civil war

Students Present: Brianna, Maria, Brandon, Malak, Eric, Carlo, Leon, Anna Lynn, Amy, Elizabeth, Isabella, Justin Ramirez, Louie, Priscilla, Kumail, Jasmine, Maria, Alex, Josiah, Allison, Jeremiah, and Jesus Nigga.
Point of Focus: Moments covered include anticipation of automation, completion of quizzes, and administrative updates.
Upcoming tasks:
  - Finish Chapter 15.
  - Prepare for Chapter 16.
  - Submit outstanding work (i.e., movie review, game reflection) by Sunday, May 3, at 11:30 PM.

Upcoming exams scheduled for:
- Date: Monday, May 4.
Students reminded to review their syllabi for exam details.
Study Strategy:
  - Utilize the provided study guide, which includes answers.
  - Recommended: Write down the answers and memorize them by Sunday.
  - Seek note-sharing from classmates or conduct independent research for understanding.

Central Question: The role of slavery in leading to civil war.
President Polk's westward expansion policies raised the issue of whether new territories would support slavery.
Northern states opposed the expansion of slavery; Southern states desired it, leading to a split in the Democratic Party.
Emergence of the Republican Party advocating against the expansion of slavery.

Lincoln's Victory:
- Won the presidency despite lack of support from a majority of Americans, due to an Electoral College strategy.
- Importance of maintaining the Union amidst secession threats from southern states.

Seven Southern states declared independence, forming the Confederate States of America.
The attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the American Civil War, presenting the biggest constitutional crisis yet.

The conflict reflects deeper constitutional challenges faced when states refused to recognize election outcomes.
Lincoln’s efforts were rooted in maintaining constitutional authority despite secession.

Lincoln's difficulties in finding competent generals to combat Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Generals Burnside and Hooker experienced defeats that cost the Union crucial early battles.

Vicksburg as a crucial stronghold; its fall led to the Union gaining control of the Mississippi River, thus splitting the Confederacy.
Broader implications of control over this transportation network on supply lines within the Confederacy.

Policies of Freedom:
- The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people only within the Confederate states while maintaining slavery in Union states.
- During military advancements, Union forces faced the challenge of dealing with liberated slaves seeking refuge, leading to a changing approach in military policy towards them.

Grant’s strategy introducing more aggressive tactics aimed at overwhelming the Confederate forces through sheer numbers, even at high casualties.

The Battle of Gettysburg consisted of three days of intense fighting and is termed as the biggest battle in the Civil War.
Union General George Meade successfully defended against Lee's strategies, culminating in a significant Union victory.
Pickett's Charge as an example of a disastrous military tactic that cost the Confederacy many lives and resources.

Union casualties significantly outnumbered Confederate losses due to the inability of the South to replenish its numbers.
Estimates indicate that the Civil War resulted in over 600,000 deaths, marking it as the deadliest conflict in American history.

Economic hardships faced by both Union and Confederacy including inflation trends leading to increased costs of living.
Draft riots in the North particularly affected immigrant populations who bore the brunt of compulsory military service.

Grant’s candidacy as a decisive leader represented a shift as he successfully employed more aggressive tactics in Virginia, ultimately leading to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.

Lincoln’s 10% Plan aimed to ease reintegration of Southern states back into the Union contingent upon majority (10%) support for the Union.
Tension between Lincoln’s lenient approach and Congressional opposition regarding how to address reconciling the Union and reinstituting order in former Confederate states.

Anticipation of ongoing debates concerning the balance of power between executively led and Congress-directed initiatives post-war, particularly surrounding issues of representation, civil rights, and the relegation of former Confederate states.