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American Civil War
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Election of 1860
The causes of the civil war were over whether or not freed blacks as well as the enslaved ones could be set free. Abolitionism was an issue because the North disliked slavery, yet they were also in agreement with abolitionists. It was a contradicting opinion. Northerners were industrialized, which meant that they were wealthier. With more people moving towards the available job opportunities, there would be more people to vote no on slavery, which angered the Southerners. -
Robert E. Lee
Although Lee was invited to join the Union as its general, Lee decided to follow his home state since Virginia was a southern state. Lee was appointed as the commander of the Confederate Army and was well known as a formidable tactician. His ability to provide successful initiation was proven by his many victories in battle. Later, Lee's reputation as a successful general was depleted ever since Ulysses Grant took charge of the Union Army. Lee surrendered to Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis is the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War. He argued against sucession, but agreed that each state was sovereign and therefore had a right to secede from the Union. Davis was most unsuccessful as a war leader. He was overly controlling and disregarded public opinions. Davis also favored the military instead of civil matters. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant made effort to gather and recruit African American slaves and refugees to join the Union. By doing so, Grant successfully built moral as well as military strength to fight the Confederates. Grant's military tactics was on par with Lee, and because of that, Grant pushed back Lee's forces.
Grant was dominating Lee and eventually, proclaimed victorious at the Appomattox Courthouse. Years after Lincoln's Assassination, Grant will run for president. -
Fort Sumter
The Union was ordered to surrender the fort. Upon the North defense, thousands of Confederate soldiers invaved it. After more than a day of ceaseless fire, the south being more effective because northerners were more concerned about their soldiers' lives over victory, the Union finally gave up control. There were no casualties on the north's side. The only deaths from the south was due to a cannon misfire. -
Winfield Scott and the Anaconda Plan
Winfield Scott was an unsuccessful presidential Whig canidate. He is the one person in American history to serve as a general for forty seven years, the longest period time to ever be committed. Scott took part in commanding many forces for various wars. He derived a strategy for the Union, called the Anaconda Plan. It was an outline made for subduing the seceding states of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
The battle of Bull Run occurred in Virginia. It was the first major land battle of the Civil War. Irvin McDowel was the leader of the Union. As for the Confederates, Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T Beauregard were the commanders. The battle resulted in a victory for the Confederate soldiers. -
George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan was a major Civil War general. He was the organizer of the famous Army of Potomac. McClellan was an important stepping stone in raising a well-trained army for the Union. Because of his time consuming planning and preparations, he is not suited for a fast paced battlefield. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign ended as a failure, and his performance at the Battle of Antietam left President Lincoln to question his leadership qualification. -
Monitor and Merrimac
The Battle of Monitor and Merrimac is considered the most important naval battle of the American Civil War. It lasted over a period of two days, in an effort of the Confederacy to break the Union's blockade. This event is highly significant because it was the first meeting in combat of ironclad warships. The two ironclad ships of Minnesota and Virginia fought against each other for approximately three hours. Neither side inflicted intense damage and it resulted in the blockade remaining as is. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Neither side won a decisive victory. Strategically, the Union had an advantage. In regards to the outcome of the battle, General Robert E. Lee's failure to carry out war into the North was of significance. President Lincoln was given an opportunity to issue his Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was fought between the Confederate Army of North Virginia and the Union Army of Pottomac. General Burnside, commander of the Union, planned to cross the Raphannock River and race to the Confederate capital before Lee could intervene. Unfortunately, he encountered some delays that gave Lee the advantage to block the crossings. When the Union could get their bridges built, a major battle erupted. It resulted in a failure of the Union and victory for the Confederate soldiers. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This document was an executive order made by the president. It had the intention of freeing slaves and refugees. Aside from that, Lincoln planned to use this opportunity to motivate African Americans to support the Union and fight with them.
The Emancipation Proclamation is also a part of the Constitution. Even though the proclamation freed most slaves as a war measure, abolitionists feared that it did not make slavery officially illegal, which released the enactment of the thirteenth amendment. -
Thomas Stonewall Jackson
Thomas Stonewall Jackson was one of the most well known Confederate generals. He received his nickname by
excelling in battles such as the battle of Bull Run. Jackson is considered as one of the most tactical geniuses of his time. However, this does not necessarily mean that he was a good commander. In fact, he showed weaknesses in his confusion during the Seven Days Battles in Richmond. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg, also known as the Siege of Vicksburg, was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign. General Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River. They drove the Confederates into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city, Vicksburg. After holding out for over forty days with no reinforcements and a lack of supply, the Confederates finally surrendered. This gave the Union forces control of the Mississippi for the rest of the conflict. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was the most historical event of the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg was turning point that will help lead the Union to victory. This battle came about with the most casualties within three days. General Robert E. Lee's use of the Pickett's Charge was proved to be a failure. Major Gen. George G. Meade predicted this infantry assault and countered the Confederates successfully. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is one of the most well known and greatest speeches of all time. It was presented at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetary. Lincoln discussed the principles of human equality, as represented in the Declaration of Independence. He took the view of struggling in the Civil War as "a new birth of freedom." Not only did this devote remembrance to the soldiers who have perished, but it also emphasized the importance to preserving democracy. -
Sherman's March
Sherman's March to the Sea was actually the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia. It was led by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army. His troops left and captured the city of Atlanta and ended with the capture of the port of Savannah. This historical event was important in that it inflicted significant damage. Mainly industry, infrastructure, and civilian property were affected the most. -
Lincoln's Assassination
President Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was attending a stage performance with his wife. The assassination was planned and carried out by John Wilkes Booth in order to rally up the Confederacy to continue fighting. There was a scheme of two additional murders of Secretary of State William H. Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. The larger plot did not happen because Seward recovered from his wounds and Johnson's assassinator abandoned his duty from loss of nerve -
Appomattox Court House
The battle of Appomattox Court House was the final attempt of the Confederate army before it surrendered to the Union. It was one of the last battles fought during the Civil War. General Lee abandoned the Confederate capital in Richmond and fled west, hoping to conjoin his army with the forces in North Carolina. Union forces followed and stopped them. Lee's final stand was at the Appomattox Court House and backfired because the Union calvary had assisstance from two corps of infantry.