Causes and Key Battles of the Civil War

Study Notes

Slavery: Primary catalyst, causing conflict over its expansion into newly acquired territories, dividing North and South.
States’ Rights: Southern states asserted their right to self-govern and create their own laws, fostering dissent.
Economic Differences: Industrial North’s manufacturing economy clashed with the Agrarian South’s reliance on agriculture, particularly cotton, creating tension.
Political Conflict: Struggles over congressional power balance intensified, particularly with the rise of the Republican Party opposing the expansion of slavery.
Cultural Divides: Distinct identities and social norms developed in North versus South, contributing to increased animosity.
Secession: Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, several Southern states seceded, fearing the threat of slavery's abolition.

Fort Sumter (1861): Marked the Civil War's initiation when Confederate forces attacked this Union-held fort.
Battle of Antietam (1862): The deadliest single-day battle in American history; its outcome led Lincoln to release the Emancipation Proclamation.
Battle of Gettysburg (1863): Considered the war's turning point; Union victory halted Confederate General Robert E. Lee's advance into Northern territory.
Sherman's March to the Sea (1864): A Union campaign that employed total war tactics to devastate Southern infrastructure and morale.
Union Strategy: The Anaconda Plan aimed to suffocate the South economically through blockades and control of the Mississippi River.

Moral and Ethical Issues: Seen as a fundamental moral wrong by abolitionists, elevating the issue into a national debate and increasing sectional conflict.
Economic Dependency: Southern states’ economies heavily depended on enslaved labor, especially in cotton cultivation, fueling resistance to abolition.
Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Lincoln's directive aimed to disable the Confederacy by declaring freedom for slaves in rebellious states.
African American Soldiers: Approximately 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army, playing a crucial role in the Union's military efforts.

Presidential Reconstruction: Favorable approach by Lincoln and Johnson, proposing lenient conditions for Southern states’ reintegration into the Union.
Radical Reconstruction: Congress implemented stricter policies, exemplified by the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, addressing civil rights and governance.
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments: This trio abolished slavery, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, and secured voting rights for African American men.
Freedmen's Bureau: Established to provide support for freed slaves, focusing on education, healthcare access, and employment opportunities.

Short-term Gains: African Americans experienced increased political involvement, including holding office and exercising voting rights during Reconstruction.
Social Changes: The creation of schools and churches fostered community growth and empowerment among African Americans, aiding their transition post-abolition.