The Civil War Notes

The Civil War

Chapter Introduction

  • 1864: Leo Tolstoy writes War and Peace; Joseph Lister pioneers antiseptic surgery.
  • 1861: Seven Southern states secede from the Union over slavery and states' rights, forming the Confederacy.
  • Confederate army attacks and seizes Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
  • President Lincoln calls for Union army volunteers.

Chapter 11 Overview

  • Main Idea: Secession of Southern states led to armed conflict between the North and the South.
  • Terms & Names:
    • Fort Sumter
    • Anaconda Plan
    • Bull Run
    • Stonewall Jackson
    • George McClellan
    • Ulysses S. Grant
    • Shiloh
    • David G. Farragut
    • Monitor
    • Merrimack
    • Robert E. Lee
    • Antietam

One American's Story

  • Major Robert Anderson defended Fort Sumter for 34 hours before evacuating.
  • Confederates raised their flag (Stars and Bars) after the Union flag (Stars and Stripes) was taken down.

Confederates Fire on Fort Sumter

  • Confederate States of America formed on February 4, 1861.
  • Confederate soldiers seized federal installations, including courthouses, post offices, and forts.
  • By March 4, only Fort Sumter and another Southern fort remained in Union hands.
  • Confederacy demanded surrender of Fort Sumter.

Lincoln's Dilemma

  • Lincoln faced the dilemma of reinforcing Fort Sumter (risking hostilities) or evacuating it (legitimizing the Confederacy).
  • Lincoln decided to send food to Fort Sumter.
  • Jefferson Davis chose war and ordered an attack on Fort Sumter on April 12.
  • Confederate batteries bombarded Fort Sumter, leading to its surrender.

Virginia Secedes

  • News of Fort Sumter's fall united the North, leading to an overwhelming response to Lincoln's call for volunteers.
  • Virginia seceded on April 17, followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, bringing the total Confederate states to 11.
  • Western counties of Virginia seceded and were admitted into the Union as West Virginia in 1863.
  • Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri remained in the Union, though some citizens fought for the Confederacy.

Northern and Southern Resources, 1861

  • Military Strength:
    • North: More manpower, factories, food production, and extensive railroad system.
    • South: