LW

When the war came 1

  • Background on Alexander Stephens

    • Became vice president of the Confederacy.
    • Born in 1812, attended University of Georgia (UGA).
    • Successful law career; elected to Congress in 1842.
    • Voted against the Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850, limiting slavery's expansion.

  • Stephens' Position on Secession

    • Moderate secessionist; preferred Southern loyalty to the Union.
    • Believed Congress could solve slavery issues without secession.

  • Context of Secession

    • Ongoing compromises reflected a polarized nation over slavery.
    • Notable incidents escalated tensions, such as John Brown's actions.
    • Moderates aimed to reassure the Upper South, portraying a non-radical stance.

  • The Role of Compromise

    • The U.S. Congress attempted to find solutions to avoid civil war.
    • The Corwin Amendment proposed to protect slavery where it existed, passed the House but failed in the Senate.
    • Highlighted the division: only a few states seceded initially.

  • Lincoln's Inauguration and Response

    • March 4, 1861: Lincoln pledged not to interfere with slavery.
    • Asserted states could not lawfully secede, reflecting Northern indifference to abolition at this point.

  • Fort Sumter and the First Conflict

    • By April 1861, Union troops faced pressure to evacuate Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
    • Lincoln's strategy involved sending provisions without reinforcing troops, aiming to avoid escalation.
    • Confederate General Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.
    • After 34 hours, Union surrendered; marked a turning point toward war.

  • Initial Reactions and Aftermath

    • Lincoln's call for troops post-Sumter evoked strong Northern patriotism but further convinced Upper South states to secede.
    • Virginia joined the Confederacy on April 17, leading to the relocation of the Confederate capital to Richmond.
    • Only eleven of the fifteen slave states seceded.

  • Union and Confederate Goals

    • Union: Preserve the nation; slavery as a cause, but not the initial goal.
    • Aim: Invade and destroy the Confederacy.
    • Implemented the Anaconda Plan:
      1. Pressure on Richmond, VA.
      2. Control of the Mississippi River.
      3. Blockade Southern ports.
    • Confederacy:
    • Independence and preservation of the 1787 Constitution as they interpreted it.
    • Seeking global recognition as a legitimate nation.

  • Soldiers' Motivations

    • Average age: 25, height: 5'8"; high literacy rate.
    • Motivations varied: masculinity, honor, defense of home, adventure, money, and personal liberty.
    • Notably, few Northern soldiers had abolitionist motives.

  • Battle Naming Conventions

    • Confederacy named battles after towns; Union by natural features, leading to dual names for some battles.

  • First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

    • Soldiers and civilians treated the battle as a short affair; picnic atmosphere.
    • July 21, 1861: chaotic battle lasting approximately two hours.
    • Confederates prevailed due to better organization and a final counterattack.

  • Reflection on Early War Dynamics

    • Both sides unprepared for the conflict; initial battles revealed a misunderstanding of wartime organization.
    • The coming war would significantly shape American society and politics.