The American Civil War

Question 1

In 1860 the Union had … free men for every one free confederate man

Answer 1

4.4

Question 2

what percentage of military aged men in the North were serving in the war by …..
what percentage of the South’s men

Answer 2

44% of Northern military aged men

90% of Southern military aged men

Question 3

Grants May-June Wilderness campaign 1864 lost…. in one month

Answer 3

50,000 and by the end (after receiving the nickname ‘the butcher’ he still had more troops than Lee began with

Question 4

respective populations of the North and South

Number of people who fought for them

Answer 4

22 million in North, 9 million in south (5.5 whites)

2.1 million fought for North, 900,000 fought for South

Question 5

african americans fighting for Union

Answer 5

180,000 
100,000 from confederacy
42,000 from slave border states
10% of Union troops were black
20 of them got congressional medals of honour

Question 6

Lee was successful in which battle against an army twice his size
He was unsuccessful at which attacks against Union (how could these have been different)

Answer 6

Chancellorsville - 17,000 casualties for Union and 13,000 for Confeds
Antietam, Maryland 1862 (Union found battle plans)
Gettysburg - July 1-3 1863 casualties: 28 thousand over 3 days (1/3rd of the army) during Pickett’s infamous change up Cemetery ridge there were 6,500 casualties in 1 hour (could have pushed advantage on day 1, although eventually would have been halted.)

Question 7

Other Confed generals

Answer 7

Johnson - good ‘stone wall’ at Bull run (not in 7 days battles)
Bragg - quarrelled with everyone
Hood - responsible for many costly defeats especially in 1864
Although important to note when beseging Thomas he had 23,000 men compared to Thomas’ 50,000

Question 8

Poor Union Generals

Answer 8

McClellan - overcautious Lincoln’ he’s got the slows’ during the Penisular Campaign he lost the incentive and was pushed back after waiting for reinforcements when he already had a 2:1 advantage

Pope: terribledefeat at Second bull run
Meade: allowed Lee to escape after Gettysburg
Burnside and Hooker: reluctant to take command

Question 9

Sherman

Answer 9

Took Atlanta September 1864 completed 285 mile march through Georgia cutting 60 mile wide front and causing $100,000,000 worth of damage. They stole 9,500,000 (9.5 mill) worth of corn and destroyed 300miles railroad as welll as showing confeds gov could not protect them
Led to Lincoln’s re-election

Question 10

Grant - what he did well

lost men at….

Answer 10

Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Vickburg (4th July 1863)
Cracker line (63, Chattanooga)
March 1864 - Commander in Chief
Co-ordinated attacks - utilise advantage in numbers so confeds could not move troops around to meet them eg. Tied down Lee so Sherman could march through Georgia (cause Lincoln’s re-election)

Wilderness Campaign - lost 18,000 men (twice that of Confeds)
Lost 7000 men in 1 hour at Cold Harbour

Question 11

Grant lost …% of his army on average compared to Lee’s …

Answer 11

Grant 9%

Lee: 20% (smaller force)

Question 12

Lincoln

Things he did well

Answer 12

Keeping Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware and Missouri in the Union. would have added 80% to resources of Confeds and 50% pop, acted as a buffer to Washington and Midwest grain belt. He did this by suspending habeus corpus and arresting troublemakers in Maryland.
Suspending HC - went against Supreme Court Taney’s decision, 40 thousand were subject to arbitrary arrest. Vallandingham vs. Burnside. Lincoln did this, imposed blockade, raised troops, correctly assuming congress would back him when they met in July 61 they did (more support than Davis)
good manager, emancipation proclamation, attentive to pop will, speeches

The trent affair 1861, threatening Britain if they kept building warships, agreement of Canada harbouring fugitives was reached before it escalated

Question 13

How Lincoln was helped

Acts by Gov..

Answer 13

Republicans dominated both houses
Salmon Chase handled finances well

Congress: without southern democrats passed:
the Morril Tariff in 1862 (doubling tariff), The Legal Tender Act 62 (allowed $150 million paperbacks unsupported to enable the sale of $500 million new bonds), The income (>$800) act, The internal revenue act (10x more tax) 62. The Homestead act - 2.5million acres new farm land cultivated. Generous railway subsidies, reformed banks (10% tax on state currency)

Question 14

Davis - was he good or bad himself?

Answer 14

No one better, difficult job.
poor delegator, did not make quick decisions (lengthy cabinet sesses)
poor communicator: did not build national spirit of optimism, did not give speeches to citizens, rarely left Richmond, in time of local news.
Appointed commanders based on Friendship (Leonidas Polk), failed to stop internal devisions, meddled in military affairs (had been secretary of War) but did not do enough for the homefront.

Question 15

Why was Davis’ job harder?

Answer 15

State’s rights. Resentment of ‘dictator’,
Opposition from Cabinet members (Alexander Stephens vice pres) made 16 appointments over the course of the war for 6 cabinet
positions (although most of his secretaries were capable)
In the 1863 elections for Southern Congress, 40% of those elected were new and opposed to Davis.
Confederacy was poor and ill prepared to war - rumoured only 160 thousand muskets in the whole Confederacy.
fighting with limited man power and resources - had to hold West and Virginia
collapsing econ (which he arguably should have done more to address - inflation 5000% in Eastern states)

Question 16

Opposers to Davis

Brown and Vance

Answer 16

Joseph Brown Gov of Georgia- exempt thousands of Geogians from national service, Zebulon Vance NC - prevented supplies from reaching front line in order to preserve NC defences

Question 17

What could the Confeds have done differently?

Answer 17

Not imposed Cotton Embargo (annoyed Britain, lost lots of money while the blockade was still weak)
supervised rail system better so food and supplies did not rot in depots
blockade running act and slave impression act (for food growing) should have been done before 1863

Question 18

Things Davis did that went against State’s rights

Answer 18

conscription April 1862
imposed martial law in places threatened by Union
Supported impression of supplies
While they were far less draconian than Lincoln, opposition newspapers could still have their press destroyed by Vigilantes.

Question 19

Desertions: how many in North and South

Answer 19

1 in 7 southerners

1 in 10 northerners

Question 20

Which critical victories helped Lincoln’s re-election

Answer 20

Critical victory at Atlanta Sept 1864 - This happened 2 days after a Democrat convention announced that ‘the war was a failure’. Making their campaign for peace seem like illogical surrender
Victories in the Shenandoah Valley
made Democrats

Question 21

Effect of War on Northern economy and jobs

Answer 21

Wages often rose due to slight labour shortage. Some civil unrest due to inflation but not much. (Increase in racial tension as blacks were employed as strike breakers)
Soldiers often sent wages and bounty home

Question 22

Talk about the democrats

What happened in the 1862 Union Congressional elections

Answer 22

Douglas called democrats to rally round Lincoln in 61, those who did not were called ‘copperheads’ (poisonous snake) and said to be treasonous members of pro-southern secret societies
The democrats enjoyed considerable success with their slogan ‘the constitution as it is: the union as it was; the negroes where they are’
War weariness and racism.
Democrat opposition peaked in 1863 as Northern military failure led to defeatism

Question 23

Anti-draft riots

Answer 23

In March 1863 all abled bodied men were called for conscription or asked to pay a $300 contribution to the war effort.
New York July 1863 after 1st draftees were drawn Irish Immigrants attacked the recruiting station. This was encouraged by Democrat NY gov. Horatio Seymour - who claimed NY draft was higher than for republican districts (the riot turned racist)
119 people were killed
There were also race riots in Chicago, Boston and Buffalo

Question 24

Factors helping Lincoln’s re-election

Answer 24

Coercion - in border states loyalty oaths were a prerequisite for voting and these treated loyalty to the Union as loyalty to the gov. Ballots brightly coloured. Partisan officers supervised soldier’s ballot boxes and compelled soldiers to vote for Lincoln. Democrats embarrassed of vote which was viewed as traitorous
Democrat infighting
Choosing war democrat Johnson as his running mate (appealing to war democrats)
but mainly because of the victories of grant and Sherman

Question 25

Southern moral

Answer 25

high at start. Good harvest + victories. 500,000 volunteers in 1861, draft in 62, draft for 17-50 by 1864
Opposition to the draft was the main cause of discontent. In the NC mountains men banded together to elude and fight off enrolment officers. Bands of evaders dominated areas of the South.
While most supported the war at the Start opposition increased as the war dragged on and the situation at home became desperate. Shortage of basic commodities, impressment and inflation all demoralised the South.

Question 26

Class conflict in the South

and riots

Answer 26

poor farmers taxed heavily
rich planters exempt from draft
Bread Riots 1863 Richmond (also in Atlanta)

Question 27

Those in the South who did not support Confederacy

Answer 27

4 million Slaves
Unionists in the Appalachians and up-land non-slaveholding areas.
90,000 Southerners fought for Union army. (many Northerners fought for South in border states)
Western Virginia seceded from Confederacy in 1861 and joined the Union in 1863 followed by Eastern Tennessee.
James McPherson however found strong evidence of patriotism in the letters of Southern soldiers.

Question 28

Britain
pros of supporting confeds
cons of supporting confeds
What the did in the end
(French)

Answer 28

South provided 75% lancashire cotton (led to high unemployment winter 62-63). Divided USA - smaller rivals

Continuation of Slavery, defeat looked likely, grain from Northern States, vulnerable land in Canada and Central America, they already had a large stockpile of cotton purchased in 59-60, then looked to Egypt and India, the rest of the Country (apart from Lancashire prospered)

Remained Neutral - traded with both sides. Allowed confeds to build raider in their ports (which destroyed 200 Union merchant vessels) The ‘Laird Rams’ eventually bought by British gov to avoid war with Union
(the French wanted to recognise the Confederacy but were not in a position to do so without British support)

Question 29

The fire power of the ….. favoured the defender

Answer 29

rifle musket
(range grew from

Question 30

Richmond was defended naturally by…

Answer 30

a series of rivers (as well as some dense forest and swamps0

Question 31

Why Southern/ Union Generals should have been good

Answer 31

Southern: Strong military tradition, many (Lee, Bragg, Jackson, Johnston, Smith) had fought in Mex-American War, Most Military colleges were in slave states, top West-point grads like Lee were Southern
2/3rds of West Point grads were Northern (although it was in NY)

Question 32

The Navy

Answer 32

North 25:1 in Ship tonnage. Had navy (8800 men and 90 ships) 300 officers went to the South.
By Dec 61 the Union had 260 warships and 100 more underconstruction
March 62 - Confed Ironclad ‘the Virginia’ emerged and sank 2 blockading ships.
By August 62 they controlled all inland waterways ‘cept Vicksburg. Northern naval domination was a major factor in Military success and planning
Confed sabotage and raids: raiders destroyed 200 union vessels, torpedoes sank 40 Union ships, blockade permeable.

Question 33

Supply and communications

Answer 33

Bullrun - reinforcements rolled in. South found it harder to supply once the Union had taken their waterways. North had twice as much railway. Because the South had fewer railways and cities they had poorer supply.
Southern war dep. took over railway system: companies required to share rolling stock, timetables regulated, draft exemptions issued - still shortage of labour and materials caused Southern rail to collapse - foodstuffs and supplies left in depots

Question 34

Gov services:

ordinance bureau in South

Answer 34

Union got national civil services: War dept (90 men) and Treasury

Confederacy created the Ordinance Bureau from scratch - Josiah Gorgas - competant. By 1863 the had enough aresnals, gunpowderworks and factories to produce war basics

Question 35

Capcity to acquire war supplies - south

Answer 35

Confederacy only had 160 thousand muskets at start. Had to fight with jumbled mix of Union captured artillery, imported and inferior home made guns. Most southern industry was confined to the mining area in the Appalachians.
blockade running act 63 1/3rd cotton exports, 1/3rd war supplies imports (75% chance of success)
60% of small arms, 75% saltpetre (gunpowder) and nearly all paper for cartridges were imported

Question 36

Production of cotton…

Answer 36

declined from 4 million bales in 1862

to 300,000 bales in 1864

Question 37

The North had … the industrial productive capacity
and … times the factory production value
and …. times as many factories

Answer 37

10x the industrial capacity
14x the factory production value
6x as many factories
….as the South

Question 38

The North had ….x as much farm acreage
which it increase by settling 2.5 million acres between 1862-4 due to the homestead act
The Wheat fact.
(Other food facts)

Answer 38

3 times as much farm acreage

The Wheat fact: The Union states grew more wheat in the year 1862-3 than the whole of the United States had grown in the previous record year 1959, despite the loss of men to the army

(grew 80% of nation’s wheat and oats, twice as much corn)

Question 39

Demand from Britain resulted in the ….. of exports of what produce

Answer 39

exports of beef, pork and corn doubled

Question 40

What percentage of Pig Iron

Although what major iron works did the Confeds use

Answer 40

94%

The Tredegar Iron works (still privately owned although it was the main producer for the Ordinance bureau)

Question 41

The North produced …. times the number of fire arms

Answer 41

32x

Question 42

What happened to Northern Industry

Answer 42

It was stimulated by the challenge of war, and this stimulation led to increased money supply, making it easier to pay debt and secure loans - thus industry expanded.
production of canned food, munitions and ship building increased noticeably
for the first time the railways were fully utilised and prospered (railway subsides probs helped)
The shortage of labour encouraged increased use of machinery
New England’s cotton mills suffered understandably

Question 43

The blockade and embargo were bad because….

Answer 43

they handicapped Southern diplomates pleading for foreign recognition
The Confederacy lost lots of money.

Question 44

How much of Confed war money was raised by taxes

What about Union…

Answer 44

8%

20%

Question 45

What Southern actions helped raise money for the war

Answer 45

the impression act (1863)
Taxation in Kind - 10%
IN Feb 61, Treasury Secretary Memminger raised $15 million in war bonds guaranteed in cotton (intially many buyers - as the war wore on less) The last major loan secured in 63.
Memminger had to print money to get the last 2/3rds of what the gov needed to pay for the war

Question 46

What state was the Confed economy in by the end

Answer 46

tatters
The Federal Confed gov owed $800 million
Inflation was 600% in many places buy 5000% in eastern states of Confederacy
there were many cases of hoarding and shortages
Morover, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee suffered physical destruction

Question 47

How did the North finance the war?

Answer 47

20% via taxation: Income tax 3% for incomes over $800, Internal revenue act 1862 - 10x more money than income tax. National Banking act of 63 and 64 - (reformed banks and imposed 10% tax on state currency)
Issuing war bonds: 1 million Northerners had war bonds. (the legal tender act - allowing for the issuing of $150 million unsupported greenbacks helped restore confidence in gov, to secure a further $500 million in war bonds from investors

Question 48

Northern inflation was ….

Southern…

Answer 48

80%

600% overall, 5000% in Eastern states