The Civil War Begins

The Civil War: Union vs Confederacy

Confederate Union

The first States secede

As Southern states seceded from the Union,

they took control of most forts located within their borders

Lincoln had a decision to makes: Send supplies and risk war or.. Surrender the forts and give in to the rebels.

Lincoln decided to send supplies and notify the Confederates

The Confederates attacked Fort Sumter before supplies could get there.

Decisions on Southern Forts

Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12, 1861

and the Union surrendered the fort to the South.

Nobody died defending the fort, but the attack marked the beginning of the Civil War.

Fort Sumter

Two days after the surrender of Sumter,

Lincoln asked the Union states to provide 75,000 militiamen to put down the rebellion in the South.

Lincoln Calls For Help

The capital of the Confederacy was moved to

Richmond, Virginia – the hometown of Robert E. Lee.

This meant that Virginia now became a part of the Confederacy.

Robert E. Lee was the South’s greatest general during the Civil War.

Preparing For Battle

With Virginia seceding, all eyes turned to the

border states. Border states are slave states that border

where slavery was illegal. In the end, there were 24 states in the Union

and 11 states in the Confederacy.

Choosing Sides

Advantages of the Union (North)?- population - 22 million

- 90% of ind. goods, esp. munitions- efficient railroad system- controlled the navy, which could be used to blockade s. ports and shut down the s. eco.- but would have to fight an offensive war (long supply lines, unfamiliar

territory...)- capable mil. leaders, inc. Ulysses S.

Grant

Confederate (Rebel) advantages (South) and disadvantages

Confederates had excellent generals too -Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jackson

Defending is always easier than attacking - (familiar w/climate and territory, possible psychological advantages)

Farmers fight better than factory workers Profitable eco. based on cotton exports But disadvantages…a smaller pop. of 9 million

(inc. 3.5 million slaves) had to import ind. goods; very

little munitions production

South

Defensive strategy – They knew that if the North didn’t like what they were doing, then they would have to come to them.

Knew support from the North would weaken over time

Hoped that Great Britain and France would help support knowing their need for cotton

Planning Strategies

North

Offensive: “Anaconda Plan” - This plan was designed to

strangle the South’s economy like a giant anaconda. It called for: A naval blockade of the South’s coastline, thus

blocking the traffic of goods and people Take control of the Mississippi River splitting the

Confederacy in two Capturing Richmond, Virginia – the Confederate

capital

Planning Strategies

First Battle of Bull Run

Spectators from Washington watched and expected an entertaining battle (Yes, people watched the war!)

The Union attacked near a creek called Bull Run.

Union troops were advancing, but Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) stopped them.

“There is Jackson standing like a stone wall!” Confederate troops led a counter-attack and

pushed Union troops back Casualties – Union = 2700; Confederates =

2000

This battle made three points clear:

The fighting would be bloody The war would not be over quickly Southern soldiers would fight fiercely to defend

the Confederacy

Lessons of Bull Run

Answer questions 3-8 on page 515. Use complete sentences and use your

notes/textbook if you need help.

Questions