Topic #3: War Strategy

Essential Question: Why is the Civil War considered the first modern war?

Civil War

• 1861-1865

• Union = North

  • Led by General George McClellan → replaced later by General Ulysses Grant

• Confederacy = South

  • Led by General Robert E. Lee

Border States

• Slave states that stay with the Union:

  • Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia

• Lincoln cannot upset border states because they could leave the Union.

The Anaconda Plan

• The Union plan to squeeze the South, and cut off its supplies and access to resources.

  1. Naval blockade in the Atlantic/Gulf

  2. Control the Mississippi River

Battle at Bull Run

• July 1861

• Bull Run Creek, Virginia

• The Union army originally pushed the Confederates back, but Confederate reinforcements led by Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson helped turn the battle around. The Confederates eventually forced the Union to retreat, winning the battle.

• 5,000 casualties

• McDowell is replaced by McClellan.

Battle of Antietam

• September 1862

• Antietam, Maryland

• The Union launched several attacks against the Confederates but struggled to break through their defensive lines. The Union gained some ground, but Confederate reinforcements stopped the Union advance. Despite having more troops, the Union failed to defeat Lee's army, and the battle ended without a clear victory.

• The bloodiest day in the Civil War.

• Lincoln fires McClellan and issues the Emancipation Proclamation after this battle.

Battles of Gettysburg

• 1863

• Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

• Confederates do not advance North

Battle of Vicksburg

• 1863

• Vicksburg, Maryland

• Split confederacy, easier for the Union to take over.

Appomattox

• April 9, 1865

• Appomattox Court House, Virginia

• Robert E. Lee surrenders