CHAPTER 14 US I

Homestead Act of 1862

It granted 160 acres of government land to any person who would farm it for at least five years. It was established to have the government help to settle the West. This "free soil" proposal became law when the Southern Democrats were not part of Congress

First Battle of Bull Run

It occurred on July 21st, 1861 outside of D.C. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, the Confederate general, held his ground and stood in battle like a "stone wall." The Union retreated, resulting in a Confederate victory. The result of this battle showed that both sides needed training, and war would be long and bloody. It showed that the North could no longer underestimate the South.

Compare Lincoln and Davis as heads of government and commanders in chief.

Lincoln - He was a successful commander in chief because he realized that numbers and resources were on his side, and because he took advantage of the North's material advantages. He realized, too, that the proper objective of his armies was the destruction of the Confederate armies and not the occupation of Southern territory. He had a good grasp of strategy.

What were some of the main reasons for succession and why did attempts at compromise fail?

Lincoln became president and the South was angered because he was against the spread of slavery into the territories. Lincoln got voted into office without a vote from the South, and to the south, that was proof that they couldn't be a part of the US anymore. The failure of the Missouri Compromise - Attempts at compromise failed since both the North and the South were extremely different in both economy and culture. Both sides were equally strong in their conviction

Why did Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation, and what were its effects?

The Republican Party's unifying principle was that slavery should be banned from all the nation's territories and not permitted to spread any further to established states and Lincoln had a moral opposition to uphold this principle. Effects: it led to the slaves in the south leaving their plantations, increasing morale in the north, prevented England from joining the war on the side of the South, changed perception of the war from a conflict to preserve the Union to a war to end slavery

Appomattox Court House

The location at which, on April 9th of 1865, Robert E Lee surrendered to the Union army and the Civil War effectively ended. Lee and Ulysses S Grant signed surrender documents in the parlor of the courthouse

What were the major military strategies for both sides and what advantages did each side have?

Union Advantages - anaconda plan Material advantages lay with the North Population was more than two times as large as the South's Advanced industrial system- able to manufacture weaponry and other war materials Better transportation system (in particular, better railroads) Southern Advantages They were fighting on their own land So they had the advantage of local support and were familiar with the territory More committed to their cause- almost all white southerners were committed to the war, while those in the North were divided South believed that countries such as England and France would help the South because they were dependent on American cotton (which came from the South)

Greenbacks

A controversial move by the Federal government to help finance the war effort. It was the printing of paper money. The new currency was not backed by gold or silver, but simply by the good faith and credit of the government. The value of the currency fluctuated according to the fortunes of the Northern armies, and the government used them sparingly. Although a small amount was issued, it still managed to cause significant inflation.

Clara Barton

An active civil war nurse who helped distribute medical supplies to the soldiers. She later became a founder of the American Red Cross and was an important figure in the nursing profession

Discuss some of the significant battles of the Civil War, for both sides (basic causes and outcomes)

Bull run was the first battle of the Civil War and was a Confederate victory. This showed that the Union wouldn't have an easy fight and were not necessarily guaranteed victory. The Battle of New Orleans was a Union victory and very important because it was their first major victory. The significance was that the Mississippi River was closed to Confederate trade. Perhaps the most significant battle was Gettysburg. It lasted three days and was the bloodiest one. Union victory but both sides lost many men. Was a failure on the Confederacy side because Lee brought his entire army to the north. Turning point of the war. Sherman's March to the Sea - Sherman's march from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying anything in their path to rattle the South

Conscription

Casualties, and desertions lead to the creation of a draft to serve in army. Both armies allow draftees to hire substitutes to serve for them, and in the South, planters with more than 20 slaves were exempted from service. 90% eligible Southerners served; 92% Northern soldiers volunteered.

The Trent Affair

Confederate diplomats, James Mason, and John Slidell, traveled on the British ship, the Trent, to get British, and French support. The U.S. Navy ship, USS San Jacinto, captained by Union captain, Charles Wilkes, captures the ship and arrests the two diplomats. Lincoln frees them, however, to avert war with Britain, who was enraged by the affair.

In what ways were Constitutional Rights suppressed during the Civil War and why?

Conscription Act- subjected all white males between 18 and 45 to military service for 3 years. Could avoid service if you provided a substitute. This was unfair to the poor because the rich could easily get out of it. Northern soldiers took crops from the farms they passed. Lincoln gained more power than he was constitutionally allowed to (gathered troops without consent from other branches, suspended habeus corpus) This was done in an effort to unify the country by whatever means necessary

March to the Sea

General William Tecumseh Sherman led Union troops through Georgia. Sherman and Union Commander, Ulysses S. Grant, believed that in a "total war" they could break the South's psychological capacity to fight; Sherman's army sought to eliminate civilian support of Southern troops. Sherman captured and burned Atlanta in September of 1864, wanting to weaken Southern morale and diminish supplies. Sherman then led troops to Savannah, then on to South and North Carolina

Battle of Shiloh

Grant and his Union forces advanced south along the Tennessee River to seize control of railroad lines vital to the Confederacy. They then marched to Shiloh, Tennessee, where a force almost equal to his own, commanded by Albert Sidney Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard, caught him by surprise. The result was the Battle of Shiloh. In the first day's fighting, the Southerners drove Grant back to the river, but the next day, reinforced by fresh troops, Grant recovered the lost ground and forced Beauregard to withdraw. After the narrow Union victory at Shiloh, Northern forces occupied Corinth, Mississippi, the hub of several important railroads, and established control of the Mississippi River as far south as Memphis

George B. Mcclellan

He was a Northern general during the Civil War, and was the commander of the Army of the Potomac. He was the most controversial general of the war because he seemed to never take advantage of opportunities to engage his troops in battle. He made a complicated route to capture Richmond, the Confederate capital, while Stonewall Jackson went to capture Washington, the Northern capital. The war could have ended much quicker if he had taken different routes, and was less hesitant to take action

Robert E. Lee

He was one of the greatest generals of the Confederate troops. He was an incredible strategist, and was able to help the South gain key victories in order to keep the war going. He was defeated at Antietam in 1862 when he retreated across the Potomac; he was defeated at Gettysburg by General Meade's Union troops. In the end, he surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th, 1865

Abraham Lincoln

He was the 16th president of the United States. When the Civil War broke out, he produced an army to fight the Confederates, as well as suspended the habeas corpus in order to prevent people from standing up against him. He went against Congress on several occasions in order to keep the Union successful and powerful throughout the war. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves within the Confederacy. Once the Civil War came to an end, he developed the 10% plan for Reconstruction before he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, who was assisting the Southern cause

Ulysses S. Grant

He was the 18th President of the United States. He fought in the Mexican War, captured Vicksburg as a Union general, and accepted General Lee's surrender at the end of the Civil War. After the war, he was appointed Secretary of War by Andrew Johnson in 1867, but he disagreed with Johnson's policies, and won support of Radical Republicans

Jefferson Davis

He was the Senator and Secretary of War under Pierce's administration; later, he was the President of the Confederate States of America. Although the vote to put him into power was unanimous, he was not an influential leader, and didn't rule the Confederacy well.

William Tecumseh Sherman

He was the commander of the Union forces in western GA who would advance east toward Atlanta and destroy the remaining Confederate force. He took Atlanta on September 2nd. Afterwards, he then began his famous March to the Sea

Thomas ("Stonewall") Jackson

He was the great Confederate general whose men stopped the Union assault during the Battle of Bull Run. He was killed by his own men when they met each other during a battle

Emancipation Proclaimation

It became effective on January 1st, 1863, declaring that all slaves were to be free in areas under rebel control, thus exempting conquered areas of the South. Lincoln was criticized, however, for not abolishing slavery everywhere. The passing of it led to slaves in the South leaving their plantations, and increased the morale of the North. It helped to keep England from joining the war on the side of the South, and, changed perception of the war from a conflict to preserve the Union to a war to end slavery

Gettysburg

It took place on July 1-3, 1863. Lee invaded Pennsylvania from Virginia, pursued by Northern General Meade, becoming the farthest Northern advance the Confederacy ever saw. Lee was defeated and retreated to Virginia. It was considered the bloodiest, and the most decisive battle of the Civil War.

Battle of Chattanooga

It took place on November 23rd to November 25th, 1863. Union forces defeated Confederate troops in Tennessee at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. These victories forced the Confederates back into Georgia, ending the siege of the vital railroad junction of Chattanooga. This paved the way for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta campaign and march to Savannah, Georgia, in 1864.

Battle of Antitam

It took place on September 17th, 1862. It was a Civil War battle that offered the North an opportunity to defeat General Lee and shorten the war, because Northern General George McClellan had discovered detailed plans for Lee's entire operation, but he ignored the opportunity because of over-cautiousness, and lost his opportunity. Lee's army was still forced to retreat to Virginia after the bloody battle that did occur. McClellan's failure to pursue Lee while he was fleeing led Lincoln to remove him from command.

Morrill Land Grant Act

It transferred substantial public acreage to the state governments, which were to sell the land and use the proceeds to finance public education. This act led to the creation of many new state colleges and universities, the so-called land-grant institutions

U.S. Sanitary Commission

It was a government funded agency that trained nurses, collected medical supplies, and equipped hospitals in order to help the Union during the Civil War. This agency helped professionalize nurses and indirectly propelled the women's rights movement

Fort Sumter

It was located on an island in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, garrisoned by a small force under Major Robert Anderson. South Carolina sent commissioners to Washington to ask for the surrender of the Fort, but Buchanan refused to yield it. In January 1861, Buchanan ordered an unarmed merchant ship to proceed to the Fort with additional supplies and troops. Confederate guns on shore fired at the vessel, which were the first shots fired between the North and South. Conditions at the Fort rapidly deteriorated; the Union forces were running out of supplies, without fresh provisions they would have to evacuate. Lincoln believed that if he surrendered Sumter, his commitment to preserve the Union would no longer be credible. Therefore he sent a relief expedition to the fort, informing the South Carolina authorities that there would be no attempt to send troops or munitions unless the supply ships met with resistance. The Confederacy felt that to allow federal troops to land would be a submission to federal authority, but firing would seem too aggressive. They decided that to appear cowardly would be worse that being aggressive, and they ordered General P.G.T. Beauregard, Commander of Confederate Forces, to take the island. Anderson refused to surrender the fort while the Confederates bombarded it for two days. On April 14th, Anderson surrendered, and the Civil War had officially begun

Anaconda Plan

It was the Union strategy to conquer South. It entailed creating a blockade around Southern ports, and dividing the Confederacy in two in west, as well as divide them over the issue of slavery. Lastly, the plan also entailed the capture of Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Andersonville

It was the worst Confederate prison, and was located in Georgia. The prisoners had no shelter, sanitation, and 1/3 of them died. It was commanded by Captain Henry Wirz, who was tried and executed after the war for war crimes

Crittendon Compromise

It was written by Senator John J. Crittendon of Kentucky, and called for several Constitutional amendments. The points were to permanently guarantee slavery in the slave states to satisfy the South, however the Missouri Compromise line would be reestablished in all present and future territories of the US. Slavery would not be prohibited north of the line, but it would be prohibited south of the line. Southerners, for the most part, agreed, Republicans did not because they wanted slavery gone for good

Compare and contrast congressional and presidential Reconstruction plans.

Lincoln's Plan - 10% Plan - 10% of white confederates had to swear allegiance to the Union in order to be readmitted Johnson's Plan - Granted pardons to anyone taking a loyalty oath to the U.S. (except for high ranking Confederate leaders) Readmitted once they created a new state govt. that abolished slavery. provisional gov, invite qualified voters to elect delegates to a constitutional convention (majority of voters) - state had to revoke its ordinance of secession, abolish slavery, repudiate war debts, ratify 13th amendment Radical Republican Plan - Wade Davis Bill - majority of white males pledge allegiance to union, provisonal gov, gov could summon state constrituional convention whose delegates selected by those who went through ironclad oath, state constitutions would have to abolish slavery, disenfrfanchise confed leaders, repudiate debts Congression plan - tennesse readmitted since it ratified 14th amendment, states into 5 military districts, military commander governed each other and had to register qualified voters (black males n white males who didn't rebel) voters would elect conventions to prepare new state constitutions, which would have to include provisions on black sufferage, congress had to approve state's constitution

How did the Civil War affect the West?

Most of the states and territories of the American West were far removed from the major fighting, but they still played a continuing political, diplomatic, and military part in the conflict. Except for Texas, which joined the Confederacy, all the western states and territories remained officially loyal to the Union, but not without controversy and conflict. Southerners and Southern sympathizers were active throughout the West; in some places there was actual combat between Unionists and secessionists including the same pro-slavery and free-state forces who had fought one another in the 1850s. In the beginning of the war, Confederate agents tried to negotiate alliances with the Five Civilized Tribes living in Indian Territory, in hopes of recruiting their support against Union forces in the West. The Native Americans themselves were divided. Some wanted to support the South, both because they resented the way the U.S. government had treated them, and because some tribal leaders were themselves slaveholders, but other Native Americans supported the North out of a general hostility to slavery. One result of these divisions was something of a civil war within Indian Territory itself. Another was that Indian regiments fought for both the Union and the Confederacy during the war.

Assess the advantages of the North and those of the South at the beginning of the Civil War. How did the advantages of each side change over the course of the war?

North in the beginning: great population, more wealth, more supplies, advanced technology and machinery South in the beginning: only needed to resist being conquered (defensive war), vast land size, home field advantage (troops fight in familiar territory), Highly qualified senior officers including Robert E. Lee Albert Sidney Johnston, and Stonewall Jackson, they have the advantage of moral motivation (inspired to fight to protect their culture and institutions) North at the end: after Emancipation Proclamation north had moral advantage of fighting to free slaves (turned war into one to free slaves and not preserve union), A more stable political system led by one of the greatest leaders in the nation's history (as opposed to the Confederacy's untested government led by a relatively weak president), still had larger population and advanced industrial economy and superior financial institution , better railroads and more established routes than South South at the end: untested government (weak president), low supplies and many casualities

What was the major impact of the Civil War on both Northern and Southern society, economically and politically?

Political Changes - War ends threat of secession increases power of federal govt. Brings Union back together Economic Changes - National Bank Act of 1863: federal system of chartered banks Northern industry booms and commercial agriculture takes hold The south no longer relies on farming because of the destroyed land and instead focuses on industry

How did the Confederate government differ from the federal government of the United States?

The Confederate Constitution was almost identical to the Constitution of the United States, but with several significant exceptions. It explicitly acknowledged the sovereignty of the individual states, although not the right of secession, and it specifically sanctioned slavery, and made its abolition, even by one of the states, practically impossible. (also some states refused to pay taxes and give into conscription and they made their own army and kept their own supplies for their state so they were all very separated) The Confederate Government, like the Union government, was dominated throughout the war by moderate leaders. Also like the Union, it was dominated less by the old aristocracy of the East than by the newer aristocrats of the West, of whom Davis was the most prominent example. The Confederate President, however, was elected for one term for six years, whereas the Union President could serve for two terms which were four years each. There were no formal political parties in the Confederacy, but its congressional and popular politics were ripe with dissension nevertheless.

Copperheads

They were Northern Democrats who were advocating for peace. Many of them were arrested, and unable to be released due to the suspension of the habeas corpus

Ironclads

They were new ships that were instrumental in victories of Grant and Farragut. They are able to splinter wooden ships, withstand cannon, and resist burning

How did the war affect the lives of women in the North and in the South?

Women took over positions vacated by men and worked as teachers, retail sales clerks, office workers, and mill and factory hands. They entered nursing, a field previously dominated by men. The U.S. Sanitary Commission was an organization of civilian volunteers led by Dorothea Dix, and by the end of the war, women were considered the dominant force in nursing. Female nurses not only cared for patients but performed other tasks considered appropriate for women: cooking, cleaning, and laundering. Because so many men left the farms and plantations to fight, the task of keeping families together and maintaining agricultural production fell increasingly to women. Slaveowners' wives often became responsible for managing large slave work forces; the wives of more modest farmers learned to plow fields and harvest crops. Substantial numbers of females worked as schoolteachers or in government agencies in Richmond. The experience of the 1860s almost certainly forced many women to question the prevailing Southern assumption that females were unsuited for certain activities, that they were not fit to participate actively in the public sphere. A more concrete legacy was the decimation of the male population and the creation of a major gender imbalance in the region