American Civil War Lecture Notes

Overview

• Dates: April 12, 1861 - May 26, 1865
• Conflict: Union (North) vs. Confederacy (South)
• Outcome: Union victory leading to the abolition of slavery

Causes of the War

• Central Issue: Expansion of slavery into western territories
• Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln's victory led to Southern states seceding
• Secession: Seven states seceded to form the Confederacy; later four more joined

Key Figures

• Union:
  • Abraham Lincoln (President)
  • Ulysses S. Grant (General)
• Confederacy:
  • Jefferson Davis (President)
  • Robert E. Lee (General)

Major Battles and Campaigns

• Battle of Gettysburg: Turning point in favor of the Union
• Battle of Vicksburg: Gave Union control of the Mississippi River
• Sherman's March to the Sea: Devastated Southern resources
• Siege of Petersburg: Led to fall of Confederate capital Richmond
• Appomattox Court House: Lee's surrender to Grant

Emancipation

• Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by Lincoln on January 1, 1863, freeing slaves in Confederate states
• Thirteenth Amendment: Abolished slavery throughout the United States

War Technology

• Use of railroads, telegraphs, ironclads, and repeating firearms
• Naval Warfare: Blockade and battles like USS Monitor vs CSS Virginia

Impact and Aftermath

• Casualties: Estimated over 698,000 soldiers dead
• Destruction: Massive damage to Southern infrastructure
• Reconstruction Era: Post-war efforts to reintegrate Southern states and grant rights to freed slaves
• Lost Cause Myth: Romanticized Southern cause, downplaying slavery

Diplomacy

• Confederacy's Diplomatic Efforts: Sought recognition from Britain and France, but failed
• Union: Successfully leveraged anti-slavery sentiment worldwide to prevent European intervention

Cultural Significance

• Widely studied and debated topic in American history
• Memory and Commemoration: Monuments, literature, and films
• Lost Cause and United Daughters of the Confederacy: Influential in shaping post-war memory

Additional Notes

• The war marked a significant transformation in American society, paving the way for industrialization and civil rights movements.
• Juneteenth: Celebrates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.

These notes capture the critical events, figures, and impacts of the American Civil War, providing a comprehensive overview for further study.