THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

the American Civil War

The American Civil War is  a civil war which opposed, in  the United States,  the States of North in the States of the South, between 1861 and 1865.

CAUSES OF THE WAR

The United States, born one century earlier, is still a young country when the American Civil War bursts. The population is then 30 million inhabitants (ten times less than today).

? The States of North, accounting for 2/3 of the population,  are very urbanized: their economy is based on industry  and the trade.

? The States of the South, accounting for 1/3 of the population, live for their part almost exclusively of agriculture. The majority of the world production of cotton comes from their  plantations  (large exploitations), where the tobacco and the cane with sugar are also cultivated. The agricultural workers of these plantations are  slaves  (approximately 4 million people): they are the property of their Masters, do not perceive any wages, and are simply placed and nourished.

Little by little, the idea of the abolition of slavery is essential in North. In the South, the landowners are completely against, applicant who slavery is essential to their economy. The question could have been solved as follows: North abolishes slavery and the South maintains it. But the things are not so simple bus the United States are then in full conquest of the West. Between 1815 and 1850, on average a new State is created every three years. Will these States be slave or free trade? The partisans of the two camps clash on this question.

UNFOLDING OF THE WAR

Secession of the States of the South

At the time of the presidential election of 1860, the question of slavery is in the foreground of the concerns. The winner, Abraham Lincoln, are for his abolition. One month after the elections, the State of  South Carolina, defender of slavery, announces that it  makes secession, i.e. it separates from the Union of the United States.In a few weeks, six other States encase the step to him; they are  soon eleven States secessionists. They decide to leave the United States of America and to create  the confederated States of America  (or Confederation Southerner). A little later president Lincoln states the secession illegal: the war is inevitable.

secession in the United States in 1861
North	South
chair: Abraham Lincoln	chair: Jefferson Davis
capital: Washington	capital: Richmond
the Union nordist	the Confederation Southerner South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee
industrial area	agricultural area
against slavery	for slavery
Generals: Ulysses Grant and William Sherman	General: Robert Lee

The victories Southerners

The first exchanges of shootings take place in April 1861 in Fort Sumter, as a Caroline of the South Bombarded by Confédérés (Southerners), the fort is constrained to go. The Southerners gain then another great victory in the north of the country, at the time of the battle of Bull Run (July 1861). In 1862, under the command of the Southerner  Robert Lee, they penetrate in unionistic territory (nordist). They are not stopped that at the time of the bloody battle of Antietam (September 1862).

A new projection Southerner towards the North-East is stopped with  the battle of Gettysburg  (July 1863): at the end of three days of combat, more than 50 000 men are killed, wounded or reported missing. After this defeat, the troops of the Confederation never manage again to invade the States of the Union.

The victories nordists and emancipation of the slaves

On the western face, the situation also turns in favour of  the nordists. The General nordist  Ulysses Grant  seizes part of the territories of Confédérés in 1862. After  the catch of the fortress of Vicksburg  (in Mississippi) in July 1863, the forces of the Union succeed in concluding their plan: to cross into two territories of the Confederation.

Meanwhile, the nature of the war changed. At the beginning, president Lincoln wished to bring back the States of the South within the Union; but, the 1 ^er January 1863, it publishes  the proclamation of Emancipation, informant that all the slaves of the insurgent States (i.e. of the Confederation) are free. The conflict is transformed then into  a war for or against slavery.

The final defeat of the Southerners

The year 1864 is terrible for the confederated States. Under the orders of the General nordist  William Sherman, the army of the Union seizes Tennessee and Georgia, extreme Atlanta and destroying all on its passage. In April 1865, to court of supply,  Robert Lee goes to Unionistic, Appomattox (a small town of Virginia): the war is finished.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR

Very fatal, the American Civil War made  600 000 victims. The deep wounds caused by this civil war will spend many years to be healed.

? In the States of the South, the consequences of the war are dramatic: a man on three died in the combat and of many cities and plantations are devastated.

? The States of North are not delighted a long time by their victory: six days after the capitulation of the Lee General, president  Abraham Lincoln is assassinated  by a Southerner.

? The large winners of the conflict should be  the slaves, from now on free. However, in practice, the majority of them have of another choice to only continue to work in their former Master, for a starvation wage. Moreover, the landowners manage to make adopt "black codes" which limit the right of ownership and the freedom of movement of the Blacks. In the South, it still should be waited 100 years before the Black-Americans can have the same rights as the White.

TO GO FURTHER

? the United States
? history of America
? Abraham Lincoln

? interactivity:  chronology of  the xix ^E century

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