When McClellan faced his first major battle, he failed to thrive under pressure. He had a chance to finish off the Union but was too hesitant to attack when he had them retreating. Although they won the war, if McClellan had been less hesitant to attack, they…
Historians have argued inconclusively for years over the prime reason for Confederate defeat in the Civil War. The book Why the North Won the Civil War outlines five of the most agreed upon causes of Southern defeat, each written by a highly esteemed American historian. The author of each essay does acknowledge and discuss the views of the other authors. However, each author also goes on to explain their botheration and disagreement with their opposition. The purpose of this essay is to summarize each of the five arguments presented by Richard N. Current, T. Harry Williams, Norman A. Graebner, David Herbert Donald, and David M. Potter. Each author gives his insight on one of the following five reasons: economic, military, diplomatic, social, and political, respectively.…
Williams gives us insight into Lincoln's thought process. Williams supports this with various examples and numerous interactions that Lincoln had with his Generals. One example of this is Lincoln's selection of General Scott, the first General of the Union forces. When Lincoln interacted with Scott, he showed an admiration for Scott's age and knowledge. This allowed Scott to show his skills, this humility was shared by General McClellan. Lincoln later changes his approach towards McClellan, trying to boost his confidence and courage. Williams continually shows McClellan as an egotist, who eventually replaced Scott as General in chief. McClellan is depicted as unsure, indecisive, self-centered and fearful of declaring war. Lincoln…
(J.E.B) Stuart the Civil War America’s transformation into the country we live in today has been formed through numerous events during its history but the event that will split the United States into North versus South is truly one of the most defining events. Through different issues leading up to the start of the Civil War, the United States was destined for conflict and that the Civil War was inevitable. The Civil War was a very rough time for the U.S , many people lost lives but at the end of the day the only lives that were being lost where the ones of our own people. Many different generals and army official had to take a strong incentive to pursue victory in the war against Union. James Ewell Brown Stuart represents…
Grant had a simple strategy of war: “Find out where your enemy is, get at him as soon as you can, strike at him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.” As a Union General, he took a risky move trying to take Tennessee. Using Ironclad gunboats, his forces captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River and Fort Donelson on the nearby Cumberland River. Because of this, Union gunboats could float down to the heart of the South. A week later, Grant’s troops marched into Nashville (Garcia, 2003, p. 493).…
It all started on July 1,1863 the most influential battle in american history that quite possibly changed the outcome of the civil war . The battle lasted about three days and happened in a small town called Gettysburg. You see in 1863 General Lee traveled into southern Pennsylvania and there he gathered with his men at gettysburg. Yet at the time he and his men were unaware that Union soldiers camped closer to the town. General Lee did not know this because he lacked information on his enemy’s strategy ,or whereabouts ,he was also caught up with some of his men not performing their duties correctly.Another group of his men had gone for supplies and then and there they ran into the union general George G. Meades cavalry which started off the war.…
The changes in the war aims by President Abraham Lincoln were very important in winning the war. First and foremost when the war began it was entirely based on re-uniting the country which most people in the North were not so much contented with given the fact that their children were dying in large numbers. However, when Abraham Lincoln shifted the rationale towards fighting for democracy through the abolition of slave trade which the confederate states wanted so much to preserve. This increased morale among the soldiers and the people in the north since they believed that democracy and freedom was worse fighting for. This helped the Union to defeat the confederate state which did not provide a strong rationale to its armies and the people…
The Advantages of the North and South led to a great battle known as the Civil War. Even though they both had their advantages and disadvantages to winning the Civil War, But they were both amazing. The more you know about what they fought for and or about. The North and South both had different advantages. If you read ahead you will learn some of the advantages of North and South.…
The south and north had both felt confident they both could win the civil war; however the north won the war victoriously. I perceived upon my reading the historic roots of the north union army history and my thoughts regarding why the north union army would indeed win the civil war. George Washington was born in Virginia, which was considered a southern state and would be naturally a part of the confederacy. George Washington lived and died in Mount Vernon Virginia; however during his life span he was the leader of the continental army; which dissolved mostly but then later the patriotic belief and principle would become the Union of the north army. The rich history that currently makes up our united states to this day, the flag we currently…
With the freighting hostile tension between the Southern and Northern states Lincoln had to act fast. In meetings that were kept underwraps Abraham Lincoln called on the only man he knew that could save his campaign and…
John Floyd, William Wirt, and others. Again, but he lost. Jackson had 219 of the 286 electoral votes, Clay had 49, Wirt had 11, and Floyd had none. Even after this tough loss, he continued to run. He ran in the 1844 election with a hope to win this time.…
A collection of adversities and disagreements served as a great window into the beginning of the Civil War. It was evident that the Southerners wanted to preserve slavery but what exactly was the Northerners fighting for? The North wanted to preserve the Union that was created by the ratification of the Constitution. Rendering enemies in one country was not the intention of the North. The secession of the South after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president was a spark to the tumult.…
These two differing thoughts caused Americans to rage and compromises to be thrown out the window. All that was required was one final spark to set off the flame that would be known as the Civil War. A new candidate was running for president, and the southern states didn’t like him. They swore that if the new candidate were to get elected, they would secede from the union. The candidate won, and they held their ideals, they left.…
Lee, a General for the Confederate Army, although he was not very supportive on the idea of slavery and secession. Robert E. Lee’s thoughts and ideas sided predominantly with the North. Surprisingly, he decided to lead the confederate to protect not only his hometown, but his presiding state, Virginia. A fictional piece,“An Episode of War”, was written by Stephen Crane.…
Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, at an old Virginia courthouse. Following the completion of his military assignment in 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant revealed to Edwin M. Stanton the reasons for the war’s outcome. He stated, “Believing us to be one people, one blood and with identical interests, I do and have felt the same interest in the ultimate welfare of the South as of the North.”5 This statement showed that as time went on, peoples began to realize that the US would not be successful unless the North and the South unite as one. This is not saying that Ulysses S. Grant and others did not see the clear differences between the two territories, however they saw past it for the greater good of a common country. The surrender ended the four-year Civil War, and sparked a new period in American history known as…