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Secession

The Secession Crisis

“Our enemies are about to take possession of the Government”

After the election of Abraham Lincoln the south began to feel that the government had too much control over individual states
The withdrawal of eleven southern states from the union in 1860 leading to the civil war.
The fundamental cause of southern secession was the U.S’s inability to solve slavery at a national level
South Carolina was the first to leave the Union and form a new nation called the Confederate States of America

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The Claim of a new nation

The Confederate States of America

Mississippian Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. senator and secretary of war became the President
Georgia congressman Alexander Stephens was vice president
President Buchanan of The United States government declared secession illegal, but due to his lack of force and timidity it only prompted South Carolina to demand that the US Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor

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The Crittenden Compromise

Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky submitted a proposal in hopes of preventing the civil war.
The reestablishment of the Missouri Compromise line and extension westward to the Pacific coast.
The Big Idea: Slavery would be prohibited north or the line and permitted south of the line. Slavery would be protected from federal interference where it already existed.
The Problem: The north would have to abandon their fundamental position based upon the idea that there should be no more expansion of slavery. And Congressional Republicans feared that expansion of new territory into Cuba and Central America would create new “imperialist adventures”

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Senator John J. Crittenden

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Abraham Lincoln and his inaugural address

Lincoln’s inaugural address clearly stated his intentions and positions on the matter.
States that already allowed slavery would be safeguarded but the expansion of slavery was prohibited.
Lincoln fully intended to “possess federal property of the seceded states” and “to collect duties and imposts”
If the seceded states did not wish to comply and rejoin the union their only other option was war.

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Attack on Fort Sumter �

In the spring of 1861, Major Robert Anderson and some eighty U.S. soldiers occupied Fort Sumter at the entrance to Charleston harbor.
Lincoln did not want to abandon Fort Sumter, but he also was trying to avoid sending military reinforcements.
Jefferson Davis sent Confederate soldiers to bombard the fort, forcing the surrender. On April 12, they open fired.
On April 15, Lincoln called 75,000 militiamen into federal services for 90 days to end the rebellion.

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The Upper South Chooses �

“Every man muse be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war, only patriots – or traitors.” –Stephen Douglas

Whites in the Middle and Border South had to choose to fight with the Union or for the Confederacy
Their decision was crucial these eight states accounted for two-thirds of the whites in slave holding states, three-fourths of their industrial production and had some of the nation’s best military men.
The results: The joining of the Confederacy: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. And these states stayed in the Union: Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri.

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Setting war objectives and strategies

Confederates insisted that the nation relied on the notion that “the Negro is not equal to the white man” and that slavery is his “natural or normal condition”
Lincoln insisted on an aggressive military campaign rather than economic sanctions or naval blockades in order to restore the union
Robert E. Lee became an influential figure and leader for the Confederate army.
The battle at Antietam resulted in a Union victory but still remains the bloodiest single day in U.S. military history
Grant’s counteroffensive strategies at Shiloh on April 7^th, 1862 overpowered the weakened Confederate forces and Beauregard’s army retired from the field.
Union naval forces captured the South’s financial center and largest city of New Orleans in April of 1862

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Famous Painting of the Battle of Shiloh

Battle of Antietam

General Robert E. Lee

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Mobilizing armies and civilians

In April of 1862, the confederate congress imposed a legally binding draft. It was the first in American history
Lincoln temporarily imprisoned nearly 15,000 southern sympathizers without trail over the course of the war
In 1861, the U.S. Sanitary Commission was established to provide troops with clothing, food, and medical services
Diseases and infections spread through this effort and killed approximately 250,000 Union soldiers
Women’s role and influence in society increased exponentially with the war. Because the men were fighting, women took care of domestic affairs and the women’s labor force rapidly grew.

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Advertisement to avoid the Confederate draft

Female nurses that cared for troops

Women working in factories in the 1860’s

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Toward total war

Mobilizing Resources

The North had an advantage over the south because: of a greater population, more railroad mileage, and almost 90% of the industrial output.
The south could use enslaved blacks for army efforts
The amount of cotton exported by the South persuaded other countries to assist them in their fight against the North.

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Republican Economics and Fiscal Policies:

Republican dominated congress started a neomercantilism program to promote domestic industries
High tariffs on foreign goods and gave people free farm land to increase agriculture.
To support the north during the war industries including: guns, clothes, and food began flourishing
Government spending in the north went from $63 million to $865 million between 1860 and 1864

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Emancipation

August 1861 congress passed the Confiscation Act to grant escaped slaves legal status
Radical Republicans used wartime legislature to destroy slavery
In June congress ended slavery in the federal territories
In July second Confiscation Act declared all slaves captured by the union army as “forever free”
Lincoln issued a preliminary proclamation of emancipation on September 22, 1862
The final proclamation was signed by Lincoln on New Year’s Day 1863
The Emancipation Proclamation didn’t immediately end all slavery.

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vicksburg

Siege at Vicksburg

The Confederates were in high spirits because of victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
South captured New Orleans and Memphis

Battle of Vicksburg

Grant tries several times to overtake the South
Attacked Jackson, Mississippi and then turned west and attacked Vicksburg from behind enemy lines (South)
Meanwhile, Sherman confused Confederates by attacking from the North

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Vicksburg continued

The Siege of the Northern Army

For 6 weeks laid a siege – a military encirclement of an enemy position in order to force it to surrender.
On July 4, 1863, the Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg 🡪 this split the Confederacy into 2 parts!

Map of Vicksburg

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Gettysburg

Forefront

Lee decided to try and take the North by surprise
If he succeeded in overtaking Gettysburg, he then planned to march south and capture Washington, D.C.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day battle that was one of the most important in the war 🡪 Turning Point!

General Lee

General Meade

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Gettysburg broken down

Day 1 – July 1, 1863

Battle began with the Confederate troops spotting General Buford’s Union cavalry
The Union was outnumbered and managed to scramble up to Cemetery Hill
The first day was seen as a Confederate advantage

Day 2 – July 2, 1863

Armies continued to add forces
75,000 Confederates, 95,000 Union
The Union line on Cemetery Hill was shaped like a fishhook

Day 3 – July 3, 1863

Confederate Plan – blast the Union line with intense cannon fire and then attack the center of the Union troops– turns into a massacre
Confederates try to take Cemetery Hill 🡪The Confederate charge was led by Major General George E. Pickett (Pickett’s Charge)

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End of gettysburg and its results

End of Gettysburg

Plan failed – it turned into a massacre
51,000 men died at Gettysburg either in the battle or from injuries🡪 bloodiest battle of the war
North – 23,000 and the South – 28,000
General Lee blamed himself for the loss
Lincoln disappointed because Meade did not continue down and take Richmond

Results of Gettysburg

Gettysburg Address – name of the speech Lincoln delivered talking about the war and equality
Lincoln replaced Meade with Grant
Grant used the idea of total war - destroy food, equipment, and anything else the enemy might need

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The union victorious

Soldiers and Strategy

200,000 black troops were recruited by 1865 (paid less than whites)
54^th Massachusetts Infantry

Capable Generals Take Command:

Grant became head of Union army in 1864

Heavy casualties under Grant’s leadership

William T. Sherman –invaded Atlanta

Ulysses S. Grant

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Election of 1864

The National Union Party versus the Peace Democrats

Presidential campaign was heating up, and Lincoln’s hopes for reelection depended on General Sherman in Georgia.
Democratic Party nominated General George B. McClellan for President
Democratic delegates rejected emancipation and condemned Lincoln’s repression of domestic dissent

Lincolns Victory

Republicans and National Unionists captured 145 of 185 seats in the House of Representatives and increased the Senate 42 of 52 seats
January 1865 the 13^th Amendment was established putting slavery to an end.

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Sherman’s march to the sea

Sherman’s Union troops Capture Atlanta

A major victory because Atlanta was the industrial center and railroad hub for the Confederacy

March to the Sea (November 15-December 21, 1864)

Sherman splits troops into 2 groups:
Major General George Thomas takes 60,000 soldiers to Nashville;
Sherman takes 62,000 soldiers on a 285 mile march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia.
Purpose: to frighten Georgia’s population into stopping Confederate support

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