The American Civil War was a long and violent conflict, pitting the southern slave-owning Confederacy against the northern, socially progressive “Yankees” of the Union government. The Union government won the war based on many factors, most of which relate to its superior resources but also include poor planning on the part of the Confederacy. At first glance the conflict seemed much more even-handed in appearance than it was in reality. The differences in the attitudes of the two factions were striking. The Confederates were not only convinced that they could not be invaded, but were utterly convinced as to the truth of their cause. United, they stood up for their ideal of a slave society and upheld the ideal of a Southern chivalry as the …show more content…
Lee’s battle commands falling into Union hands), the South missed many of its opportunities to strike back. In addition, Lee’s offensives not only failed to be effective in capturing Union land but also resulted in a high death toll for Confederate troops. Lee’s actions were also not consistent with the South’s original defensive position, which in any case was not used as effectively as it might have been. Failure to defend led to many Confederate retreats instead of offensives, which disheartened the troops. The defensive strategy also led to long, drawn out sieges and subsequent surrenders, which were also disheartening in a culture where the valor of chivalry was integral to Southern white masculinity. In that respect, Lee’s disastrous offensive attacks actually boosted morale since at least his men were killing as they were being …show more content…
It was the center of American banking and held the country’s wealth, which included taxes from the South. Manufacturing was making the North rich, and new inventions in technology was making everything – including building weapons – easier. Most firearms were produced in the Northern factories, and well-networked rail lines meant that trains could transport both goods and services – such as transporting weaponry and communication, or even soldiers – at higher speeds than the South could. The Union forces were much better armed, as a
To sum up, Document C shows that General Lee abandoned his faith in himself and asked to be replaced; this is significant because Generals Lee’s dampened mood affects his and his soldiers fighting during the war making them unfocused and
The Civil War. Louis P. Masur’s book, The civil War: a Concise History, Is a book that gives an overview of the civil war from 18 to 1800, Providing multiple causes an consequences that emerged from the war. The book begins by reviewing the origins of the war. Chapter one covers the issues between northern and southern states and the tension over right and slave possession. The tension created a conflict that raised a number of political, social, and military events that then proceeded into a battle to abolish slavery from the colonies.
Stackpole argues that because this factor was absent from the Confederate side, defeat was inevitable from the beginning. While the argument can be made that Lee’s generals were not capable to begin with, it is a fallacy to assume their ignorance when they were never even given a chance. Lee formulated what he thought was the winning battle plan, but never established a
One reason Lee was blamed for them losing was because he didn’t do what was best for what men he did have or to save them. A huge mistake was also stated by Fan, “General Longstreet urges a move around the Union Army flank on the right taking them from behind, however, General Lee orders famous Confederate General John Bell Hood to take his entire division in a frontal assault up a steep, rocky hill, known as
In conclusion, there are things that happened in the war that could have changed the outcome greatly. If Lee would have listened to Longstreet there may have been a different outcome to the Battle of Gettysburg, which would have made a huge difference in the outcome of the war. Also, if the North and South would have understood each other’s motive to fight they may have not been a war in the first place. Shaara did a great job bringing raise these points in this
Even with the quick force that Lee deployed, it would inevitably do no good for the outcome of the battle because they were unable to control the hill, but without Longstreet’s intelligence there probably would’ve been more Confederate casualties as the Union would’ve had the upper
The aroma of powder scattered along the breeze, carcasses laid mystified upon the ground, the barbaric Confederacy has been thwarted. Our tactics of taking the lofty ground proved to be decisive. The presumptuous Robert E. Lee instructed his troops to Antietam and Chancellorsville, while planning a storm on the Union defense. I’ve heard gossip about Lee miscommunicating in with James Longstreet, which is why he foolishly let George Pickett led his battalion into the superbly structured Union lines. We shrouded ourselves behind trees and grasslands, dawdling until them came into range.
The Civil War was a battle between the north and south that neither side had anticipated would be so long and difficult. This long lasting war involved several battles that led to thousands of casualties on both sides. A total of more than six hundred twenty thousand American men perished. The objective of the Civil War was to abolish slavery from the north’s perspective, or to keep the southern lifestyle as the southerners justification to fight. The winning side of this war would change the history of slaves, and whether or not it still exists to this day.
With the conclusion of the Civil War, the infrastructures of both the North and the South had been destroyed by the exhaustive cost of fighting. The North, however, had the advantage of winning the war and the supposed power of decision making, and northern political leaders had their dreams of Reconstruction, and differing ideas about how the southern states should be treated in response to the opposition. This mishandled responsibility had overwhelming repercussions, and the southern states fell into a state of further tension and chaos. Although there were many northerners fighting for rights of people in the South, overall, the South did not receive fair treatment from the North.
A single cause for the Civil War cannot be fixated on a single issue, rather it is vital to understand that multiple variations in the North and South’s politics, society, and economy all culminated to a point where war was deemed necessary. In addition, these variations existed long before the years leading up to the Civil War - the geographical constraints presented to the colonists created the different identities of the North and South. Years later, the conjunction of these differences and the attempt to unify contrasting regions lead to the Civil War. In essence, the differences in culture, race, and gender between the North and South ultimately created the Confederate States of America who waged war against the United States.
Similar to many quarrels dating back before it could even be recorded, a clash of beliefs resulted in the beginning of a war that would recreate the very nation built on the freedom and rights of those who inhabit it. This rather large and groundbreaking ordeal began April 12th of 1861 at the very beginning of the Civil War. A nation had been split in two by conflicted views that would forever hold a place in the descendants of those who fought. These two sides were titled Union and Confederate, two names that would separate like oil and water way beyond their reign. Though they share similarities within flags summarized as a sign of freedom and the fight for what they believed in, it was their convictions that separated one from the other.
American civil war and Napoleonic conflicts Introduction There are questions as to whether the American civil war was the first modern conflict or it was similar to Napoleonic conflicts. The American civil war occurred between 1860 and 1865 and therefore, some scholars have argued that it was both the last ancient war and the first modern conflict. While the Napoleonic conflicts employed ancient tactics and strategies, the American civil war was the first conflict to employ the efficiencies of production occasioned by the industrial revolution. The war also involved the entire population of either side of the conflict .
In February 1861, a new government was on the horizon in the United States, known as the Confederate States of America. Composed of seven states from the South, this new government looked to separate from a union that they felt was tipping in power towards those who wanted to threaten the rights of the South, especially slavery. Similarly, in early 1775, colonists were preparing for revolution against a power that they felt oppressed their rights and wanted to take away their liberties. However, the Civil War was a not a complete representation of a second American Revolution. The Civil War was more than an unsatisfied party rebelling against a larger power, but a clash between two vastly different ways of life.
Lee's military took just one hour to win this war. This showed his quality of leadership. Success of this war made him to be a candidate of the leader of the Union Army. But Lee’s guarantee to the Union Army was replaced by his guarantee to Virginia. Lee resigned from the military again after he refused President Lincoln demand to lead the Union Army.
In September 1862, a battle was fought in a small town in Maryland. More lives were lost than any other battle or war that the United States has ever experience before or since. This battle had no true winner but it did have consequeses that changed the course of the Civil War. In James M. McPherson’s book Crossroads of Freedom Antietam The Battle That Changed the Course of the Civil War, he shows how small events added up to lead to the Battle of Antietam and ultimately to the North winning the Civil War.