The Civil War Flashcards

1
Q

the southern views to the compromise of 1860-61 7

A
  • In the Southern press, there had been talk of separation from 1858.
  • If the Southern States left the Union, they would be free to pass measures to protect slave owners even more, with the state guaranteeing court costs to recover runaway slaves and paying for posses to hunt down fugitive slaves.
  • Many Southern leaders weren’t therefore looking to ‘compromise’.
  • After South Carolina seceded in December, six more states left the Union before Lincoln’s inauguration. This didn’t mean that the states expected war. They were confident that war would never come about due to the strong economic position of the South, the need in the North for cotton from the South and the knowledge that war would end the economic prosperity that had mostly characterized the 1850’s.
  • A leading Southern statesman, Alexander Stephens, argued that there was not a village, town or city in the North “which does not owe its prosperity to Southern cotton”. British factories also relied on cotton, so they believed that Britain would support a separation.
  • The South believed that the North would fear to take on the South in a war (plantation slaves would continue to work the land, leaving the men free to take up arms).
  • If there had been a referendum of the American people on the compromise, it might have led to the Union being maintained.
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2
Q

the northern views to compromise 1860-61 8

A

-Horace Greeley (editor of the New York Tribune) a Whig who had helped to establish the Republican Party and advocated Westward expansion, wanted a free labour system in the new lands and opposed slavery. He initially favoured the South seceding and was an enthusiastic war supporter. –Many in the North believed that the South should go in peace and leave the more progressive North.
-In January 1861 an article appeared in his newspaper which said “If the Cotton States shall become satisfied that they can do better out of the Union than in it, we insist on letting them go in peace”.
-Republicans saw the compromise proposals as throwing away the fruits of electoral victory. There had also been too much mutual suspicion and sectional ill will since 1854 for the proposals to work.
-Would not accept the recognition of slavery in the Constitution or the interference with the
Northern states rights to pass Personal Liberty Laws.
It would move the US away from the social and economic progress which had been made and create a negative impression on other countries.
-If slavery had been guaranteed in new territories before they became states, the issues in ‘Bleeding Kansas’ would have been repeated.
-There was little inclination amongst Northerners, for war. Many hadn’t voted for Lincoln or wished to fight a war on behalf of slaves. It would disrupt the mutually beneficial economic system (Northern factories sold manufactured goods to the South and used Southern cotton).
-When Lincoln took office in March 1861, he appointed William Seward as Secretary of State, and he proposed that he take over the government (as a more experienced politician) and proposed a war with England to rally the nation.

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3
Q

why did the compromise fail in 1860-61

A

-Period between the election on Lincoln and his inauguration in March 1861 gave enemies of the Union time to break away.
-Outgoing President Buchanan discussed with Lincoln a measure which would guarantee constitutional protection for slavery where it existed:
-Key proposal from John Crittenden, (he supported slavery and the Union) to restore the Missouri compromise line 36 30. North of the line slavery would be prohibited from the new territories. South of the line it would be protected during the territorial phase and would be well established and protected. Compensation would be given to the owners of runaway slaves who were unable to recover them. Northern Personal Liberty Laws would be ended.
- Slavery would be introduced into the Constitution by an amendment which would be unamendable.
-The Republicans in Congress rejected these proposals.
-The South didn’t find them acceptable either
-The Founding Fathers had been careful to avoid using slavery as a word in the Constitution. The proposal would mean that slavery would be specifically protected. Republicans opposed slavery in the new territories as it would sooner or later come to an end due to the forces of economic, international and moral pressure.
Republicans possibly didn’t think there was a serious danger of the South seceding. They believed that the Union was too popular and respected for secession
When voting took place in the South on secession, the majorities were small even in the Deep South. The enthusiasm for secession in South Carolina was much greater than the other states. Some of the border states remained in the Union.

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4
Q

the secession of south Carolina before 1860

A

South Carolina had threatened secession before 1860. After the ratification of the US Constitution, fears grew in the South over time of a strong central government. Charles Pinckney, a vocal critic of the Articles of Confederation and contributor to the US Constitution, served in the House of Representatives from 1819-21. He warned that the economic interests of North and South were at odds. He further believed that slavery was the only question that could separate the Union.

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5
Q

what were there congressional debates over with south carolina

A

The congressional debate over federal taxes on imported manufactured goods showed the division between North and South. southern planters felt the tariff posed an unfair tax burden on them as they imported many manufactured goods. Citing states rights doctrine, South Carolina voted to nullify the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832. During the crisis, Vice President John C. Calhoun broke with President Andrew Jackson and resigned his office to organize southern resistance. The President sent troops to the federal forts in Charleston Harbor to enforce collection of the tariff. Calling for secession, the South Carolina legislature readied the state militia. The crisis was defused in 1833 by a compromise tariff, but the state had learned that cries of disunion could be an effective political weapon.

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6
Q

what was the environment like in the south

A

doctrine of state sovereignty under the leadership of Senator John C. Calhoun, there was little popular support for secession during the 1830s and 1840s. The escalating controversy over the expansion of slavery into the territory acquired from Mexico prompted South Carolina’s secession crisis of 1850 - 51. The Compromise of 1850 and the lack of broad-based support for secession in the South ended this crisis, but secessionists awaited their next opportunity. The election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860 fulfilled their dreams of a republic for slaveholders.

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7
Q

the beginning of the civil war - 12 of April

A

On April 12th the South made the decision to fire on Fort Sumter, marking the beginning the American Civil War. The decision was due to the principle that US troops were essentially on foreign soil, and provisioning them was akin to a warlike act against another power. The South knew that Northern opinion would not tolerate a direct attack on unarmed boats carrying provisions to hungry men at Fort Sumter and war would be the result. Both sides had reached the verdict that war was inevitable and each believed that they would win.

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8
Q

the beginning of the war April 13th

A

Apr 13 After 34 hours of bombardment and fires raging through the fort, Major Anderson surrendered.

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9
Q

the beginning of the war April 14th

A

Apr 14 Formal Union surrender of Fort Sumter. 250,000 people turned out in New York for a Union rally. The following day, April 15, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 men to volunteer in order to put down the rebellion that was breaking out all across the South. The states which supported secession saw this as a direct threat, and were energized rather than scared off by Lincoln’s actions. This marked the effective beginning of the Civil War as a full-scale conflict of arms.

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10
Q

when did the civil war begin

A

14th of April

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11
Q

who were the confederates

A

the south

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12
Q

who were the union

A

the north

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13
Q

what were the advantages for the Confederacy in 1861? 7

A

=South larger armies initially.

  • Weapons were not very different in quality from those in the North.
  • Military leaders had been trained in the same way as those in the North.
  • At the start of the war the military leadership tended to be stronger.
  • They were used to horses in the rural south and their cavalry units were often superior.
  • Possible recognition as an independent South, from foreign countries who relied on cotton for its manufacturing and markets.
  • Sheer size of the Confederacy, 3550 miles of coastline with 189 harbours and navigable river ports.
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14
Q

what was the size of the confederacy

A

3550 miles of coastline

189 harbours

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15
Q

what were the advantages of the union in 1861 7

A
  • More states were loyal to the Union, including the Border States. This robbed the Confederacy of 2 million people and industrial resources.
  • More people which made larger armies
  • More industry
  • More railways
  • More trade
  • Bigger navy
  • Determination of many to regain the Union.
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16
Q

The Union/North sides equipment 5

A
  • Springfield rifles musket a range of 100 yards
  • Spencer breech loading carbine -200,000
  • Henry rifle more accurate and far reaching 15,000
  • New Minie bullets that were used were more accurate as they expanded to fit the grooves of the rifle
  • lighter canons for more easy and could fire times canister shots. these could explode over the enemy showering them with dangerous fragments
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17
Q

The Confederacy/South sides equipment 4

A
  • British Enfield rifle (800,00)
  • New Minie bullets that were used were more accurate as they expanded to fit the grooves of the rifle
  • lighter canons for more easy and could fire times canister shots. these could explode over the enemy showering them with dangerous fragments
  • Springfield rifled musket, a range of 1,000 yards- 1,500,000 of them produced in the south
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18
Q

Union percentage of US population

A

71%

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19
Q

Confederacy percentage of US population

A

29%

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20
Q

population numbers of the union

A

23,000,000

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21
Q

population numbers of the south

A

9,000,000 including 3.5 million slaves

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22
Q

farm acreage of the Union

A

65%

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23
Q

farm acreage of the Confederacy

A

35%

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24
Q

manufacturing workers in the union

A

92%

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25
Q

manufacturing works in the union

A

8%

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26
Q

manufacturing output in the union

A

92%

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27
Q

manufacturing output in the confederacy

A

8%

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28
Q

Factories in the union

A

110,000

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29
Q

factories in the confederacy

A

18,000

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30
Q

miles of railway in the union

A

22,000

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31
Q

miles of railway in the confederacy

A

9,000

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32
Q

states in the union

A

22

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33
Q

states in the confederacy

A

11

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34
Q

what were the border states

A

Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri , West Virginia

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35
Q

what is the eastern theatre

A

The Eastern Theatre

  • largely in Virginia in a relatively limited area between Washington DC and Richmond
  • Two Southern invasions- the first into Maryland and then into Pennsylvania
36
Q

what is the western theatre

A

fighting in Tennessee spread down the Mississippi River into Mississippi and Georgia.
-There was some fighting in the far West, however this was more limited in the scope and impact it had on the outcome of the Civil War.

37
Q

who was winfield Scott

A

A lawyer who became a soldier and fought in all US wars from 1812 to 1861

  • In the 1830s, he was in command during the Indian Wars in the West. In 1838, he oversaw the infamous Cherokee Removal, better known as the Trail of Tears.
  • On July 5, 1841, Scott assumed office as Commanding General of the United States Army, its most senior position, and was promoted to Major General.
  • In this role, he led American forces in Mexico during the Mexican American War, earning him even more national recognition and prestige.
  • Twenty years after his appointment as Commanding General, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Scott still retained his command even though he was 74 and in poor health. He was Lincoln’s first military adviser.
  • Proposed the Anaconda Plan, to encircle the Confederacy with a naval blockade of the ports and controlling the Mississippi River
  • When he retired from the Army in November 1861, Scott had been a general longer than his successor, George McClellan, had been alive.
38
Q

when was the anaconda plan proposed

A

1861

39
Q

what was the anaconda plan

A
  • Scott intended it as a way to end the rebellion predominantly through economic measures. T
  • The basic plan was to blockade the ports of the South and to stop all commerce on the Mississippi River so no cotton could be exported and no war materials (such as rifles or ammunition from Europe) could be imported.
  • The assumption was that the states that allowed enslavement, feeling considerable economic punishment if they continued the rebellion, would return to the Union before any major battles would be fought.
40
Q

what was the goal of the anaconda plan

A

The goal was to remove the Confederacy’s ability to wage war by depriving it of foreign trade and the ability to import or manufacture necessary materials including weapons and military supplies.

41
Q

why was Lincoln skeptical of the anaconda plan

A
  • President Lincoln had doubts about the plan and, rather than wait for slow strangulation of the Confederacy to occur, he chose to do battle in ground campaigns. Lincoln was also spurred on by supporters in the North who aggressively urged fast action against the states in rebellion.
  • When Bull Run turned into a disaster, the slow strangulation of the South became more appealing. Elements of the Anaconda Plan, such as the naval blockade, did become part of Union strategy.
  • One aspect of Scott’s original plan was for federal troops to secure the Mississippi River. The strategic goal was to isolate Confederate states to the west of the river and make the transportation of cotton impossible. That goal was accomplished fairly early in the war, and the Union Army’s control of the Mississippi dictated other strategic decisions in the West.
42
Q

what was one drawback of the anaconda plan

A

•A drawback of Scott’s plan was that the naval blockade, which was declared essentially at the outset of the war, in April 1861, was very difficult to enforce. There were countless inlets through which blockade runners and Confederate privateers could evade detection and capture by the U.S. Navy.

43
Q

who was George McClellan

A

-Military trainer (West Point) and railroad expert
-Served in the Mexican American War under Winfield Scott
-Promoted to Captain
Commissioned as Major General by Lincoln at the start of the war
-Ensured West Virginia was not taken by the Confederacy
-General-in-Chief of all federal armies after the retirement of Winfield Scott
Respected by his men
-Became wary of the size of Confederate forces – exaggerated the odds against him
-Delayed attacks – overly cautious
-Removed as General-in-Chief-Commanded the Army of the Potomac in 1862
-Abandoned the Union bid to seize Richmond
-At the Battle of Antietam Sept 1862 (the bloodiest of the war) he repelled the Southern forces (thwarting Lee’s plan to invade the North) but didn’t capitalise on the success by pushing back – he was relieved of his command by Lincoln

44
Q

where was the potomac located

A

Potomac River during the Civil War

  • located in Maryland with Virginia on its southern shore, extends 383 miles from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay
  • geographical boundary between the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
45
Q

why was the potomac located

A
  • It was an important navigation route and helped to facilitate the exploration inland from the coast
  • During the Civil War the Potomac traced the border between the Union and the Confederacy and lent its name to the most important Union army, the Army of the Potomac
46
Q

McClellans early campaign

A
  • Took charge of the Army of the Potomac (main Union force in the East)
  • McClellan was very confident in his abilities as a logistics expert and leading theoretician
  • His forces outnumbered Confederate forces 121,000 to 85,000 additionally he had 44 artillery units, 15,000 horses and naval support. (Virginia peninsular). Due to his belief that Confederate forces were larger, he moved slowly, giving the confederates led by lee the opportunity to gather further support and strength
  • Confederates launched counter attacks and maintained the initiative to attack into Maryland in September 1862.
  • McClellan was consequently sacked, due to incompetence and excessive caution. He had lost Lincoln’s trust.
  • McClellan stood against Lincoln as the Democratic candidate in 1864 (opposing the abolition of slavery) even though he was defeated by Lincoln, he did gain 45% of the vote.
47
Q

when was the battle of fort Sumter

A

April 1861

48
Q

where was the battle of fort Sumter

A

South Carolina

49
Q

who won the battle of fort Sumter

A

confederate

50
Q

who was the confederate command bull run

A

P T Beauregard and Johnston

51
Q

who was the union command bull run

A

Mc Dowell and Patterson

52
Q

details of the battle of bull run

A

The Union suffered 2,896 casualties including 460 killed. The Confederates had 1,982 casualties with 387 killed. The battle left both sides realizing that this would be a long and horrible war. The day after the battle, President Lincoln signed a bill that authorized the enlistment of 500,000 new Union soldiers.

53
Q

when was the battle of Gettysburg

A

1-3rd July 1863

54
Q

where was the battle of Gettysburg

A

Pennsylvania

55
Q

who won the battle of Gettysburg

A

union

56
Q

what was the battle of Gettysburg

A

Robert E Lee invaded the north to try and defeat the union once and for all

  • on 1st day July the armies were coming together Confederates outnumbered the Union
  • 2nd July union had 94,000 and Confederates 72,000 Lee attacked Union lies held
  • On 3rd July Lee decided to make an all or nothing attack. Sent Pickett with 12,500 men on a direct charge at the Union heart- they were defeated with other 1/2 killed and they retreated
  • deadliest battle of the civil war -there were around 46,000 casualties nearly 8000 deaths
57
Q

when was the battle of wilderness

A

5-7 may 1964

58
Q

where was the battle of wilderness

A

Virginia

59
Q

outcome of the battle of wilderness

A

Union

60
Q

what happened in the battle of wilderness

A

grant took 11800 men to destroy lees 64000.
they wanted to destroy confederate forces and passed through dense shrubland
-2 battles fought at north Anna and cold habour before lee fell back on Petersburg to defend Richmond. lee lacked the forces to withstand the constant losses. by 1865 he had 50000 against Grants 125000
-final attack on Petersburg and Richmond feel lee retreated and surrendered to grant at Appomattox

61
Q

when was the battle of antietam

A

17th septemer 1863

62
Q

where was the battle of antietam

A

maryland

63
Q

who was confederate command of battle of antietam

A

Lee

64
Q

what was the union command of battle of antietam

A

McClellan

65
Q

who won battle of antietam

A

on a military standpoint no one but union claimed the win

66
Q

what happened in the battle of antietam

A
  • 3rd september 1862, the confederate army entered the state of Maryland hoped to invade north all they way up to Pennsylvania
  • confederates were outnumbered but held their ground 17th september.
    • morning phase- union iron brigade attacked the confederates
  • midday phase- ona sunken road so many men died - bloody lane-
  • afternoon phase- Ambrose Burnside and his men charged across a bridge nicknamed burnside bridge
  • lee retreated the next day
67
Q

when was the battle of shiloh

A

12-13 th April 1861

68
Q

where was the battle shiloh

A

Tennessee

69
Q

what was the outcome of the battle of shiloh

A

union win

70
Q

who was the union command

A

major r Anderson

71
Q

who was the confederate command

A

Beauregard

72
Q

what happened at the battle of shiloh

A

Grant was waiting for resources so surprised attacked the union forces. Some union lines held. Despite Confederate success on the 1st day General Johnston was killed

73
Q

when was the battle of Vicksburg

A

may 18th to July 4th 1863

74
Q

where was the battle of Vicksburg

A

Mississippi River

75
Q

what was the outcome of the battle of Vicksburg

A

union win

76
Q

what happened at the battle of Vicksburg

A

a siege
the union had 35000 under command the confederates had 18000 soldiers
-vicksburg was located on the Mississippi River and was the last major port held by south
may 18th 1863 Grants army approached vickburg
-grant tried to break into the city by overwhelming them with superior numbers- ineffective
-grant bombed in the city and would wait until they ran out of food
-July 4th 1863, the confederated had enough, general Pemberton surrendered to grant

77
Q

when was the emancipation proclamation

A

23 rd september 1863

78
Q

what was the emancipation proclamation

A

freed slaves in non union territory it didnt actually free any slaves
prevented any European recognition for the confederacy and prevented their foreign loans
-there was no slave revolt though escapes increased and 179,000 served in the union in 1863

79
Q

negatives of davis’ leadership 5

A
  • embargo by the south of cotton exports failed to put pressure on foreign powers and harmed south economy
  • mismanaged western campaigns and let Vicksburg fall in 1863 and Atlanta in 1864
  • serious disagreements in his cabinet
  • not able to meet food shortages
  • flawed financial system leading to rapid inflation
80
Q

positive of davis’ leadership 2

A
  • lincoln came close to losing the election of 1864 and suffered criticism for taking too much power so the differences have been overstressed
  • the north also were too defence so the criticism of defending Richmond could also be applied to the north
81
Q

positives of Lincoln’s leadership 5

A
  • emancipation proclamation to limit foreign support
  • ensured border states stayed loyal
  • made succession be seen as a rebellion and emancipation and habeus corpus to stop the rebels
  • exerting control of McClellan
  • financial management
82
Q

negatives of Lincoln’s leadership 4

A
  • little indication of status of freed slaves and native americans
  • unfair draft with payments and substitutions - anti draft riots in New York 1863
  • overreliance on the wrong generals
  • lured into expensive efforts tot take Richmond instead of engaging in the enemy
83
Q

how many men did grant take to destroy lee in the march of the sea

A

118,000 men into Virginia to destroy lee 64,000 men

84
Q

what was the aim of the march of the sea

A

the aim was to destroy confederate forces

85
Q

the march of the sea

A
  • northern artillery wore lees forces down in a siege from 9th June 1864 - 25th march 1865
  • lee had 50,000 against 125,000 of grants (1:2)
  • finals attack in Petersburg and Richmond fell in April and lee surrendered at the Appomattox
  • union were willing and able to loose more people