Civil War Flashcards
Define: Blockade-runners (1)
Ships which tried to evade the Union warships
blockading Southern ports in an effort to trade.
Define: war of attrition (1)
A war where each side tries to wear down the strength, morale, and/or resources of the enemy.
Name the two ships that participated in the first ironclad encounter in history and identify which was Union and which was Confederate. (2)
The Virginia(Confederate) and The Monitor(Union).
What was the most notorious prison camp in the American Civil War? What fraction of the inmates died from malnutrition and disease? (2)
Andersonville. Over 1/4 of inmates died from malnutrition and disease.
Who were labelled “Copperheads”? (1)
Democrats
What was the Anaconda Plan and who proposed it? (2)
Proposed by General-in-Chief Winfield Scott. The plan was to slowly squeeze life out of the Confederacy by
naval blockade and by winning control of the Mississippi River.
The North’s advantages in the American Civil War, economic and otherwise, were more impactful than the Confederate’s advantages. To what extent do you agree (listing specific examples)? (12)
- I completely agree. The North had a larger and far better-equipped military, they had way more factories and were way more industrious than the south.
- The North was able to produce more and better guns than the South, the South had to get their guns from foreign nations while the North could mass-produce them on their own.
- In almost every battle the North had more men.
- There were 22 million Northerners vs. 9 million Southerners.
- The North had 6 times as many factories as the South and 10 times its industrial capacity.
- The North’s Navy was way larger than the South due to their factories.
- While the South had size and only had to defend their land.
- The Union’s advantages destroyed the advantages of the South.
Other Opinions:
1. Agree:
- 22 million Northerners vs. 9 million Southerners (5.5 million were whites)
- Four slave states, containing 2 million people, stayed with the union. These states would have added 45% to the Confederacy’s white population and 80% to its industrial capacity
- Most men in the regular army remained loyal to the Union. From 1820-1860, ⅔ of West Point graduates had been Northerners
- North had 6 times as many factories as the South, 10 times its industrial capacity, twice as many railroads, produced 97% of the USA’s firearms, 93% of its cloth, and 94% of its iron
- North had more horses, cows, and sheep and produced over 80% of the USA’s wheat and oats
Pockets of Unionism existed in the South, especially in the Appalachian Mountains
- The Union had a 16,000-strong regular army, most of which was scattered out West.
- The South had to start its military organization from scratch
- There were only 160,000 muskets in the whole of the South
- By 1863, Union cavalry was as good as Confederate cavalry, and thereafter probably better due to being issued repeating rifles in 1864-1865
Union armies almost always had the greater artillery strength.
The North was able to produce more—and better—guns.
The criticisms of Lincoln in the American Civil War outweigh the praise he should receive as leader of the Union. To what extent do you agree? (12)
- I somewhat disagree with this statement.
- Lincoln may have reached past his power many times such as suspending the writ of habeas corpus(the right for a person to tell why he was arrested), suspended civil liberties, and appointing poor leaders.
- He also did many good things such as being a good leader, he was unwilling to compromise with the south, he appointed Grant and Sherman.
- Lincoln was overall better of the Union for his dedication, strong leadership to the Union, and his ability to accept and improve upon his mistakes.
Other Opinions:
1. Agree:
-Generally, he selected able men and delegated well, giving those men who were successful free reign. He learned from his mistakes and revealed real qualities of leadership.
- Due to the loss of its Southern members, Congress was controlled by Republicans throughout the war. Congress generally cooperated with Lincoln.
- State governments raised troops for Lincoln. Most states were Republican-controlled. Those states under Democratic control did little to hinder the war effort.
- Unlike the Confederacy, the Union had an established Treasury, gold, reserves, and a source of revenue from tariffs. Nevertheless, the financial structures were not ready for war and the banking system seemed near collapse. The Treasury was kept afloat by raising loans and issuing bonds in which citizens, as well as bankers, invested (owning shares in the national debt)
- In 1861 leading Northern Democrats like Douglas called on all Northerners to support Lincoln’s war effort. Lincoln, needing to maintain unity, appointed Democrats to his cabinet and to high military command.
2. Disagree:
- As commander-in-chief, Lincoln believed that waging war was essentially an executive function. Where no precedent existed, he improvised, stretching the authority of his office beyond any previous practice.
- Democrats accused him of acting tyrannically. On several occasions he suspended the writ of habeas corpus: anyone could be imprisoned by military authority. Over 40,000 people were subject to arbitrary arrest.
- Lincoln was willing to suspend civil liberties, including both freedoms of speech and freedom of the press; causing him to come into conflict with both Congress and the Senate
Jefferson Davis was a liability rather than a strength for the Confederacy in the American Civil War. To what extent do you agree? (12)
- I mostly disagree.
- Davis was a strength.
- Davis was a war hero which is good for moral and reputation.
- With a lot of war experience that needed up being beneficial to the South.
- He let great generals like Lee was freedom to handle their army.
- He had great military sense in appointing great generals like Lee.
- He supported tough measures when necessary such as implementing taxes on cotton he increased the power of the federal government in a time of war.
- His dedication was unquestionable to the Confederacy.
- He was a great leader but he did have some flaws that hurt his reputation.
- He was indecisive in his meetings, he had high turnover rates in the cabinet, and he was seen as too conservative in time the South needed new ideas.
- Overall Davis was strength to the South.
Robert E. Lee’s leadership and tactics gave the South the greatest chance of winning the American Civil War. To what extent do you agree? (12)
- Completely agree. Lee was the greatest leader in the entire war.
- He put up a great fight with the cards he was given.
- He always faced a larger and better equipped North and still managed to win major battles.
- The South was under resourced and lacked supplies throughout the entire war.
- The Confederacy would have fallen way quicker without Lee in command. In the Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee faced Hooker’s army with twice as many men.
- Lee divided up his army and attacked his flacks and won.
- Lee was considered a war hero by both sides after his death. Lee won the battle of Petersburg which made the South hold on longer.
- Lee emphasized the offensive.
- Lee prolonged the war by saving big cities like Richmond. In the battle “The Seven Days”, he defended and saved Richmond and forced McClellan to retreat.
- CC: Lee’s invasion of Maryland ultimately failed when the Union army got ahold of his orders (Antietam)
- In only 3 days, Lee lost 1/3 of his army at Gettysburg
- Lee offered his resignation, but President Davis refused to accept it
General Grant and General Sherman led the Union to victory because of their superior leadership and ability. To what extent do you agree? (12)
- Somewhat disagree.
- While Grant and Sherman’s leadership was good, they were not the full reason the union won.
- The Union army was far better equipped and larger than the confederacy, the Union had this advantage the entire war.
- While size and equipment aren’t everything, it sure helps.
- The North was able to produce more and better guns than the South, the South had to get their guns from foreign nations while the North could mass-produce them on their own.
- In almost every battle the North had more men.
- There were 22 million Northerners vs. 9 million Southerners.
- The North had 6 times as many factories as the South and 10 times its industrial capacity.
- The North’s Navy was way larger than the South due to their factories.
- The Union’s advantages destroyed the advantages of the South.
- Grant did play a role because he used the Union’s advantages to his advantage by urging men to attack because to could afford to lose men while the confederacy could not.
- Shermans march to the sea used many men but he had the size to do so.
Name the four most important battles/campaigns of the American Civil War; describing and ranking them 1-4 (1 being the most important). Justify your positioning. (12)
- Antietam
- Lee invaded Maryland in hopes of winning a decisive victory and getting Britain to join the south.
- Lees’s invasion failed, his plans fell into McClellan’s hands which gave him a huge advantage.
- McClellan had a 2 to 1 advantage on him. Within days Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. Lee’s failure to win a decisive victory made British intervention unlikely - Gettysburg
- Lee insisted on an invasion of Pennsylvania and Davis approved.
- On July 1, 1863, rebel soldiers stumbled across Union troops at Gettysburg. Lee and Meade ordered their forces to converge on the small town.
- It was a close battle that lasted 3 days. Lee charged the middle of the Union and got destroyed.
- lee had to retreat to Virginia. Lee lost 28,000 men - 1/3 of his army. Lee offered his resignation, but Davis refused. - Vicksburg
- Vicksburg was a fortified town that prevented Union
control of the Mississippi River. Davis viewed Vicksburg
as “the nail-head that held the South’s two halves
together.”
- Vicksburg’s natural defenses made it difficult to capture.
- On July 4, 30,000 Confederate troops in Vicksburg
surrendered. The capture of Port Hudson five days later cut the Confederacy in two. - 7 days battle
- Lee wanted to join up with Jackson and attack McClellan’s flank.
- Lee attacked at the end of June. The battle cost the Confederacy 20,000 men; Union losses were 16,000. Over-complicated battle-plans and defects in command structure led to Lee making disjointed attacks. Jackson was also strangely lethargic in his troop movement.
- Lee may have lost more troops, but he forced McClellan to retreat and he saved Richmond.
What was the greatest factor that affected the outcome of the American Civil War? Explain. (12)
- Britain not joining the South.
- Due to the South’s poor industry and equipment,
- ^the south desperately needed an ally to win the war.
- Lee’s whole strategy was to win a decisive battle to get Brittan to join them.
- The South was circled by the Union navy via the Anaconda Plan
- ^the South needed Britain on their side to get supplies and troops.
- Since Lee could not convince Britain to join, the confederacy was limited in its actions
- As time went on the confederacy got weaker, and it was only a matter of time before the confederacy fell.
- France proposed that France and Britian attempt to mediate the conflict, but Britian wanted to wait it out before making a move
- The closest Britian ever got to becoming involved in the war was the Trent Affair
-Two Confederate comissioners to Britain and France sailed for Europe on the British steamer the Trent - A U.S. ship stopped the steamer and removed the comissioners
-Britain sent troops to Canada and demanded that the United States make a public apology
What role did foreign relations have in the outcome of the American Civil War? Explain. (12)
- The role of inactivity of Europe played a huge role in the war.
- Due to the South’s poor industry and equipment
- ^ the south desperately needed an ally to win the war.
- Cotton could enable the Confederacy to buy military supplies from Europe and perhaps entice Britain to break the Union blockade, leading to war between Britain and the Union
- Lee’s whole strategy was to win a decisive battle to get Britain to join them.
- Countries like France was waiting on Britan to decide to join.
- The South was circled by the Union navy via the Anaconda Plan
- the South needed Britain on their side to get supplies and troops.
- The Britian became divided over the conflicts, and sympathy came to both sides of America.
- Since Lee could not convince Britain to join, the confederacy was limited in its actions.
- it was only a matter of time before the confederacy fell. As time went on the confederacy got weaker without an alley.
- The trenton affiar was the closest Britian ever got to involvement in the war.
What was the effect and impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the war effort of the American Civil War? (12)
- The Emancipation Proclamation had a big impact on the outcome of the war.
- Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation after winning the battle of Antietam, the turning point of the war.
- The Emancipation Proclamation pushed slavery to the forefront of the war
- caused slaves to leave the south.
- The Emancipation Proclamation didn’t have a huge impact on slaves in the South at the time
- The Emancipation Proclamation caused Britain to sway away from the South.
- The British did not joing the war because causing many to support the Union.
- It made the civil war a war to end slavery for senturies to come.
- The South desperately need Britain on their side,
- so the loss of Antietam and The Emancipation Proclamation stopped all hopes of Britain joining the South.
- The Emancipation Proclamation made the South defeat inevitable.
- Counter claim:
- Giving that 4 slave states remained in the Union, slavery did not seem to be a critical issue. Lincoln’s administration insisted for most of 1861-1862 that the war was not a crusade to abolish slavery.
- Did not free slaves. In the North did not free slave states, and in the South was under a different goverment.
