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Lincoln's First Presidential Inauguration
After the election of 1860, Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. Dispite being election, Lincoln was hated by the Southern states but do to the unequal population, Lincoln won do to his popularity in the North and West. The South feared Lincoln because they thought he would put an end to slavery which the South valued economically. The Inauguration angered the South as it pushed them closer to succession. -
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Timespan of the American Civil War
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Confederate States of America Form
Shortly after Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860, South Carolina succeeded from the Union. It took until the summer of 1861 for all 11 states of the CSA to succeed from the USA. The other 10 states being Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Lincoln tried to stop the succession by ruling it illegal but it failed as Jefferson Davis was chosen as the CSA's president. -
Fort Sumter
As tensions began to grow between the two sides, focus turns to the Union fort, Fort Sumter. Although the fort was located in South Carolina, the Union was eager to keep the fort. As supplies started to diminish for the Union soldiers inside the fort, Lincoln and the North set a cargo ship which was sunk by Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard who then continued to fire at the fort until the next day when the Union surrendered Fort Sumter and prompted the US to declare war. -
Union Generals
The Union had three major generals throughout the Civil War, those being Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and George McClellan. Grant (Shown) who later became the President of the US after the war led the Union troops in the West. His military experience and determination led him to gain full control of the Union army. McClellan lead the troops in the North but due to his lack of will to fight, he was fired twice. Sherman who is lesser known was very important in battles like Bull Run. -
Confederate Generals
The CSA had but disadvantages coming into the year but not in military leadership through Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. First, Jackson who was given the nickname Stonewall at Bull Run as his troops were like a stone wall. He was a very successful general until his death in Chancellorsville. Robert E. Lee (Shown) who also became a US president was more effective. First fighting for the Union, Lee joined his homeland and lead the CSA. His tactics were very smart and planned for the CSA. -
First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
After Fort Sumter, the Union attacked the Confederate forces with less troops in Manassas, VA. The Confederates, under Jackson forced the Union troops to retreat to the North. This battle proved to both sides that this war is going to be long which prompted both sides to gain volunteers, find ways to fund money, and create drafts to gain soldiers. The north fighting to preserve the union was out motivated as the South was fighting for state rights and independence. -
African Americans During the War
Slaves that escaped the south, especially after the Emancipation Proclamation, fled to the North and often fought for the Union Army. In the Union Army they were segregated and were not allowed to become officers. Even though Africans were free in the North, the were often discriminated and didn't have equal rights. It wasn't until the 13th Amendment was passed until slavery in all parts of the US, including border states, was abolished and all slaves were free. -
Anaconda Plan
After the First Battle of Bull Run, the Union needed a plan for war which eventually was called the Anaconda Plan. This plan for war had three parts. First, defend D.C. and conquer the CSA capitol of Richmond, VA. Second, blockade the Southern ports to cut the Confederate's supplies and trades. Third, divide the South by taking over water routes like the Mississippi. The CSA also made a plan which was to force the US to negotiate and gain European trade which they failed in both. -
Women and The War
The war did not only effect men, it also effected women. At this time, women did not have the same rights as men but the war loosened the restraints society gave them. During the war, women ran businesses, farms, and plantation that the men couldn't run during the war. They also worked in factories, made uniforms, and wrote songs and poems during the fighting. Some women joined the troops and helped nurse the injured and sick while some even fought while disguised as men. -
Battle of Antietam
The first battle fought in the North occurred at Antietam, MD. General Lee and the CSA went up against General McClellan and the Union in what is called the bloodiest day in American history as 22,000 people were killed. The more numbered Union could not over power the Confederates as the battle was named inclusive but the Union claimed it their victory. This victory allowed Lincoln to give his Emancipation Proclamation. Shown is a monument at Antietam, MD. -
Emancipation Proclimation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a speech delivered by President Lincoln shortly after the Union victory at Antietam . After planning for an emancipation, Lincoln decided it should have three parts. First, slaves in any areas of rebellion are freed from their owners. Second, due to a need of soldiers, all Africans are allowed in the Union army. Finally, border states that joined the Union are allowed to keep their salves to protect their alliance to the Union. -
Republicans
One of the two major political parties during the war was the Republicans. Since most of the Republicans favored the Union, Congress was full of Republican leaders, such as Lincoln. Under the Republicans, Congress established a new tariff bill, the transcontinental railroad, the Homestead Act, and other laws that dealt with land and money. One specific group, the Radical Republicans called for the immediate emancipation of slaves and the confiscation of southern plantations which were extreme. -
Democrats
Unlike the Republicans, most of the Democrats favored the Confederacy. After Lincoln's election, the Democratic party moved to the CSA except for one specific group. The War Democrats supported the Union and favored the ideals and action of Lincoln. Unlike the War Democrats, the Copper-Head Democrats rejected Lincoln and favored the Confederacy. After the war, the party would rejoin as one political party but would loss representation due to the Republicans running the government during the war. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Considered his greatest victory of the war, General Lee led his extremely outnumbered troops against General Hooker of the Union in Virginia. After pushing the North into a defensive stand, Lee's troops kept fighting until they claimed victory. The last major victory for the CSA came with a big lost as Stonewall Jackson was wounded by friendly fire which eventually led to death. His death gave the South an extreme disadvantage as they lost one of their best generals. -
Seige of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi was a Confederate stronghold that was located along the Mississippi river. Union General Ulysses S. Grant led an army to capture Vicksburg against Stonewall Jackson which was part of the Anaconda strategy. This would contribute to the Union controlling the Mississippi river and dividing the CSA. The Confederates would try to regain Vicksburg but would fail in attempting to do so. The blockade set up by the Union diminish the CSA's supplies and led to starvation and defeat. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Shortly after the Battle of Chancellorsville, General Lee moved his Confederate troops to the North, specifically Gettysburg against Union General Meade. After three days of battle, the outnumbered Confederates retreated to Virginia without being pursued by Meade as North claimed victory in Gettysburg. The battle had the most casualties throughout the Civil War about 51,000 men. The battle was a major turning point for the North and Lincoln used this win as a chance to make a change. -
Gettysburg Address
Speech given by President Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg. In the speech Lincoln states that the civil war is a test to see if the union that was created in 1776 would survive. Lincoln also wrote that under the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal as he tried to tie the ties of the original United States back together. The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history as he express the death and sorrow of the Civil War. -
Border States
After the states of the former US divided, four states known today as the border states remained in the middle. Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland were the four states that remained undecided. The four states did allow slavery within the state but decided to join the Union which wanted to abolish slaves. These states were rewarded as they were allowed to keep their slaves until the passing of the 13th Amendment. -
Election of 1864
After being fired as General twice by Lincoln, McClellan sought revenge on the political field. As a Democratic, McClellan promised to end the war with the South if elected unlike Lincoln. Due to the majority of Republicans voting, Lincoln was reelected as President of the United States but did not finish his second term. Lincoln did choose Democrat Andrew Johnson as his Vice President to favor both parties. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
General William T. Sherman led his Union forces from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. Sherman cut the rail lines going into the city to cut off the supply of resources. Along with destroying the rail lines, Sherman also destroyed and burned resources and anything that could have aided the CSA. Civilians were ordered to leave the city prior to the destruction of supplies. This was one of the first instances of a "total warfare" tactic. -
Appomattox Court House
After four years of war and numerous battles and deaths, the Appomattox Court House is the location of the end of the American Civil War. After losing Richmond and Petersburg, Gen. Lee and the CSA meet with Gen. Grant and the Union in Northern Virginia at the Appomattox Court House. This location is where Gen. Lee officially surrender his troops and marked the official end to the American Civil War. The Union celebrated as the United States were restored and all 36 states were one country. -
Poetry During The Civil War
Somethings in American culture took a halt during the war but not poetry. Many poets wrote about the war from a soldier's point of view to a women's point of view. The poet that stood out to me the most was Walt Whitman. Walt was a soldier of the war who used his experiences to write a whole book of poems named Drum-Taps which was punlished after the war in 1865. The poem shown is named Drum-Taps as it talks about the drum lines and the songs they played as they marched into battle.
