Beginning of the Civil War

Beginning of the Civil War

Robert E. Lee(South)

• Confederate General

• From Virginia

• In the US Army and was opposed to succession but did not want to fight his own state

• General in Chief and Military Advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis

• Known for strategic plans Offense over defense

• Surrendered April 9th to Grant

Multiple Choice

Did Robert E. Lee want to secede?

• Yes

• No

George McClellan(North)

• Union General (1861-1864)

• Liked by men but not by Congress or Lincoln 

• Removed as General in 1864

• Started off with strong momentum, but died off quickly

Multiple Choice

George McClellan was liked by...

• The men in the army

• Congress and the President

The Balance Between the Confederates and the Union

It became clear that this war would not be easy for either side. At the onset of the war in 1861 and 1862 both sides stood as relatively equal combats.

Open Ended

Why do you think both sides were equal combats?

Advantages of the Confederacy(South)

• They were fighting defensively

• Most of the war was fought in the South so they knew the terrain

• They had the support of the civilians surrounding the battles

• The upper South gave them more resources and industrial might than what the deep South had

Disadvantages of the Confederacy(South)

• The North blockaded their Naval ports

• With their Naval ports blockaded they could not export their Cotton

• The south lacked infrastructure to move men and supplies

• Their economy began to decline

Multiple Select

What are some of the advantages of the Confederacy? (Check all that apply)

• They were fighting defensively

• They were fighting on their homeland

• Their economy boomed

• The upper South gave them more industrial might

Advantages of Union(North/USA)

• The Union had a larger population

• The infrastructure and railroads in the North made it much easier to move men and supplies

• Farms in the North were able to supply the men with more food than the South

• 
  

Disadvantages of the Union(North/USA)

• The North must go and conquer

• The had to create long supply lines

• They had to fight on unfamiliar territory

• Even if the Union wins they must pacify a defeated Confederacy after the war

Multiple Select

What are some of the disadvantages of the Union? (Check all that apply)

• Unfamiliar land

• Long supply lines

• More food rations

• Better railroads

The Anaconda Plan

• Anaconda plan, military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott

• plan called for a naval blockade of the Confederate coast, a thrust down the Mississippi, and the strangulation(choking) of the South by Union land and naval forces.

Multiple Select

Which are part of the Anaconda Plan?

• Invasion of South Carolina from the Coast

• Blockade Confederate coast

• Push down through Appalachian Mountains

• Push forces up Mississippi River

Battle of Fort Sumter

• Fort Sumter, SC was the site of the first attack of the American Civil War, on April 12, 1861. 

• Several Southern states had seceded from, or left, the Union. The Confederate states claimed control over the forts within their borders, including Fort Sumter.

• They called for the U.S. troops at those forts to leave immediately. But President  Lincoln refused to order the troops to do so.

• April 12, 1861, Confederate forces began firing on Fort Sumter. After 34 hours, the U.S. troops in the fort surrendered. 

• The troops marched out, waving the U.S. flag, on April 14. Confederate troops then took over the fort. Northern forces bombarded the fort many times until the Civil War ended in 1865.

Multiple Select

What is true about Battle of Fort Sumter? (Checl all that apply)

• First site of attack in the Civil War

• Started the Civil War

• President Lincoln ordered his troops to abandon the Fort

• The Fort was located in South Carolina

The First Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)

• Many people believed that a single battle would decide the Civil War, and questioned how committed the southern rebels were

• On July 21, 1861 the two armies met for the first time along Bull Run Creek in Massachusetts

The First Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)

• So many Northerners believed that this battle would be a decisive win that spectators brought picnics to watch the battle take place

• The Union attacked first, but were pushed back by the confederates

• The Confederates went on to dominate the day

• This ended Union hopes of a quick and decisive win

Multiple Choice

Which side won the First Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)?

• Union(North)

• Confederates(South)

Multiple Select

What is true about the First Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)?

• Confederates attacked first

• Spectators came to watch the battle

• Ended Unions hope of a quick win to the War

• Northerns thought this would be an easy win for them