The American Civil War (1861 to 1865)
By Matthew Rosario
[Link]@[Link]
The end of slavery, expansion of democracy, political
and societal impact; the civil war bought about many
changes in America and had lasting repercussions
and the loss of at least 620,000 soldier’s lives.
The issue of slavery Timeline
The economy of the Northern states was predominantly 1803 The Louisiana Purchase
based on manufacturing and industry with a lower 1820 The Missouri Compromise
level of agricultural production. The north
also remained a popular destination 1846-48 Mexican War
of immigration for Europeans, where 1850 Compromise of 1850
they could find labour at low wages.
This lessened the ‘need’ for slave 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act
labour. On the other hand, the economy 1860 Presidential election
of the Southern states was predominantly dependent on large-scale
farming, which was dependent on the labour of enslaved people. This 1860 Dec 24 Secession of South Carolina
farming consisted of plantation crops such as cotton and tobacco. 1861 Mar 4 Inauguration of Lincoln
Many European settlers came from countries with temperate climates 1861 Apr 12 Attack on Fort Sumter
(consider the widespread belief that it always rains in England), as such 1862 Apr 6 Battle at Shiloh
they were nit accustomed to the weather conditions of the south (think
of the heat and humidity differences). Accordingly, they felt that the 1862 Apr 14 Emancipation declaration
hard labour of working on the plantations would best be performed 1864 Sep2 Sherman captures Atlanta
by slaves, unluckily for the African slaves they were better adapted (or
forced to be) to work in such conditions. At the time of the Civil 1865 Apr 12 Lee surrendered
War around 4 million slaves worked on plantations in the south. 1865 Apr 14 Assassination of Lincoln
During this time many states could be divided into those that 1865 May 10 Capture of President Davies
were ‘free states’ and those that were ‘pro-slavery’. In 1820, the 1866 Aug 20 War legally
Missouri Compromise passed which prohibited enslavement declared over
in certain sates gained from the Louisiana Purchase (land
purchased from France). America was expanding south and
during the Mexican war, (1846-48) the question arose of
whether new territories should be free states or pro-slavery.
Henry Clay’s ‘Compromise of 1850’ sought to distribute a
balance between pro-slavery (by giving g popular sovereign
to vote on slavery) and free states. It was a series of bills
Stephen Douglas, in 1854, proposed a bill; the Kansas-
Nebraska Act). In order to get the bill passed, he needed pro-
slavery votes. To ensure these, he added an amendment which
would repeal the Missouri Compromise and create two new
territories. These new territories could then vote on whether
they wanted to permit slavery or not. (Opposition to this
bill would see the formal founding of the Republican party.)
The Presidential Election
The abolitionist movement, spearheaded by the north began to gain in
momentum. The movement itself contained various views on how to
abolish slavery, with those who wanted to see the immediate freedom
of slaves, those who preferred a slower process of emancipation,
and those who only wanted to stop slavery from expanding further.
Abraham Lincoln, the presidential candidate of the newly-formed
Republican Party, Stephen Douglas, a Northern Democrat,
John C. Breckenridge, a Southern Democrat, and John C. Bell, a
Constitutional Union Part member all faced each on the presidential
election of 1860. Lincoln won the popular vote and the electoral
votes, however he was viewed as being anti-slavery (and generally
pro northern interests) by the south. On the 24th of December,
South Carolina issued the ‘Declaration of the Causes
of Secession and from then to Lincoln’s inauguration in
March six further states seceded, also known as ‘Secession
Winter’). The seven states went on to form the Confederate
States of America and a further four would join them.
Fighting starts
Some time in the early morning on the 12th of April 1861, ‘rebels’
attacked Fort Sumter in South [Link] the southern states
seceded they took possession of all union (federal government)
forts within their territory, The term ‘rebels’ is used because
from Lincoln’s perspective, the Confederate States did not have
sovereignty were simply rebelling against the Union. After some
period of shelling, the federal troops surrendered and evacuated. In
response, Lincoln sent the militia to attempt to squash the rebellion.
From this time on a series of battles and skirmishes were fought.
The biggest battles began in the following April of ‘62.
For a period of three years Robert E. Lee (in command
of the Army of North Virginia) was the most successful of
the Confederate generals, and was later appointed the commander o f
the confederate army. He was able to resist the attacks and invasions by
the Union Army. The union suffered from ineffective generals before Ulysses Bibliography
S. Grant arrived and assumed the role of general in chief. A series of intense Gritzner, C. F. (2008). The United States of
America. Chelsea House Publishers.
battles (The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg) saw Grant
Kennedy, Joseph C.G. Population of the United
successfully cornered Lee at Appomattox April 9th ‘65 forced his surrender. States 1860: Compiled from the Original Returns
of the 8th Census. Washington DC: Government
Printing Office, 1864.
The tide turned and was the confederates turn The American Battlefield Trust
to suffer the consequences of ineffective generals. Photo credits
The Union generals, William Tecumseh Sherman (made his way deep into Boundary Between the United States and
the Confederacy
Georgia and South Carolina) and George Thomas (decimating the confederate Credit: National Geographic
Fer d’esclave(‘Make a slave’)
Army of Tennessee at the battle of Nashville) helped to complete what Lee had Credit: Antoine Taveneaux, Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Senator Stephen A. Douglas
started to achieve. The Confederate President, Jefferson Davies was captured Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Abraham Lincoln In Color
by Union cavalry on the 10th of May, 1865, which signalled the end of the war. Credit: Julian Vannerson, Wikimedia Commons
Men of Color Civil War Recruitment
After the end of the war, the long and painful process of rebuilding began. Broadside 1863
Credit: Frederick Douglass, Wikimedia Commons
A total of at least 620,000 soldiers had died by the time the war ended. Portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee
Credit: Antoine Taveneaux, Wikimedia 2 of 2
Commons
