The Civil War

Fort Sumter• After South Carolina seceded from the Union, Lincoln grew

concerned about the Union Fort Sumter located off the coast of South Carolina

• The commander of the fort refused to surrender to South Carolina• SC cut off all supplies to the fort in an attempt to starve them into

surrender• Lincoln decided to send food to the fort, but not troops or

ammunition• On April 12, 1861, Confederate leaders took advantage of the

isolated and weakened fort and opened fire• After the barrage, the fort surrendered

Taking Sides• After the attack on Fort Sumter, more southern states seceded

from the Union• Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas

• A few slave states decided to stay with the Union• These are known as the border states• Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware

• To control some protests in the border, Lincoln placed many areas under martial law

Advantages of North and South

Southern Advantages

• Home field advantage• Help from local people• Better military leaders:

Albert Johnston, Joseph Johnston, Robert E. Lee

Northern Advantages

• Bigger population• More factory production• More railroad mileage• Able to field, feed, and

arm larger armies

Civil War Leaders

Confederacy

• President Jefferson Davis• Head general, Robert E.

Lee• Considered the best

general in the United States

Union

• President Abraham Lincoln• Went through many

generals during the war• Settled on Ulysses S.

Grant

Civil War Battles

Life During the War• Both Lincoln and Davis suspended the right to habeas corpus• This means people could be put in prison without being charged

with anything• Both the North and South established a draft, or required

military service• After Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, many African

Americans in the North signed up for military service