GR 7 - SS - CH 17 - Lesson 4

Gettysburg

A town in southern Pennsylvania. The site of one of the most decisive battles in the Civil War.

1) South - African Americans made up more than 30 percent of the smaller Southern population. Confederate leaders wold not allow them to enlist. Confederate leaders feared that once armed. African American soldiers would attack their fellow troops or even begin a revolt. Only in the last days of the war, did Confederate leaders consider it 2) North - At first, Lincoln resisted calls to enlist African Americans in the Union. He feared that such policy would be unpopular in the border states. By 1862, the North needed more soldiers to defeat the Confederacy. Many African Americans were eager to fight. Congress allowed the formation of all-African American regiments -Many white Union regiments doubted their fighting ability. Others resented them - Southern troops especially hated the Union's African American soldiers. They often focused their fiercest fire on them. 3) By the end of the war, they made up more than 10 percent of the Union army. Some were freed people from the North. Others had fled enslavement in the South. 4) Best known African American regiment - 54th Massachusetts. Under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. He came from a Boston abolitionist family

African Americans in the Civil War - At first both the North and South barred African Americans from serving in their armies. The North, later relaxed its rules

Battle of Fredericksburg

After Antietam, Robert E. Lee moved his army out of Maryland into Virginia. This encouraged Union Commander, General Ambrose Burnside, to march his troops toward Confederate capital at Richmond. Lee intercepted the Union army near Fredericksburg. Lee's forces dug trenches in hills south of the town. This gave them the advantage of higher ground from which to fight. Lee's troops won. Devastated, Burnside resigned.

Major General George Meade

Fourth General of the Union

After the Union's victory at Vicksburg, the Confederacy lost Port Hudson in Louisiana, its last stronghold on the Mississippi River. The Union had split the South in two. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas were cut off. The tide of the Civil War had turned

How did the events at Vicksburg change the tide of the war?

Confederates entered the town to look for supplies. General Lee hoped to avoid fighting in a landscape he did not know well. When Lee get out of Gettysburg after four grueling days, they had suffered 25,000 casualties. The Union lost 23,000 Gettysburg ended the Confederates' hope of gaining help from Britain and France. The South hoped to received two ironclads from the British and use them to sweep Union shipping from the Atlantic. However, British government decided not to release the ships The Confederates were winning most of the battles. They had the upper hand. In the battle of Gettysburg, the Union won

How was the battle of Gettysburg a turning point in the war?

Battle of Chancellorsville

Lee met Union forces led by General Joseph Hooker. Although, Hooker had twice as many men, Lee divided his forces. The Confederate victory came at a high cost. In the confusion of battle, Confederate soldiers fired on and wounded Stonewall Jackson by mistake. Surgeons amputated Jackson's arm.. Jackson developed pneumonia. After a week of suffering, he died. His death cost the South one of its great leaders. It also affected the morale of its army and its citizens

On July 4, the day Lee retreated from Gettysburg, the Confederacy suffered another major blow. The important river city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, fell under the control of Union troops led by Ulysses S. Grant The siege lasted 47 days A few days after Vicksburg fell, the Confederacy lost Port Hudson in Louisiana, its last stronghold on the Mississippi River. The Union had split the South in two. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas were cut off. The tide of the Civil War had turned

The Siege of Vicksburg

1) General George McClellan, commanded the Union forces at the Battle of Antietam. He was an expert to prepare for battle. He was overly careful and slow to act. McClellan failed to obey Lincoln's order to follow the retreating Confederate troops and destroy them. 2) General Ambrose Burnside - loss at Fredericksburg 3)Major General Joseph Hooker - Loss at Chancellorsville

Three Union Generals that failed to lead the Union

Military leadership of Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson as a key factor in the Confederates' military success in the East. Their knowledge of the land and ability to inspire troops, these two generals often defeated larger Union forces

What factors contributed to the early success of the Confederate forces?

At first, Lincoln resisted calls to enlist African Americans in the Union. He feared that such policy would be unpopular in the border states.

Why did Lincoln hesitate to enlist African Americans?

They needed more soldiers to fight in the Civil War

Why do you think some leaders called for African Americans to be allowed to fight in the Civil War?

All three generals loss their battles

Why was Lincoln frustrated with the Union Generals?

Despite the fact that the Union troops were twice as many as the Confederate troops, the Confederates won. The Confederate victory came at a high cost. In the confusion of battle, Confederate soldiers fired on and wounded Stonewall Jackson by mistake. Surgeons amputated Jackson's arm.. Jackson developed pneumonia. After a week of suffering, he died. His death cost the South one of its great leaders. It also affected the morale of its army and its citizens

Why was the Battle of Chancellorsville important?

flank

the side or edge of a military formation

entrenched

to place within a trench, or ditch for defense; to place in a strong defensive position