Study Notes on Pre-Civil War America

Causes of Buildup to the Civil War

  • Discussion centered on the expansion across the country

    • The pertinent question: Territories were to become slave or free states?

  • Significant Election: 1860 Presidential Election

    • Abraham Lincoln is elected

    • Immediate effects: Lower South states, specifically South Carolina, begin secession

  • Virginia's Complex Position

    • Virginia's attitude towards slavery and secession is mixed

    • Although there are secessionists, the majority of Virginian voters reject the idea of secession through multiple votes

    • The geographical division in Virginia:

    • Eastern Virginia sympathetic to the South

    • Central Virginia in conflict over the decision

    • Western Virginia largely averse to slavery and ultimately supports the Union

    • Creation of West Virginia from the counties that opposed secession

Virginia's Position in the Civil War

  • Repeated rounds of voting in Virginia show resistance to secession

    • Majority sentiment over time reflects a preference for remaining in the Union

  • Virginia as a complex microcosm

    • Significant red and blue areas coexist, reflecting divided political leanings

    • Historical context: Virginia was politically susceptible to both anti- and pro-slavery sentiments

    • Post-Civil War, Virginia continues to exhibit a mix of political allegiances

Federal Response and Lincoln's Outlook

  • Lincoln's consistent view on secession:

    • Does not recognize the Confederate States of America

    • Considers seceding states to still be part of the Union, in open rebellion

  • Lincoln's strategic consistency:

    • Sees secession as illegitimate and insists that it cannot be considered a successful separation

The Gritman Plan and Republican Principles

  • The concept of extending the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific Territory discussed

    • Recognized that conceding to Southern demands could undermine Republican principles

James Buchanan's Presidency

  • Considered one of the least effective presidents

    • Labeled as ineffective due to his inaction during escalating tensions

  • Background on Buchanan's campaign:

    • Ran largely on the slogan of not causing the pre-war tensions

  • Failure to unify the country amid growing divisions

    • Recognized pro-slavery forces while ignoring anti-slavery factions

Strategies in the Civil War

  • Northern and Southern Strategies Compared

    • North: Seeks to win outright

    • South: Aims to avoid losing, relying on defensive strategies

    • Concept of Total War

    • North must destroy the South's will to persevere

    • Notable examples of Total War: World War I, World War II

  • Total War Defined

    • Total War involves utilizing all national resources for the war effort

Generals of the Civil War

  • Prominent commanders: Grant and Lee

    • Grant often viewed as a modern general

    • Contrast between old and new military strategies

The Anaconda Plan by Winfield Scott

  • Description of the three-part Anaconda Plan:

    • Blockade Southern ports to stop trade

    • Take control of the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy

    • Hammer and anvil strategy: Hold the Confederacy's forces in the East while striking from the West

    • Utilization of the Northern navy to enforce the blockade

Northern Advantages vs. Southern Advantages

  • Northern Advantages:

    • Industrial capacity (9 times more factories than the South)

    • Control over 75% of the railroads and 97% of firearm production

    • Larger population (20 million vs. 9 million in the South)

  • Southern Advantages:

    • Strong agricultural production, especially cotton

    • More experienced military leaders from Southern military academies

Military Leadership

  • Military leadership disparities before the war

    • South had superior military academies and experienced generals

    • North slowly develops capable commanders as the war progresses

Summary of Political Divisions in Virginia Pre-Civil War

  • Virginia's internal divisions reflect larger national tensions

    • Eastern Virginia's pro-secession stance contrasts with Western Virginia's opposition

    • The significance of multiple voting rounds indicates the conflicted loyalties within the state

Conclusion

  • Civil War strategies spotlight the differing Northern and Southern priorities

    • North's need for complete military victory versus the South's need for survival through resistance

  • Effective military strategies and leadership to be explored in future discussions.