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.