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Southern Sucession
Southern Sucession - In Depth LookSouth Carolina was the first state to succeed from the Union on December 20th, 1860. It along with Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia all left the Union before the Battle of Fort Sumter. After the Battle, the final four states left the Union: Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. These states based their right to suceed on the theory of state rights and the belief that the Constitution was a contract, which had already been broken by the North . -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis Biography
Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederate States during the Civil War. He was elected with support of 6 of the 7 states shortly after being appointed Major General of the Mississippi army. He set up a similar system to the Union's, and was considered the champion of a slave society and embodied the values of the planter class. He storngly belived in new states being allowed the option of slavery. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Biography
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, and sevred for approximently 4 years as a republican president before he was assaniated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. He believed thay slavery was morally wrong, but was not an abolitionist, but wanted to stop the spread of slavery into new states. It was not until the middle of the Civil War were he declared that slavery should be abolished. -
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The American Civil War
The Civil WarBattles of the Civil WarThis war was a battle between the Union states who wanted the abolishment of slavery and the Confederate states, who had seperated from the rest of the country on the belief that slavery was needed. The President at the time was Abraham Lincoln, who believed the spread of slavery needed to be stopped, and later on order all slavery to be abolished. -
Union Blockade
Blockade Runners Lincoln annoucned a blockade of all Souther ports along their 3500 miles long coastline to stop all trade with the South. "Blockade Runners" from the South would go through small openings in the blocked to continue some trade, but the Continental Army was still being starved of supplies. Britian attepmted to help the South by attacking the North, but were also unsucessful. This eliminated the South's best hope for European assistance in the war. -
General Stonewall Jackson
General Stonewall Jackson Documentry
General Jackson was one of best known commaders of the Confederate Army. He was knwon for his efforts and sucesses of the first and second bull run and the Valley Campaign. He was known for the constant drilling of his soldiers. After being accidently shot by General Lee, he died a hero 8 days later from pneumonia. His death was said to be a major set back to the Confedrate Army and cause. -
The Slaughter at Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh Documentry
The Battle took place over two bloody days near the Tennessee - Mississippi border,General Grant was surprised by the Confederates who were under control of General Johnston. The Union soldiers were able to escape and waited for reinforcements, during which General Johnston was killed. The Union army lost 13 000 of their 63 000 troops, while the Confederates lost 1/4 of their 40 000 men. -
Union Conquers New Orleans
Flag Officer David Farragut was ordered to take over New Orleans. In order to reach the city, the warships had to move north from teh Gulf of Mexico, passing 2 Confederate forts. After failing to destory the forts, Farragut decided to try and pass the forts during the night. This plan also failed, with the Confederate noticing the ships and attacking. 20 of the 24 Union ships made it past and New Orleans surrendered without any gun fire. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Emanicpation Proclamation Speech
The Emancipation Proclamation was a public annoucment which was to relay Lincoln's order to free the slaves of the Confederacy, and forced the war to become a war against slavery. This would free between 3 - 4 million slaves from the South, many of which had already started rebellions and were escaping behind Union lines to find freedom. -
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam Documentry
After finding cigars wrapped in a copy of General Lee's plans, General McClellan relaized he could destory the divided southern army. On September 17, McClellan attacked Lee at Antietam Creek, Maryland. It was the bloodiest day of the entire war, and McClellan forced Lee back into Virgina with the South suffering 11 000 deaths, with the North losing even more men. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg Documentry
As both sides prepared for battle, the Union men took postion on the top of the ridge, gaining a better position. The Southern attacks lasted for 3 days, concluding of the 3rd of July with a massive charge lead by General Pickett with 15 000 troops. In totoal, 23 000 Union men were killed and 28 000 Confederates, 7 000 of which died during Pickett's charge. -
Seige of Vicksburg
Seige of Vicksburg
Once the Union forced reached Jackson, Mississippi Grant turned and for 17 days marched his men 180 miles and won 5 battles against larger Confederate armies. He then reached the starving city of Vicksburg, where the people were beign forced to eat dog, horses, and mules. Union artillery bombarded the city, which surrendered on July 4th. -
Battle of Chattanooga
Battle of Chattanooga
Chattanooga was a rail center on the Tennessee and Georgia border. After being defeated at Chickamauga, Union General Rosecrans retreated to Chattanooga, where the Confederate army cut off the supplies to the Union army. The Northern forces were saved by General Grant, who arrived with forces and supplies and drove Southern forces from the heights of the city and gain control over Tennesse by the end of Novmeber. -
Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg Address Reading
President Lincoln visited Gettysburg to dedicate the battlefield cemetery and honour all of the soldiers buried there. In the iconic speech, which started with "four score and seven years ago", Lincoln made referrence to the foundign principles of the United States and how the related to the Civil War and how those who died in this battlefield died for a worthy cause and will be remembered. -
Copper Heads
The Copperheads were a very vocal group of Democrats who lived in the Northern States. They were against the Civil War and wanted immediate peace settlements with the Confederates. They wanted Lincoln and the Republicans removed from government, and blamed the war on him. The Confederacy supported thier actions, as some Copperheads encouraged and helped Southern soliders escape form prisoner of war camps or encouraged and bribed Union soldiers to leave the Union Army. -
Camp Sumter
Camp Sumter
Camp Sumter was Confederate Prisoner of War Camp located in Andersonville, Georgia. During the 14 months it was open, it held a total of 45 000 Union soliders, 13 000 of which died from disease, malnutrition, poor sanitary conditions, or exposure to the elements. During the summer of 1864 it held 33 000 Union soliders, even though it was only built to house 10 000 men at one time. -
Burning of Atlanta
After winning the Battle of Atlanta, Major General Sherman used Atlanta as a headquarters. It was two months after gaining control of the city that he ordered the evacuation of all inhabitants. On the 14th of November, Sherman ordered the burning of all buildings, between 3500 and 5000, before he left for his march. This was to ensure the Confederates could not reclaim the city. -
Sherman's March
Sherman's March to Sea
Also reffered to as the Savannah Campaign, it was lead by Major General Sherman of the Union Army. He planned to march from the Union captured city of Atlanta to Savannah, a 400km march. Its purpose was to burn crops, kill livestock, and consume supplies of the Confederate army. The march also intented to put more pressure on the South, allowing General Grant an easier defeat, or at least block of reinforcements. -
General Lee
General Grant versus General Lee Documentry
General Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War, despite the fact that President Lincoln had offered him command of the Union Army. He won many battles against larger and superior Union army's before his surrendor to General Grant at Appomattox Court House. He is known for his excellent military tactics. -
54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Documentry
This regiment was one of the first African American units in the Civil War. The regiment is most known for their effort and bravery at the attack of Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. -
General Grant
General Grant verus General Lee Documentry
General Grant was a commander of the Union army during the Civil War and 18th president of the United States. He fought in and led many battles throughout the war, and is the most sucessful commander in either army. After his sucess at Shiloh, Vickburg and Chattanooga, Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of all Union Armies by President Lincoln in 1864.
