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