🗽US History Unit 15 – The Civil War, 1860–1865

Key Events and Timeline

• 1860: Abraham Lincoln elected as the 16th President of the United States, leading to the secession of Southern states
• 1861: Confederate forces attack Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the beginning of the Civil War (April 12)
• 1862: Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7) and Battle of Antietam (September 17) result in heavy casualties on both sides
  • Antietam becomes the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with over 22,000 casualties
• 1863: Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln, freeing slaves in Confederate states (January 1)
  • Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3) and Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4) mark turning points in favor of the Union
• 1864: General Ulysses S. Grant becomes Commander of the Union Army and initiates a strategy of attrition against Confederate forces
• 1865: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War (April 9)
  • President Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. (April 14)

Causes and Tensions

• Slavery and its expansion into new territories created a growing divide between the North and South
  • Abolitionists in the North sought to end slavery, while the South relied heavily on slave labor for its agricultural economy
• Economic differences between the industrialized North and the agrarian South fueled tensions
• States' rights and the extent of federal power were major points of contention
  • Southern states believed in the sovereignty of individual states and their right to secede from the Union
• The Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850 attempted to maintain the balance between free and slave states but ultimately failed to resolve the issue
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) and the Dred Scott decision (1857) further intensified the conflict
  • The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed popular sovereignty to determine the status of slavery in new territories
  • The Dred Scott decision ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in territories
• The election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery, triggered the secession of Southern states

Major Battles and Campaigns

• First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861): First major battle of the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory and dispelling the notion of a quick war
• Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862): Fought in Tennessee, resulting in a Union victory but with heavy casualties on both sides
• Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862): Bloodiest single-day battle in American history, ending in a tactical draw but strategically favoring the Union
  • Antietam provided Lincoln with the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
• Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11-15, 1862): Confederate victory, with the Union suffering heavy losses in futile frontal assaults against entrenched Confederate positions
• Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30-May 6, 1863): Confederate victory, but with the loss of General Stonewall Jackson
• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): Decisive Union victory in Pennsylvania, marking a turning point in the war
  • Gettysburg ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's ambitious plan to invade the North
• Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863): Union victory, gaining control of the Mississippi River and splitting the Confederacy in two
• Sherman's March to the Sea (November 15-December 21, 1864): Union campaign led by General William T. Sherman, devastating Georgia and the Confederacy's ability to wage war

Political Landscape

• Abraham Lincoln (Republican) elected as President in 1860, leading to the secession of Southern states
  • Lincoln's primary goal was to preserve the Union, with slavery being a secondary concern initially
• Confederate States of America formed in 1861, with Jefferson Davis as its president
  • The Confederacy consisted of 11 states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee
• Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln in 1863, freeing slaves in Confederate states
  • The proclamation changed the focus of the war to include the abolition of slavery as a primary objective
• Gettysburg Address delivered by Lincoln in November 1863, redefining the purpose of the war as a struggle for freedom and equality
• 13th Amendment passed by Congress in January 1865, abolishing slavery in the United States
  • The amendment was ratified in December 1865, after the war had ended
• Andrew Johnson becomes President following Lincoln's assassination in April 1865
  • Johnson's lenient policies towards the South during Reconstruction led to conflicts with Congress

Military Leaders and Strategies

• Union:
  • Ulysses S. Grant: Appointed as Commander of the Union Army in 1864, Grant implemented a strategy of attrition, continuously engaging Confederate forces to exploit the Union's advantages in manpower and resources
  • William T. Sherman: Utilized a "total war" strategy, targeting both military and civilian resources to weaken the Confederacy's ability to wage war (Sherman's March to the Sea)
  • George B. McClellan: Served as the Commander of the Army of the Potomac but was criticized for his cautious approach and reluctance to engage Confederate forces
• Confederate:
  • Robert E. Lee: Commanded the Army of Northern Virginia and successfully defended Richmond, the Confederate capital, for most of the war
    • Lee's tactical brilliance and leadership helped the Confederacy maintain a formidable presence despite being outnumbered and outgunned
  • Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson: Served under Lee and played a crucial role in several Confederate victories before his death at the Battle of Chancellorsville
  • J.E.B. Stuart: Cavalry commander known for his reconnaissance and raiding skills, providing valuable intelligence to Confederate forces
• Strategies:
  • Anaconda Plan: Union strategy to blockade Southern ports and gain control of the Mississippi River, effectively strangling the Confederacy's economy
  • Attrition: Union strategy employed by Grant to continuously engage and weaken Confederate forces, exploiting the Union's advantages in manpower and resources
  • Defensive: Confederate strategy focused on defending key cities and territories while attempting to inflict heavy casualties on Union forces to erode Northern support for the war

Social and Economic Impact

• Slavery and emancipation:
  • The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment led to the abolition of slavery in the United States
  • Freedmen's Bureau established to assist newly freed slaves in the transition to freedom
• Women's roles:
  • Women took on new roles in the workforce, including in factories and hospitals, to support the war effort
  • Nurses such as Clara Barton and Dorothea Dix made significant contributions to the care of wounded soldiers
• Economic impact:
  • The Union's industrialized economy and blockade of Southern ports gave it a significant advantage over the agrarian South
  • Hyperinflation and shortages of food and supplies plagued the Confederacy as the war progressed
• Draft riots:
  • The Enrollment Act of 1863 instituted a draft, leading to riots in New York City and other areas
  • Resentment stemmed from the ability of wealthy individuals to pay for substitutes or exemptions
• Destruction and rebuilding:
  • The war caused widespread destruction, particularly in the South, with cities, infrastructure, and agricultural land devastated
  • Reconstruction aimed to rebuild the South and integrate former slaves into society, but faced significant challenges and resistance

Turning Points

• Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862): Union victory that provided Lincoln with the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
  • The Emancipation Proclamation changed the focus of the war to include the abolition of slavery as a primary objective
• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): Decisive Union victory that marked the end of Lee's ambitious plan to invade the North
  • Gettysburg, along with the Union victory at Vicksburg, signaled a shift in momentum in favor of the Union
• Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863): Union victory that gained control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two
  • The loss of Vicksburg dealt a severe blow to the Confederacy's ability to transport supplies and maintain communication between its eastern and western regions
• Appointment of Ulysses S. Grant as Commander of the Union Army (March 1864): Grant's strategy of attrition and continuous engagement of Confederate forces helped to exploit the Union's advantages and weaken the Confederacy
• Reelection of Abraham Lincoln (November 1864): Lincoln's reelection ensured the continuation of the war until the Confederacy was defeated and the Union was preserved
  • The reelection also signaled the public's support for Lincoln's policies, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the abolition of slavery

Aftermath and Legacy

• Reconstruction (1865-1877): Period following the Civil War aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating former slaves into society
  • Reconstruction faced significant challenges, including resistance from Southern states and the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan
• 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments: Collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments, these aimed to grant rights and equality to African Americans
  • 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery in the United States
  • 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and ensured equal protection under the law
  • 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
• Jim Crow laws and segregation: Despite the Reconstruction Amendments, Southern states implemented laws and practices that enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans
• Economic impact: The war's destruction and the shift from a slave-based economy to a free labor system had long-lasting effects on the South's economy and development
• National unity: The Civil War preserved the Union and settled the question of secession, strengthening the federal government's power
• Military tactics and technology: The Civil War saw advancements in weaponry, transportation, and communication, which had implications for future military conflicts
• Memory and commemoration: The Civil War has been memorialized through monuments, battlefields, and cultural works, shaping the nation's collective memory and identity