Course of the Civil War

Key battles of the Civil War and the effects on civilian population. ​

​The Course of the Conflict

Key Battles

​What was the outcome of the first major battle of the war?

• In 1861, the Union blockaded Confederate ports. The South defeated the North in the First Battle of Bull Run.

• The ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor battled to a draw in March 1862 when the Confederacy tried to break the Union blockade.

• By April 1862, the South had lost the Battle of Shiloh, control of New Orleans, and the ability to use the Mississippi River to carry goods to sea.

• July 21, 1861

• Fighting took place in northern Virginia

• Both sides lacked experience

• Rebels rallied under Stonewall Jackson

• Union troops retreated

First Battle of Bull Run

• ​Both Sides thought war would be short

• Loss shocked Northern civilians

• People realized the war would be long

• President Lincoln called on 1 million soldiers to serve for three years

​​Effects on civilian population

Multiple Choice

The Union won the First Battle of Bull Run.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What was the impact of the Union defeat at Bull Run to start the war?

• shocked the North

• civilians realized it could be a long war

• Lincoln called for enlistment of 1 million solider

• all of these are true

Key Term

​casualties

Number of killed, wounded, captured, or missing following a conflict or battle

• Control Mississippi River

• Blockade Southern ports

• Capture Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia

Union War Goals

• Confederates hoped to end blockade

• Secret weapon was the Virginia

• The Confederate ironclad attack Union

• Union ironclad was named Monitor

• March 1862 the two ironclad fought

Battle of Ironclads

• Union victory

• 23,000 total casualties

• Victory enabled Union to move closer to controlling Mississippi River

​

​Battle of Shiloh

Multiple Choice

Why was the Battle of Shiloh a key Union victory?

• showed the effectiveness of Union blockade

• brought the Union closer to controlling the Mississippi River

• Union was closer to capturing the Confederate capital

• Union experienced few casualties

Match

Match the following

ironclad

Union soldier

Confederate soldier

Anaconda Plan

• ironclad

• Union soldier

• Confederate soldier

• Anaconda Plan

• Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson

• Quickly moved forces

• Defeated much larger Union forces

• Key battle at Chancellorsville

Confederate Victories

"My God, my God, What will the country say!"

-Abraham Lincoln

Reaction from the North

​War in Eastern States

• Lee plans to invade North

• Confederate battle plans discovered

• Key Union victory

• Lee's plan to invade the North failed

• ​

Battle of Antietam

​photograph shows soldiers killed at Antietam following the battle

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's plan to end slavery as part of the war

• Lincoln insisted war was about keeping the Union together

• Ending slavery at the start of conflict meant losing border states

• Abolitionists urge Lincoln to make ending slavery part of war

• Constitution does not grant Lincoln powers to eliminate slavery

• During war Lincoln could take property

• Abraham Lincoln, 1863

" I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper...If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it." 

Multiple Choice

The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the border states.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

For the Union, ending slavery was a goal of the war at the start of the conflict.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A Union victory at the end of the Civil War meant the end of slavery.

• True

• False