Course of the Civil War

​What was the outcome of the first major battle of the war?

• In 1861, the Union blockaded Confederate ports. The South defeated the North in the First Battle of Bull Run.

• The ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor battled to a draw in March 1862 when the Confederacy tried to break the Union blockade.

• By April 1862, the South had lost the Battle of Shiloh, control of New Orleans, and the ability to use the Mississippi River to carry goods to sea.

• July 21, 1861

• Fighting took place in northern Virginia

• Both sides lacked experience

• Rebels rallied under Stonewall Jackson

• Union troops retreated

First Battle of Bull Run

• ​Both Sides thought war would be short

• Loss shocked Northern civilians

• People realized the war would be long

• President Lincoln called on 1 million soldiers to serve for three years

​​Effects on civilian population

​casualties

Number of killed, wounded, captured, or missing following a conflict or battle

• Control Mississippi River

• Blockade Southern ports

• Capture Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia

Union War Goals

• Confederates hoped to end blockade

• Secret weapon was the Virginia

• The Confederate ironclad attack Union

• Union ironclad was named Monitor

• March 1862 the two ironclad fought

Battle of Ironclads

• Union victory

• 23,000 total casualties

• Victory enabled Union to move closer to controlling Mississippi River

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​Battle of Shiloh

• Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson

• Quickly moved forces

• Defeated much larger Union forces

• Key battle at Chancellorsville

Confederate Victories

"My God, my God, What will the country say!"

-Abraham Lincoln

Reaction from the North

• Lee plans to invade North

• Confederate battle plans discovered

• Key Union victory

• Lee's plan to invade the North failed

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​photograph shows soldiers killed at Antietam following the battle

Lincoln's plan to end slavery as part of the war

• Lincoln insisted war was about keeping the Union together

• Ending slavery at the start of conflict meant losing border states

• Abolitionists urge Lincoln to make ending slavery part of war

• Constitution does not grant Lincoln powers to eliminate slavery

• During war Lincoln could take property