Unit 5: Topic 8 - Military Conflict in the Civil War

Question 1

What were strengths of the Union and Confederacy?

Answer 1

Union strengths:
- Heavily industrialized
- Extensive railroad tracks for transportation of goods and troops
- Greater population than the South
- Stronger central government with Lincoln as the leader

Confederacy strengths:
- Highly motivated to keep their way of life
- Rich military history and great leadership
- Fought a defensive war in familiar homeland

Question 2

What were weaknesses of the Union and Confederacy?

Answer 2

Union weaknesses:
- Low motivation
- Fighting war on foreign ground
- Had to decisively win the war

Confederacy weaknesses:
- Few railroads
- Few factories/industries
- Inexperienced government
- Inflation from over printing money
- 20 Negro Law: Exempted white plantation owners from war service

Question 3

How did citizens at home feel about the Civil War?

Answer 3

Home front opposition:

• Southern states were angry at the government for overreaching the use of the draft in suspension of habeas corpus, a right protecting against unlawful imprisonment.
• In the South, inflation made it hard to buy food. The Richmond Bread Riot showed discontent over the economy as civilians broke into food shops and looted.
• Northern states put martial law into effect to keep border states as part of them and to give them proper resources.
• After the Conscription Act of 1863, working class New Yorkers participated in draft riots to express frustration over the inequalities of conscription
• Northerners also criticized the suspension of habeas corpus, but it was needed to punish the disloyal citizens.

Question 4

What were some early Confederate victories?

Answer 4

Early Southern Victories:

• Battle of the Bull Run (Maryland): Led by General Irvin McDowell, Confederate victory, showed the inexperience of Northern troops
• Peninsula Campaign: General McClellan planned to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, via the Virginia Peninsula. However, his troops were too slow and the Confederate troops had ample time to prepare for defense.
• Second Battle of Bull Run: Robert E. Lee was promoted to be the general, Confederate victory, the outcome embarrassed the Union again

Question 5

What was the first turning point for the Union in the early stages of the Civil War?

Answer 5

Battle of Antietam

• Robert E. Lee’s (Confederate) first attempt to take the war North, hoped to earn foreign recognition, tried to bring border states into the conflict
• McClellan (Union) was tasked with stopping Lee, his troops overpowered the Confederate troops, showing Union strength
• Failed to decisively defeat Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army, but was a hopeful point for the Union
• McClellan was fired by President Lincoln for being too cautious and not pursuing the Confederate Army after the battle
• Significance: This is the battle Lincoln will use as his platform for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation

Question 6

What were some Confederate attempts at gaining British recognition?

Answer 6

Trent Affair:
- 2 Confederate diplomats were en route to Great Britain to seek diplomatic recognition.
- Union ships intercepted the Trent, a British ship, and imprisoned the diplomats.
- Britain viewed the act as an offense to their sovereignty and neutrality, and threatened war with the Union.

Naval strategy:
- The Confederacy tried to purchase British warships and commercial raiders
- The Union naval blockade had been greatly effective at limiting cotton exports, crippling the Confederate ability to buy war materials. So the Confederate purchase of the ships were critical for their war efforts.
- The USS Monitor stopped the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads, Virginia. The naval battle was a highlight of the new age in naval tactics, warfare, and technology.

Britain’s separation from the Confederacy:
- Britain eventually found other sources for cotton so they withdrew their involvement with the Confederate states.

Question 7

What was the Anaconda Plan and did it succeed?

Answer 7

General Scott’s Anaconda Plan aimed to blockade the Confederate coast, attack down the Mississippi river, and constrict the South by naval forces. This blockade was successful as it would block imports and halt the cotton exports that funded the Southern economy.

Question 8

What was Sherman’s March to the Sea?

Answer 8

Sherman thought civilians would abandon the Confederate cause if they faced destruction in their homeland. So, Sherman’s army destroyed railroads, burned infrastructure and civilian property, and ruined plantations in Georgia – an example of total warfare.

Question 9

What was the Battle of Appomattox Court House?

Answer 9

Battle of Appomattox Court House (1865):

• Last major battle fought before Confederate surrender
• Confederate troops were low, there were scarce resources, and there was destruction across the South so Lee thought that the Confederates couldn’t win the war
• General Lee surrendered to General Grant, a sign the the Confederacy had effectively lost