Civil War

Civil War Summary

Confederacy founded on principles of Jeffersonian democracy, valuing state authority.
Delegates met in Montgomery, Alabama to form the Confederate States of America.
Jefferson Davis elected as President; Alexander Stevens as Vice President.
Southern states seceded after the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln.

James Buchanan took no action to prevent secession, believing it illegal but lacking authority to compel states.
Lincoln inaugurated on March 4, 1861, emphasizing unity and reassurance to Southerners about slavery.

Major Robert Anderson reported demands to surrender Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
April 12, 1861: Confederacy bombards Fort Sumter, marking the start of the Civil War; only two casualties.

Proposed by General Winfield Scott to blockade Southern ports and control the Mississippi River.

Greater industrial capacity (92% manufactured goods) and railroad network (70% railroads).
Larger population allowed for greater recruitment.
Recognized as a legitimate government by other nations.

Fighting on home ground; high military tradition and talented commanders like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

First major battle, showing lack of preparedness on the Union side; Confederate victory.

Costly Union victory with many casualties; led to an emphasis on military preparedness.

Ulysses S. Grant becomes commander of Union forces in 1864.
Implemented Total War, damaging civilian resources to undermine the Confederate cause.

Major Union victory, splitting the Confederacy and controlling the Mississippi River.

Issued by Lincoln in 1863, linking war goals to ending slavery, thus preventing British support for the Confederacy.
Freedom granted to slaves in Confederate-held territories only; formal abolition awaited 13th Amendment.

April 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse after significant Union victories.
Lincoln assassinated shortly after the war's conclusion, leading to national mourning.

Over 600,000 deaths; deep socio-political impacts in both North and South, shaping the Reconstruction era.

Secession: The act of withdrawing formally from membership in a federation or body, particularly the Southern states from the Union.
Confederacy: The group of Southern states that seceded from the Union, formed the Confederate States of America.
Anaconda Plan: Union military strategy to blockade Southern ports and control the Mississippi River.
Total War: Military strategy by Ulysses S. Grant that aimed to destroy not just enemy armies but also the economic resources that supported them.
Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by President Lincoln in 1863, declaring the freedom of slaves in Confederate-held territories.
Ironclads: Steam-propelled ships protected by iron or steel armor plates that changed naval warfare.
Minie ball: A conical bullet that increased the lethality of firearms during the war.

Formation of the Confederacy: Southern delegates met in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as President.
Lincoln's Inauguration: March 4, 1861, where Lincoln emphasized unity and reassured Southerners regarding slavery.
Battle of Fort Sumter: April 12, 1861, marked the official start of the Civil War when the Confederacy bombarded the fort.
First Battle of Bull Run: The first major battle of the war, resulting in a Confederate victory and showing Union unpreparedness.
Battle of Shiloh: A costly Union victory that highlighted the need for better military preparedness.
Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): Major turning point with significant Union victory, leading to Confederate defense.
Siege of Vicksburg (July 4, 1863): Union victory that split the Confederacy and gained control of the Mississippi River.
Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse (April 1865): End of the Civil War marking the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union forces.
Lincoln's Assassination: Occurred shortly after the war's conclusion, leading to national mourning and affecting the Reconstruction era.