Civil War

Secession

• Election of Lincoln (1860): Led to Southern states calling for secession.

• December 20, 1860: South Carolina secedes first.

• Buchanan's Response: Stated that states cannot secede but did nothing to prevent it.

• February 1861: Seceded states form the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama.

• Federal Property Seizures: Confederate states begin seizing federal property; however, Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens remain contested.

• Fort Sumter Situation: Buchanan attempted to resupply Fort Sumter but was blocked by Confederates.

• Discussion of potential compromises to prevent war.

Compromise Attempts

• Crittenden's Proposal: John Crittenden aimed to reestablish the Missouri Compromise line but was rejected by Republicans.

• Secession Timeline: Following Lincoln's election in March 1861, states such as Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded.

• Attack on Fort Sumter: Lincoln waits for Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War.

• Border States: Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri remain slave states but do not join the Confederacy.

Commanders

• Key figures in the North: General Winfield Scott, George McClellan, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman.

• Key figures in the South: Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, PGT Beauregard.

European Involvement

• Cotton Dependency: Europe’s economy relied on Confederate cotton, creating potential support for the South.

• Issues: Lack of popular support for the Confederacy in Europe.

• By the end of the war, Europe withdrew support for the Confederacy.

Early Battles

• First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run): First major battle, public attended expecting a short conflict; resulted in Confederate victory.

Western Front

• April 1862: Union captures New Orleans; Confederate General Johnston dies in action.

• Grant gains control of Mississippi River, impacting Confederate supply lines.

Eastern Campaigns

• Peninsular Campaign (1861-1862): Union attempts to capture Richmond; leads to multiple battles and retreats.

• Transitional Leadership: McClellan replaced by John Pope; subsequent defeats lead to McClellan's return.

• Battle of Antietam (Sept 17, 1862): Bloodiest single day in U.S. history, strategic Union victory.

Emancipation Proclamation

• September 22, 1862: Lincoln announces intention to free slaves in the Confederacy.

• Divided Republican Support: Radical Republicans advocate abolition, while conservative factions prefer compromise.

• Confiscation Acts (1861 & 1862): Legal measures to free slaves in rebellion; significant legislation leading to the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

The Year of Decision – 1863

• Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1863): Confederate victory, death of Stonewall Jackson.

• Battle of Vicksburg (May-July 1863): Grant captures Vicksburg; Union now controls the Mississippi River, splitting Confederacy.

• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): Turning point in the war, significant Confederate loss.

Closing Battles

• Grant's Leadership (1864): Focus on overpowering the South; victories at Spotsylvania and Petersburg.

• Sherman's March to the Sea: Devastated Atlanta, aiming to undermine Confederate morale and resources.

• Election of 1864: Lincoln and Johnson (Republicans) vs. McClellan (Democrat); Lincoln’s victory causes a significant shift in support for the war effort.

• April 1865: Final battles lead to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Impact on Society

• Role of African Americans: Approximately 186,000 African American soldiers fought for the Union, often assigned menial labor.

• Women in the Workforce: Women took over jobs abandoned by men, significantly influencing post-war societal norms.

• Economic Devastation: War heavily impacted the Southern economy, leading to inflation and societal instability.

• Post-War Reconstruction: As slavery ended, the challenge for freed Blacks intensified, signaling the beginning of long-term societal changes.