American Civil War Overview

Introduction

  • The speaker shares experiences of lack of social contact and interaction amidst class settings.

  • Mention of American Civil War as a significant topic covered throughout the semester.

American Civil War (ACW)

Overview

  • Multiple Names:

    • American Civil War (most common).

    • War Between the States.

    • War of the Rebellion.

    • War of Northern Aggression (often used by Southerners, considered biased).

    • War of Southern Independence.

    • War of Secession.

  • Comparisons to various international civil wars (e.g., English, Spanish, Chinese).

Historical Context

  • Notable that the ACW occurred approximately 160 years ago and remains a topic of discussion.

  • The United States expanded, acquiring more states during the war, highlighting its status as a land of opportunity even amidst conflict.

Flags and Symbols

  • Confederate Flags:

    • Stars and Bars as the first national flag of the Confederacy.

    • The Confederate Battle Flag (the Saint Andrew's Cross), adopted to distinguish from the Union flag, prevents friendly fire incidents.

Army Structure and Naming Conventions

  • Army Naming:

    • Union Armies named after bodies of water (e.g., Army of the Potomac, Army of the Tennessee).

    • Confederate Armies named after states (e.g., Army of Northern Virginia, Army of Tennessee).

  • Battle Naming:

    • Northerners named battles after geographical features.

    • Southerners named battles after nearby towns (e.g., Bull Run vs. Manassas, Sharpsburg vs. Antietam).

Terminology and Language Confusion

  • Secede vs. Succeed:

    • Secede: To withdraw from an organization (verb) leading to secession (noun).

    • Succeed: To achieve success (verb) or follow another (verb and noun: succession).

  • Highlighting the potential for confusion in discourse regarding these terms.

Casualties and Impacts

  • Statistics of the Civil War:

    • Total casualties: approximately 646,000 (killed, wounded, and missing).

    • Noted as the bloodiest conflict in American history.

    • Casualties represent about 2% of the population – a significant figure in American history compared to other conflicts.

  • Breakdown of fatalities:

    • Total dead: 620,000 (Northern: 140,000; Southern: 72,000).

    • Civilian deaths: Approximately 50,000 due to military actions.

  • Wounded soldiers:

    • Estimated 345,000 wounded in action.

  • Impact on families: 1 out of every 12 American men fought in the war.

Prelude to War

  • Sectional tensions increased due to the westward movement, slavery discussions, and evolving societal norms.

  • Key Figures:

    • James Buchanan, presiding over a divided nation, often seen as ineffective.

    • The conflict over slavery and its expansion deeply fractured political lines.

  • Bleeding Kansas:

    • A pivotal moment as tensions escalated leading toward actual conflict and revealing divisions within states and regions.

Election of 1860

  • Breakdown of political parties and candidates:

    • Democrats: Split between Southern Democrats favoring Breckenridge, and Northern Democrats supporting Douglas.

    • Constitutional Union Party presenting a moderate option with Bell.

    • Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln, adopting an antislavery platform.

  • Results:

    • Lincoln wins due in part to the fractured nature of competing Democratic votes.

  • Perception of Lincoln's presidency stoked fears of southern states regarding slavery issues.

Secession of Southern States

  • South Carolina first to secede, followed by others in the Deep South (Georgia, Texas, Alabama, etc.).

  • Formed the Confederate States of America (CSA), claiming states' rights and sovereignty.

  • Perceived illegality of secession reinforced by the Supreme Court's future ruling in Texas v. White (1869).

Leadership of the Confederacy

  • Jefferson Davis as Confederate President: criticized for poor leadership style and micromanagement.

  • Capital of the Confederacy moved to Richmond, Virginia, after more states joined the secession.

War Dynamics and Strategies

  • Victory Conditions:

    • North must re-integrate Southern states, preventing further secession.

    • South must withstand Northern advances and secure international recognition.

  • Importance of capturing capital cities in defining the success of military campaigns.

  • Military Strategies:

    • North had advantages in resources, population, and manufacturing capacities.

    • South had superior cavalry and early leadership advantages with experienced generals.

  • Foreign Recognition:

    • The potential for European nations to recognize the Confederacy hinged on economic ties, especially regarding cotton exports.

Political and Economic Climate

  • Introduction of several key legislative acts during the war:

    • Moral Tariff: Increased import tax for funding the war effort.

    • Homestead Act: Encouraged settlement in the Great Plains.

    • National Banking Act: Aimed to stabilize the banking sector and regulate currency.

    • Legal Tender Act: Authorized the use of greenbacks to fund military efforts.

    • Encouragement of immigration: Attracting workers to support industrial growth during the war.

Conclusion and Takeaways

  • The Civil War involved complex motivations around state rights and slavery.

  • Recognition of the importance of understanding military objectives and conditions in warfare.

  • The theme of conflict resolution through democracy and the consequences of war choices.

Ethical and Social Implications

  • Engaging in ongoing discourse regarding warfare's implications on society and governance.

  • Historical reflection on civil rights and liberties amidst wartime governance.