The Civil War U.S. History Mr.

Smith- Y202 1st Battle of Bull Run (July 1861) The first true battle of the war tested the mettle and discipline of both sides of troops. The North believed the war would be over in 6 months. Throughout the battle, when faced with advancing ranks of enemy soldiers, troops would throw down their weapons and retreat. One observer, and there were hundreds of spectators watching the battle with wine in hand, noted, We have undertaken to make war without in the least knowing how. In the end, the North lacked the most discipline and training, losing the first major battle of the war.

Questions What made these people want to come watch a battle, watch men die? Why do students watch fights, watch people hurt each other?

Anaconda Plan The Norths initial strategy was to surround the South by land and sea through blockades. The blockade would squeeze the life out of their willingness to fight on the field and at home. The North was victorious in controlling the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. In addition, the North held a superior advantage through the railroad system.

Antietam (September 1862) The bloodiest single day of the war. General Robert E. Lee decided to attack the North geographically. This would be the first of two attempts to invade the North by Gen. Lee. However, his attempt was doomed from the start. Northern troops found Gen. Lees battle plans, mistakenly left behind. Even with this advantage, on top of his vastly superior force, General McClellan was unable to win a decisive victory due to poor tactical prowess. 5000 men died with another 18,000 wounded. Question Do you think its easy for commanding officers to put other people, their troops, in harms way?

Border States Border states are the slave owning states that did not secede and join the Confederacy. Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri. Maryland was secured quickly and brutally by President Lincoln. Lincoln viewed Kentucky as the key, if Kentucky went south so would Missouri. The Civil War split many families in two, brothers and fathers fighting against each other, one for the Union the other for the South. Lincoln would show his understanding of the border states when emancipating the slaves, maintaining slavery in the border states until after the war was over. Question Is there anything that you believe so strongly in, that you would be willing to fight against your own family in a war? Why or why not? Army of the Potomac The Unions army based in Virginia was known as the Army of the Potomac. Its leader at its inception was General George McClellan. As was the case in the West, the Union armys resources far outweighed the Souths in terms of men, weaponry and other resources. Yet, McClellan, who was loved by his men, failed to use them to his advantage, often times allowing Gen. Lee to confuse and trick him. President Lincoln became frustrated with the lack of movement and success from McClellan and the others that he replaced him with before finally settling on Ulysses Grant. General Grant became very successful, leading the charge towards victory. Army of Northern Virginia General Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia. Though outnumbered nearly every battle, Lees troops fought valiantly for the man they followed and the country they believed in. Many soldiers in this army viewed themselves as citizens of Virginia first, Americans second. Many officers were also torn between fighting for the Union or the Confederacy, Robert E. Lee included. While the Union fought for country, the Army of Northern Virginia fought for their wives, families and homes. Question If given the choice, would you fight for your country or your home and family? Why? Gettysburg (July 1863)

General Lee, as always, looked for the advantage. After the near crippling loss of Gen. Stonewall Jackson, Lee decided to invade Pennsylvania, his 2nd attempt of invasion into the North. Over three days of fighting, the North held off the Souths final charge known as Picketts Charge (14,000 men marching across 2 miles of open land to attack the middle of the Union lines). Total casualties neared 50,000 men from both sides.

Create the headline(s) for the next days newspaper for this battle Northern newspaper Southern newspaper

Shiloh (April 1862) After capturing Fts. Henry and Donelson, General Ulysses Grant and his Union troops forced the Confederates out of Kentucky and middle Tennessee. Grant, along with 40,000 troops continued south when they were surprised by Gen. Johnstons men in Shiloh, just north of the Mississippi border. The two sides fought over two days totaling 23,000 casualties. Grant famously said after the first night, [well] lick em tomorrow though. In the end, the North won the battle but the idea of a short war was no over. Vicksburg (June 1862) The culminating event of the original Anaconda Plan. Union forces converged at Vicksburg, Mississippi in June of 1862. After months of blockading and bombarding the city of Vicksburg, Grant moves inland, feeding his men with the food and livestock of the surrounding area thus starving the civilians inside the city. Throughout the war, Grant perfected these tactics, coming to be known as total war. After this decisive victory for the North, Lincoln declares, Grant is my man, and I am his the rest of the war. Shermans March to the Sea (1864) Beginning with the burning of Atlanta, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman took four brigades of men and marched across the state of Georgia eating, looting, burning and destroying anything in their wake. The tactical goal was to deprive Gen. Lee of the supplies he needed, the overall goal was to deprive the South of its dignity and will to fight. He succeeded, destroying an estimated $100 million of Confederate land, homes, food and livestock. Questions Someone once described war as hell; do you think the people of Vicksburg and Georgia would agree? Explain. Was it immoral or unjust for Americans to enact total war practices against fellow Americans?