Week 12 - The Promise of Freedom; Civil War, 1861-1865

The Promise of Freedom: Civil War, 1861-1865

Mobilizing for War

• Challenges Faced:

  • North:

    • Limited military training and experience.

    • Recruitment dependency on volunteers initially.

    • Lack of established structure for conscription.

  • South:

    • Strong reliance on states' rights hindered centralized authority.

    • Incomplete tax structures and limited industrial capacity.

    • Scarcity of supplies and lack of a navy.

In Battle, 1861-1862

• First Modern War:

  • Use of railroads and telegraphs for swift troop movement.

  • Introduction of consistent, mass-produced weaponry.

  • Stalemate in Eastern battles indicated challenges in decisively defeating the enemy.

• Key Campaigns:

  • Ironclads & Naval Warfare: Introduction of iron-plated ships like the Monitor and Merrimack.

  • Battlefronts: Major battles such as Bull Run, Antietam, and Shiloh illustrating evolving strategies and technologies.

Emancipation Transforms the War, 1863

• Impact and Strategy:

  • Emancipation Proclamation: Proclaimed all enslaved people in Confederate territory to be free as of January 1, 1863; aimed to cripple the Southern economy and strengthen the Union’s moral cause.

  • Black Soldiers in War: Over 186,000 African American soldiers served in Union forces, changing the dynamics of troop composition and morale.

War and Society, North and South

• Economic Impact:

  • North: Economic growth, fueled by wartime industries and innovations in finance including the National Bank Act.

  • South: Economy devastated; cotton production and agricultural output plummeted leading to food shortages and severe inflation.

• Shift in Gender Roles:

  • Women took on new responsibilities in factories, nursing, and agriculture leading to gradual shifts in social norms.

Union Victorious, 1864-1865

• Key Factors in Victory:

  • Coordinated military strategies under Generals Grant and Sherman emphasized total warfare, decisive attacks, and extensive resource destruction to demoralize the South.

  • Major Campaigns:

    • Sherman’s March to the Sea destroyed Southern infrastructure and will to fight.

    • Siege of Petersburg and capture of Richmond established Union dominance.

• Conclusion of War:

  • Surrender at Appomattox, marking the end of Confederate resistance, and the assassination of Lincoln shortly thereafter altered the national landscape.

New Birth of Freedom

• Post-War Consequences:

  • The Civil War led to over 620,000 deaths, significantly impacting families nationwide.

  • The war ended slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment, established a more centralized federal government, and initiated a period of reconstruction in Southern states.

  • The legacy of the war raised ongoing debates about freedom, citizenship, and social equality, paving the way for future social movements.