Civil War Overview (1861-1865)

A Confederate victory in the Eastern Campaigns of 1862, near Williamsburg, Virginia.

Major Civil War battles fought between Union and Confederate forces near Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.

A Union military success, part of the 1862 Eastern Campaigns.

Military engagements between the Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War.

Confederate generals who fought in the 1862 Eastern Campaigns.

A major Confederate defeat in Maryland during the 1862 campaigns.

Confederate capital during the Civil War.

Union capital during the Civil War.

Union and Confederate battles focused on controlling the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi River valleys.

Union forces moved south through western Tennessee, gaining control of the Mississippi River, and pushing into the Lower South.

A Confederate victory occurred at Pickens in April 1862.

Union naval forces controlled the Mississippi River by June 1862.

Control of the Mississippi River gave the Union crucial transportation routes, kept crucial states in the Union, and expanded war into the Lower South.

A battle that took place on April 24, 1862.

Union naval forces got control of the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico to Vicksburg in June 1862.

Union army advancements through western Tennessee from February to April 1862.

Military cemeteries with rows of crosses, replacing the traditional landscaped cemeteries of pre-war America.

The South's ability to produce goods, including guns and ammunition, for the war effort.

The Confederacy obtained guns and rifles by acquiring existing armory machinery, and purchasing from Britain, leading to equipping their infantry by 1863.

Included enslaved people who worked to support the war; 39% of North American population.

The North had a substantially larger population and industrial output than the South, despite what the chart indicates.

The North's population (61%) significantly exceeded the South's (39%), a major factor in the war.

Slaves were a critical part of the war effort for the south, creating food and cotton.

The North produced 70% of the nation's goods, compared to 30% for the South.

Southern white people's fear of black men having sexual relationships with white women, even though white men already had children with enslaved black women.

The Southern states' decision to leave the Union to protect white supremacy and prevent black people from gaining equality.

Forms of government where citizens elect representatives. The North feared that the Civil War would destroy this system of government.

Lincoln's description of the United States as the best example of a democratic government in the world. He believed the Civil War was crucial to its survival.

The war's devastating impact on human lives and the North-South relationship. More Americans died in this war than in any other.

The bloodiest single day battle in American history, fought in Maryland, with thousands of casualties.

General Ulysses Grant witnessed the horrors of war at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee, where the battlefield was covered with dead bodies.

The use of new weapons and large armies led to a significant number of casualties in the Civil War.

General Robert E. Lee led Confederate forces into Maryland in 1862 to try to win a decisive victory against the Union.

The Battle of Antietam in Maryland was the bloodiest single-day battle in US history, but its strategic outcome is debated.

Union General McClellan, despite having a numerical advantage, hesitated to attack Lee's army after Antietam, allowing them to retreat.

While Lincoln declared Antietam a Union victory, he privately criticized McClellan for not pushing harder for a definitive win.

The Battle of Antietam resulted in over 23,000 casualties, making it a truly devastating battle.

President Lincoln, while concerned about casualties, wanted to end the war quickly with a decisive Union victory.

General McClellan, though a skilled organizer, feared that heavy casualties would weaken public support for the war effort.

A sunken road at Antietam, named for the fierce fighting and the piles of dead Confederate soldiers.

Maryland, despite having a slave population, voted against secession by a slim margin, but secessionists destroyed infrastructure, leading Lincoln to order Union troops to occupy the state and arrest Confederate sympathizers.

Missouri, with a strong German-American militia against slavery, became a key strategic battleground with Lincoln mobilizing their support against Confederate sympathizers, securing the state for the Union.

Lincoln believed a swift attack on the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia, would cripple the Confederacy and end the war quickly.

Virginia's secession was a major turning point, adding a large territory and resources to the Confederacy and solidifying Confederate strength.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee, offered command of the Union Army, chose to resign and fight for his native Virginia, a crucial moment highlighting the deeply personal nature of the war.

The first casualties of the Civil War occurred in Baltimore when a Confederate mob attacked Massachusetts troops, marking the escalation of the conflict.

Confederate sympathizers formed bands of guerillas, including infamous outlaws like the James brothers, launching raids throughout the war, posing a constant threat to Union control.

Southerners, particularly in Virginia, embraced the Confederate cause, arguing the North was the aggressor and the South was simply defending itself.

Union forces, led by Admiral Farragut, captured New Orleans in May 1862, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River delta and a vital port. This victory weakened the Confederacy economically and strategically.

Vicksburg was a strategically important Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Its capture by Union forces under Grant in 1863 was critical for securing the river and splitting the Confederacy.

Control of the Mississippi River was vital for both sides during the Civil War. It was a major transportation route, providing a crucial link for supplies and troops.

The Union's western strategy focused on capturing key cities and waterways, particularly along the Mississippi River, to divide the Confederacy and eventually force its surrender.

The Confederacy aimed to defend its key cities and waterways, especially in the Western theater, to maintain economic and military strength and resist Union advances.

Battles in the Western Theater were pivotal during the Civil War: they had significant strategic and economic ramifications for both sides.

The Union Navy played a vital role in the war, controlling key waterways and enabling Union forces to advance strategically, particularly in the West.

Union victories in the Western Theater, particularly the capture of Vicksburg and the control of the Mississippi River, significantly weakened the Confederacy and ultimately contributed to its defeat.

A series of battles fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862, in Virginia, near Richmond. The Confederate army, led by Robert E. Lee, successfully repelled the Union Army of the Potomac under George McClellan.

A siege of the Confederate-held city of Yorktown, Virginia, by the Union Army in April-May 1862.

Military actions undertaken by the Union Army during the Civil War. This refers to a series of battles and campaigns aimed at achieving victory. They aimed to capture Richmond, Virginia and keep the Confederacy on the defensive.

Military actions undertaken by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. They were defensive, seeking to protect their territories and keep the Union from advancing.

A major Confederate general who led the Army of Northern Virginia, fighting significant battles in the Eastern Theater.

A Union general who led the Army of the Potomac, which aimed to capture Richmond. He was criticized for his cautious nature in battle.

A Confederate general known for his 'Stonewall' ferocity in battle, leading several crucial victories against the Union Army.

A Union general who led the Union Army's early campaigns in Virginia, facing setbacks in the Eastern Theater.

A Confederate general who led the Confederate Army against the Union in Virginia.

A Confederate general who led troops in Virginia.

A Union general who led troops in the Eastern Theater.

A Union general who led troops in the Eastern Theater. He was known for emancipating slaves in Missouri, which was controversial.

A Confederate general known for his aggressive and innovative tactics, often referred to as 'Stonewall Jackson'. He was a significant figure in the Eastern Theatre.

A Union general who led troops in the Eastern Theater.

A major battle on September 17, 1862 in Maryland. The Union Army, led by McClellan, inflicted heavy casualties upon the Confederate Army, thus preventing the Confederate invasion of the North.

A railroad line built across the United States during the Civil War, connecting the East Coast to the West Coast.

The Civil War significantly expanded the federal government's power and responsibility, particularly in economic and military matters.

The Republican-controlled Congress implemented policies to strengthen the Union economy, such as chartering the Transcontinental Railroad and supporting new industries.

The Confederacy faced immense economic pressure to sustain its war effort, leading to government interventions and control over resources and industries.

The Confederacy's philosophy of states' rights clashed with the realities of total war, forcing the government to take greater control and involve itself in the economy.

The Confederate government implemented measures like commandeering food and resources, requisitioning slaves, and controlling foreign trade.

The Civil War spurred the growth of new industries in the North, creating new jobs and boosting the economy.

The Civil War significantly altered the American economy, transforming the North's industrial capacity and increasing the federal government's role.