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Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave bought in Missouri, which was a slave state. His owner moved to IL and then WI, which were both free states. They returned to Missouri and his owner died. Dred Scott sued for his freedom claiming he should be able to live on free soil. Because he was not a citizen and had no right to bring forth a lawsuit. The 36 degrees 30 north latitude was unconstitutional and so was popular sovereignty. -
Harper Ferry Raid
Led by John Brown, the Harper ferry Raid was an effort to start an armed slave revolt by taking over a U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. The purpose of this was to destroy institution of slavery. -
1860 Presidential Election
The Democratic Party splits over the slavery issue; free states went Republican for Lincoln. With the South ceceding from the Union in December of 1860,Lincoln can't do anything because he hasn't been inaugurated yet. Lincoln wins without winning electoral votes from the South, 39% popular vote, and from the 5 key states in winning the election: NY, VA, PA, IL, OH. 6 other states leave the Union, forming the CSA, Confederate States of America, in February of 1861. -
Fighting Begins
The advantages of the North were smaller than the advantages of the South. The North had gov't, manufacturing, industry, railroad, population, and a navy with the Anaconda Plan, squeezing out the CSA, and blockading the coast with the navy. The South had land, resources (was a problem because they manufacture and trade with the North), and better generals with the strategies of defensive war, and getting foreign help. -
Antietam & Emancipation Proclamation
The South attacks at Antietam, MA. General Lee invades the North, with the opposition being McClellan from the North, and the CSA finds orders from the opposing general wrapped around some cigars. The battle ended up being a draw with 12,000 killed in the first 3 hours. During this battle, President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation January 1st, 1863 which states the freedom of all enslaved people in rebellious states. -
Anaconda Plan
The "Naval Blockade" captures New Orleans. In March of 1862, Union Monitor vs. CSA Merrimack did very little damage with a draw, however, the significance is that it changes naval warfare; it goes from wooden ships to metal/steel ships. From March to July, Lee defeats McClellan in 7 Days Battle, a series of 6 battles over 7 days near Richmond, VA. The Confederate's general gets shot, which means they're out of a general. Robert E. Lee planned the attack and sends 20,000 men to D.C. -
Battle of Shiloh
The bloodiest battle to this point that lasted 2 days and started the war for both sides which led to a Union victory is the Battle of Shiloh in TN. Despite the surprise attack by Johnston on the first day, Grant's counterattack on the second day forces the Confederates to retreat. This battle also ends the Souther control of the Mississippi Valley. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
In Fredericksburg, VA, Ambrose Burnside attacked Lee, resulting in the Union losing 13,000 men while CSA loses only 5,000 men. It had over 18,00 casualties, and it was the biggest victory for the Confederates. Sergeant William Carney was the first black man to be awarded the Medal of Honor for combat. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Officer Joseph Hooker vs General Robert E. Lee resulted in a Confederate victory, one of Lee's greatest victories with a 12 mile surprise attack in the woods on Hooker. Because Lee was outnumbered, he decided to split up his men, and ends up outguessing the Union. Jackson, CSA, was shot 3 times and dies from his wounds days later, this leave Lee dumbfounded and overwhelmed with tough decisions. Because of the 14,000 soldiers and the 14,000 guns they shot, animals were running through the camp. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle at Gettysburg, also known as the "Turning Point" of the war, had 2 of the most fierce sites, Little Round Top and Devil's Den. Lee's men are out looking for supplies, and in 3 days about 50,000 killed for Union Victory. The Gettysburg Address, a speech made by President Lincoln in November of 1863, he says, "Why we fight, dedication to those men." The significance of this is that it's a dedication to the soldiers that died in Gettysburg at the Soldier's National Cemetery. -
Battle of Vicksburg/Vicksburg Falls
In what was also known as the Siege of Vicksburg, General Ulysses S. Grant got his men together and got to Vicksburg, MS to entrap Confederate soldiers under General Pemberton. This was the Confederate's last strong hold on the Mississippi River, and resulted in a major Union victory. The battle results in the South being cut in half. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Also known as the Savannah campaign, General William Tecumseh Sherman marched his troops from ATL to Savannah destroying everything of Confederate value, burning homes and farms, and stealing goods from villages. The Union tactics were to make the Confederates completely useless and break their spirit, which resulted in a Union victory. -
Black Codes
Laws that restricted the blacks' freedom, 4 million former slaves, were the black codes. If any of them were caught loitering or soliciting, then they would be arrested. There would be no way for them to get out, because they have no money or no place to stay. So, with slavery being "ended", white men would make them a deal that they would bail them out of jail if the black man came to work for him so he could pay off his debt. Then, the cycle keeps starting over. -
Reconstruction Realities
The passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, is significant, because President Johnson said that there was no need for the 10% Plan that Lincoln had as long as they abolish slavery. Johnson had no intention of giving civil rights when the Amendment was passed. The KKK, Ku Klux Klan, was a group of Confederate veterans that terrorized the black community in most of the time extreme ways, with their notoriously racist leader Nathan Bedford Forrest. -
Congress Steps In
The 14th Amendment states that all persons in the U.S. were citizens, and it prevented former CSA from holding political office. In 1867, with the Radical Republicans fully in control, the Military Reconstruction Act splits the South into 5 military zones run by Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. the 186 Tenure Act require Senate approval, which President Johnson violated by firing Stanton. This cause impeachment charges to be filed against Johnson. -
Reconstruction Changes
The biggest change during Reconstruction was the passage of the 15th Amendment, which says that no citizen could be denied the right to vote based on color or race or previous servitudes. With Grant being president, KKK activity is the South almost ended completely.
