American Civil War Flashcards
Major causes of the American Civil War
- Disagreement on if slavery should spread west.
- State’s Rights (belief that state gov. should have more power than the federal gov.)
- Slavery
Results of the war: (4)
- Over 600,000 men lost their lives
- The south was destroyed
- Slavery was ended
- Saved the Union
What is a Total War?
When a country devotes all of its resources toward the war effort
Fort Sumter:
- Located in Charleston, SC
- Where war began
- By 1861 it was the only federal installation that Abe Lincoln refused to turn over to the South
- Fort Sumter was fired upon for 34 hours
- Gen. Robert Anderson surrendered to Gen PGT Beauregard
- Not a single casualty
- South win
Fort Sumter caused the South to face what dilemma?
- If they allowed the North to keep the Fort it would make their government look weak
- If they took the fort by force they would be blamed for starting the war
Results of the Attack on Fort Sumter: (2)
- War had begun
- Three more Southern States left the Union (Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee)
“Copperheads”
Northerner Democrats who sympathized with the South
Which 4 Border Slave States were the last to pick a side in the Civil War?
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Maryland
Why are these last 4 states so particularly important to the South?
Half of the South’s white population lived in these states.
North Advantages:
- Large population of men
- Abundant industry (supplies)
- Abundant food supply
- Large Navy (blockade)
North Disadvantages:
- Had to invade and conquer the South
- Poor military leadership (officers)
- Poorly trained soldiers
South Advantages:
- United behind a cause (independence)
- Well trained men
- Superior military leadership
- Only had to defend their territory (familiar)
South Disadvantages:
- Lack of men, supplies, and food
- State’s rights
- Small navy
North’s main goal of the war:
- To save the Union
- Later it was to free the slaves
South’s main goals:
- To win independence
- Later it became to preserve slavery
North’s Strategies to win the war:
- Capture Richmond (capital)
- Capture the Mississippi River (main highway)
- Blockade all Southern ports (Anaconda plan - squeeze the life out of the South)
South’s Strategies:
- Get foreign assistance (they hoped to get assistance from Britain)
- Wear the North down - get them to quit
Describe most soldiers
Most soldiers were young farmers who signed to 90 day enlistments
Why did most soldiers only sign 90 day enlistments?
Both sides thought that the war would be short and would win easily
Southern Soldiers were called
rebels
Northern Soldiers were called
Yankees
Who did Lincoln first ask to be the commander of the North?
Robert E. Lee
Why did Robert E. Lee deny Lincoln’s offer to be the overall commander of the North?
He turned it down because he couldn’t fight against his own people
What did the North name the battles after?
Nearby rivers/streams
What did the South name the battles after?
Nearby Towns
First major battle of the war:
First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)
Main Southern General during First Battle of Bull Run
PGT Beauregard
Main Northern General during First Battle of Bull Run
Irwin McDowell
The South win the First Battle of Bull Run because of what southern general?
Gen. Thomas Jackson (Stonewall Jackson)
Results of the First Battle of Bull Run
- Realized the war was not going to be short or bloodless
- Need for standard colored uniforms (Blue and Grey)
Why was the war at sea fought?
Because of the Anaconda Plan
Anaconda Plan:
North set up a naval blockade to caught off southern supplies
Who did the south hire to get supplies through the northern blockade?
Blockade Runners
What was the first battle with iron ships called?
Battle of the Ironclads
What iron ships fought in the Battle of the Ironclads?
Monitor (north) vs. Merrimac (South
What southern ship sunk over 60 Union ships?
CSA Alabama
First sub in naval history to sink a ship in combat
HL Hunley - Confederate
War in the West was fought over what?
fought to control the rivers
Who was the northern commander during the Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?
Ulysses S. Grant
What was the result of the Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson?
North now controlled the upper Miss. River
Who was the northern general during the Battle of Shiloh
Ulysses S. Grant