Term:

◦ Scandals

“Whiskey Ring”: government officials and distillers cheated the government out of millions in taxes.

Panic of 1873: caused economic depression

Hayes elected President

◦ Compromise of 1877: basically gave Hayes the presidency, after a disputed election.

April 1877, Hayes pulled Federal troops out of the South, ending Reconstruction.

South had some industrial growth, but remained largely agricultural.

Most African Americans returned to work on plantations as tenant farmers or sharecroppers.