American Civil War Overview

Overview

• The American Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865, was a conflict between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South).
• The primary cause was the issue of slavery and states' rights.
• Secession of Southern states following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President triggered the conflict.
• The war resulted in significant social, political, and economic changes in the United States.

Causes of the Civil War

• Slavery: Deep-seated disagreement over the morality and expansion of slavery in new territories.
• States' Rights: Southern states argued for greater autonomy and the right to nullify federal laws they deemed harmful.
• Economic Differences: The agrarian South relied on enslaved labor and opposed the industrial North's economic policies.
• Political Power: The balance of power between the free and slave states was a central issue, with each side seeking to expand its political influence.
• Election of Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln's opposition to the expansion of slavery and his election as President in 1860 prompted several Southern states to secede from the Union.

Key Figures

• Abraham Lincoln: President of the United States during the war, pivotal in preserving the Union.
• Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States of America.
• Robert E. Lee: Highly-respected Confederate general.
• Ulysses S. Grant: Union general, eventually leading the Union to victory.

Major Battles

• Battle of Antietam (1862): Considered a turning point, the Union victory halted Confederate advance into the North.
• Battle of Gettysburg (1863): A decisive Union victory, considered the turning point of the war.
• Battle of Vicksburg (1863): Union victory that gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy.

Key Strategies and Tactics

• Union Strategy (Anaconda Plan): Focused on blockading Southern ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and capturing Richmond, the Confederate capital.
• Confederate Strategy: Emphasized defensive warfare and hoping for foreign recognition and intervention.

Social and Economic Impact

• Abolition of Slavery: The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory free, paving the way for the 13th Amendment's abolition of slavery nationwide.
• Reconstruction Era: Post-war period focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society and the political process.
• Economic Devastation: The war caused widespread devastation and economic hardship to both the North and South.

Aftermath

• The 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery in the United States, yet legal discrimination continued.
• The 14th Amendment: Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
• The 15th Amendment: Prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
• Lingering Tensions: Racial and social tensions remained significant in the South and across the country, impacting society for decades.

Military Technology

• The Civil War was a pivotal point in the development of military technology, with new weapons transforming warfare into a more deadly and destructive force.
• The introduction of the repeating rifle, improved artillery, and new transportation methods significantly changed battlefield dynamics.