The Secession Crisis

• Election of 1860 – Lincoln• 20 December 1860 – South Carolina

secedes• 1 February 1861 – six other Southern

states join South Carolina• February 1861 – The Confederate States

of America is established• Why this form of government? What

problems might arise?

The Secession Crisis

• Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arkansas - will secede if the federal government acts against the Confederacy with force

• Why secede now? South feared economic power of North – secession

would “liberate” the South Patriotic feelings destroyed by sectional differences Fear federal government would “flood” South with

unfriendly officials

The Secession Crisis

• Northern viewpoint – South not serious

• Southern viewpoint – North would not fight

• President Buchanan• Jefferson Davis

chosen by Confederacy

President Buchanan

Lincoln

• Nation tense between election (Nov) and inauguration (March)

• Was Lincoln capable? Would he fight for the Union?

• Incoming Cabinet was balanced – with all views concerning issue represented William Seward – Sec. State – moderate Salmon P. Chase – Sec. Treasury – radical

Fort Sumter

• Most US property in South seized by Confederacy

• Forts Sumter and Pickens Still in US hands Most Northerners did not want them surrendered

without a fight Reinforcement might result in bloodshed that might

make reconciliation impossible Lincoln finally ordered food shipments to Fort Sumter

– South would not allow – fired on the fort 12 April 1861

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

• The attack prompted Lincoln to call for 75,000 volunteers

• This request prompted Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee to secede

• Union troops transiting Baltimore were attacked – Lincoln himself had to sneak through to get to the capital

• Lincoln rested conflict on preservation of the Union. Why not the abolition of slavery?

Blue Gray

Population = >20 million Population = 9 million (including 3.5 million slaves)

Nine times as much manufacturing as South

Little manufacturing

Larger railroad system Small railroad system

Merchant marine and navy Little to no merchant marine or navy

Northern reliance on Southern markets Provided 3/4 of world’s cotton

Invasion and defeat of South mandatory

War need only be one of defense

Officer problems Military heritage - officers

Lincoln’s personality Davis’ personality

Important Battles

• Bull Run (First Manassas)• Battle of the Ironclads• Shiloh• Seven Days’ Battles

o Gaines Millo Malvern Hillo Mechanicsville

• Antietam• Fredericksburg• Chancellorsville• Vicksburg

Important Battles

• Gettysburg

• New York Draft Riots

• Fort Wagner / Blacks in the Union Army

• Chickamauga

• Chattanooga

• Wilderness Campaign

• Cold Harbor

• Siege of Petersburg

Important Battles

• Mobile Bay

• Atlanta Campaign

• Franklin-Nashville

• Sherman’s March to the Sea

• Appomattox (Battle & Surrender)

• Assassination of Lincoln

Important Events

• The Emancipation Proclamation Radical Congress pushing abolition Lincoln saw emancipation as military tool and way to

appeal to liberal Europeans Military “victory” at Antietam allowed proclamation

• The Draft Riots Erupted after passage of Conscription Act Allowed exemptions in exchange for bounty Most rioters Irish immigrants – why?

Assignment

Students will research and write two short papers (at least two pages) on a battle of their choice. The paper will cover: Commanders on both sides Objectives of both sides (what did they want to do) Brief summary of the battle Casualties incurred Outcome of the battle

1.Introduction2.Commanders (North and

South)3.Objectives (North and

South)4.The Battle5.Casualties6.Outcome / Impact

Economic and Social Effects

• Inflation and labor shortages in South

• Blockade of Southern ports

• Manufacturing and agriculture in North boomed

• Continuous immigration into North provided labor and soldiers

• Copperheads• Lincoln and the law

Sons of Erin

Women in Wartime

• Manufacturing and business

• Agriculture

• Patriotism and shame

Women in Wartime• Jon Haralson, Jon Haralson, you are a funny creature;• You have brought into this cruel war a new and curious feature.• You would have us think while every man was born to be a fighter,• The women, bless the pretty dears, should save their pee for niter.

• Jon Haralson, Jon Haralson, where did you get the notion,• To send your barrels “round the town to gather up the lotion?• We thought the girls had work enough in making shirts and kissing;• But now you’ve put the pretty dears to patriotic pissing.

• Jon Haralson, Jon Haralson, pray do invent a neater• And somewhat less immodest mode of making your saltpeter.• The thing is so very queer, you know, gunpowder-like and cranky,• That when a woman lifts her skirts she shoots a bloody Yankee.

Women in Wartime• Jon Haralson, Jon Haralson, we’ve read in song and story• That women’s tears in all these years have sprinkled fields of glory;• But never did we know before that ‘midst these scenes of slaughter,• Your Southern beauties dried their tears and went to making water.

• No wonder, Jon, your boys are brave, who would not be a fighter,• if every time he fired his gun he used his sweetheart’s niter?• And, vice-versa, what could make a Yankee soldier sadder,• Than dodging bullets fired from a pretty woman’s bladder.

• They say there is a subtle smell that lingers in the powder,• And when the smoke grows thicker and the din of battle louder,• That there is found in this compound this serious objection:

Assignment

• Groups will research a specific battle and create a presentation that:Explains the flow of the battleIdentifies the major players (generals, etc)Shows interesting factsShows a map of the battleExplains how the battle impacted the warGroups will turn in list of members showing

what each member contributed

END3-D Pictures

3D Pictures