Directions:
Complete the Connect to Self explained at the beginning. If you'd like to go above and beyond, you could even make a connection between the question and the topic of this page.
Afterwards, create the Important People of the Civil War Chart and add corresponding information, making sure you have a picture to go along with each person (To add images of each person, you should drag a IMAGE+TEXT box over for each individual). Information that you should include is their role in the war and anything impactful that they had a part in. Sources of research: PBS, NPS, The Atlantic, and Civil War Biographies.
Answer the reflection questions at the bottom of this page in complete sentences.
Complete the Connect to Self explained at the beginning. If you'd like to go above and beyond, you could even make a connection between the question and the topic of this page.
Afterwards, create the Important People of the Civil War Chart and add corresponding information, making sure you have a picture to go along with each person (To add images of each person, you should drag a IMAGE+TEXT box over for each individual). Information that you should include is their role in the war and anything impactful that they had a part in. Sources of research: PBS, NPS, The Atlantic, and Civil War Biographies.
Answer the reflection questions at the bottom of this page in complete sentences.
Connect to Self: Pretend that you have been asked to write a speech about your favorite hero. Who would you choose? What makes that person a hero?
Important People of the Civil War
Leaders of the North
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Leaders of the South
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What do most of these leaders have in common?
Which side seemed to have the more stable leadership? Explain your answer.
How is good leadership important in any conflict?
Which side seemed to have the more stable leadership? Explain your answer.
How is good leadership important in any conflict?
Other Influential Leaders
Harriet Beecher Stowe
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Dred Scott
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Hiram Rhodes Revels
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Expert Information
Battles and even wars have been won and lost because of a single decision made by a single leader. Although most leaders think they are fighting for the “right” cause, sometimes that’s not enough. Just having the desire to win isn’t enough. A good leader has vision, intelligence, and organization. He takes responsibility for his decisions, has the ability to motivate his troops, and successfully implements his strategies. Both the Union and the Confederacy had leaders with these qualities. However, some were more successful at achieving their goals than others.
The Civil War was a very difficult and serious time in American history, yet it can be compared to a football game with both teams fighting a long hard game. Although no one really wins in a war, the Union finally had more points at the end.
The Civil War resulted in almost half as many deaths as the total of all other American wars put together. One in every five military men in the Civil War died in service. Of the 620,000 men who died, 340,000 were from the North and about 280,000 were from the South. Of the survivors, the last Union soldier, Albert Woolson, died in 1956, at the age of 109; the last Confederate soldier, Walter Williams, died in 1959, at age of 117.
---------------------------NORTH----------------------------
President Abraham Lincoln led the North (Union). Lincoln grew up the son of poor Midwestern farmers. He educated himself by reading everything he could find. He was a lawyer by trade. He was tall (6’4”) and thin. He was patient, thoughtful, and tolerant of others. He was married to Mary Todd Lincoln, a Southerner. He had four sons. Two of them died young, one while he was in the White House. Lincoln proved to be a great asset to the Union. He never wavered from his goal of preserving the Union.
Lincoln had a very hard time getting adequate military leaders for the U.S. army. At the beginning of the war he appointed General Irvin McDowell to lead the Union forces. McDowell was a graduate of West Point, a veteran of the Mexican War, and an instructor at West Point when the war ended. He lost his command, however, at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. He totally underestimated the Southern military might and was forced to retreat back to Washington D.C. after telling President Lincoln the war would be won with this battle. Lincoln relieved McDowell from his command and chose General George B. McClellan as the new commander of the Union army.
General George B. McClellan (Union) was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. He was superior as a troop trainer and supply technician, but he was not an aggressive fighter. At the Battle of Antietam, McClellan had General Robert E. Lee on the run but did not follow Lee and completely defeat the Confederate army. Lincoln was furious with McClellan and fired him. Later, McClellan ran against Lincoln in the election of 1864 and lost.
General George C. Meade was appointed the new leader of the Union army. Meade was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran, and an Indian fighter. Meade proved himself at the Battle of Gettysburg, but the losses were so heavy at this battle Lincoln still searched for an adequate leader.
General Ambrose Burnside (Union) was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a tailor, and inventor by trade. He was appointed the new leader of the Union army after Meade. He did not want the command, but he did his best to serve. Burnside tried to live up to his responsibilities, but a horrible defeat at the battle of Fredericksburg doomed him. Relieved of his command by Lincoln, he left a legacy for future generations. Burnside had facial hair that went from his scalp just above his ears all the way to below his nose. People began to call this facial hair sideburns and the name stuck. Even today hair grown that way on the face is still called sideburns.
Lincoln appointed General Joseph Hooker as the next Union commander. Hooker was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a rancher. Hooker was a hero of the Mexican War and earned the nickname of “Fighting Joe.” This nickname followed him into the Civil War. Hooker was a man of culture and class. Wherever he went with his troops he took with him all the comforts of home. He traveled with the best food, china, wine, and music. Every night he sat down to several course meals and entertainment. In spite of his love for finery Hooker was humiliated at the Battle of Chancellorsville and later relieved of his command.
After much trial and error, Lincoln finally found his man in Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was a West Pointgraduate, a Mexican War. Grant’s views on war were simple. Find your enemy, get your enemy, strike hard and as often as you can, and move on. Grant believed in total warfare –take the war to your enemy from all sides and break their will to fight and ability to support their troops. This meant destroy everything: burn homes, burn crops, kill animals, destroy railroads, and businesses.
One of the Union’s most able generals and supporter of Grant was William T. Sherman. Sherman was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a lawyer, and a banker. Grant ordered Shermanto inflict “all the damage you can against their war resources.” Shermanmarched through Georgia and the Carolinas destroying everything his troops found of value. Later Grant and Sherman met near Richmond, Virginia and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
---------------------------SOUTH------------------------------
Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America and led the South (Confederacy). He grew up on a small plantation in Mississippi, attended West Point, and later served in the Mexican War. Davis was tall (6’) and lean. He was a very intense person, hated politics, and did not really want to be president of the Confederacy. He was devoted to the secessionist cause and, therefore, agreed to serve the Confederacy in any capacity. But he was never able to form a strong, single nation out of the eleven strongly independent states of the Confederacy.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee came from one of the oldest, most distinguished Virginia families. Lee was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. Lee captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia. Instead he became the commander of the Confederate Army.
Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran and an engineer by trade. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he gave the order to fire on Fort Sumter, the first shot of the Civil War.
General Albert S. Johnston, a Texan,was considered by both sides to be one of the finest soldiers in the military. He was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a farmer by trade, but he was not good at farming. He was the second highest-ranking Confederate officer. Lee gave him command of the western part of the Confederacy. His orders were to keep the Union from taking the Mississippi River. At the Battle of Shiloh, Johnston was shot in the leg. He kept on fighting later bleeding to death after being defeated by Grant. Lee said upon hearing of his death, “I have lost my left arm.” There was no way to replace this loss to the Confederacy, and as a result the Union was able to take away the Mississippi River from the South.
Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute. Jackson was a commander at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. At this battle it looked as though the Union would win until Jackson and his regiment of Virginians refused to give way. Confederate General Bee shouted to his men upon seeing Jackson,“Look, there is Jacksonwith his Virginians, standing like a stone wall.” The nickname “Stonewall” stuck and continued to characterize Jackson’s personality. He fought in many battles and was victorious. At the Battle of Chancellorsville his own men mortally wounded Jackson. Upon hearing about Jackson’s death, Lee commented, “I have lost my right arm.” Jackson’s death was a severe blow to the South and to Lee personally.
Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a career military man. He was with Lee at Harper’s Ferry and helped capture John Brown. He led the Cavalry corps (horse soldiers) of Lee’s army. He was called the “eyes of the army” because of his extraordinary skills in intelligence (scouting and spying). During the Battles of the Wilderness he was mortally wounded. Not long after his death the South surrendered.
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was uneducated, but not illiterate. He was a farmer, horse and cattle trader, and a realtor by trade. He was considered one of America’s greatest tactical minds. He rose from private to general due to his military genius. He commanded and paid for one of the South’s best cavalry regiments. Forrest raided Union lines of communication and led surprise attacks on Union garrisons. Both Grant and Sherman feared him. Many military schools of today teach classes on Forrest’s tactical skills.
Confederate General George Pickett was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an insurance salesman by trade. Pickett commanded an infantry (foot soldier) division for Lee. The division under Pickett’s charge was the “cream”of Lee’s army. On July 3, 1863, Lee ordered Pickett to take his infantry and charge across an open field at the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a disaster and one of Lee’s few military mistakes. Pickett lost more than half of his division. He lost fifteen regimental commanders, two brigadier generals, and six colonels. What was left of Pickett’s infantry division retreated and upon their retreat, Lee was said to have uttered these words,“it’s all my fault, all my fault.” Pickett’s Charge and Lee’s defeat at Gettysburgtook one-third of Lee’s army. Supposedly General Pickett was so upset with Lee that he refused to ever talk to Lee again.
The Confederacy was not ever able to recover from the losses at Gettysburg. Difficulties continued until they finally lost the war.
The Civil War was a very difficult and serious time in American history, yet it can be compared to a football game with both teams fighting a long hard game. Although no one really wins in a war, the Union finally had more points at the end.
The Civil War resulted in almost half as many deaths as the total of all other American wars put together. One in every five military men in the Civil War died in service. Of the 620,000 men who died, 340,000 were from the North and about 280,000 were from the South. Of the survivors, the last Union soldier, Albert Woolson, died in 1956, at the age of 109; the last Confederate soldier, Walter Williams, died in 1959, at age of 117.
---------------------------NORTH----------------------------
President Abraham Lincoln led the North (Union). Lincoln grew up the son of poor Midwestern farmers. He educated himself by reading everything he could find. He was a lawyer by trade. He was tall (6’4”) and thin. He was patient, thoughtful, and tolerant of others. He was married to Mary Todd Lincoln, a Southerner. He had four sons. Two of them died young, one while he was in the White House. Lincoln proved to be a great asset to the Union. He never wavered from his goal of preserving the Union.
Lincoln had a very hard time getting adequate military leaders for the U.S. army. At the beginning of the war he appointed General Irvin McDowell to lead the Union forces. McDowell was a graduate of West Point, a veteran of the Mexican War, and an instructor at West Point when the war ended. He lost his command, however, at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. He totally underestimated the Southern military might and was forced to retreat back to Washington D.C. after telling President Lincoln the war would be won with this battle. Lincoln relieved McDowell from his command and chose General George B. McClellan as the new commander of the Union army.
General George B. McClellan (Union) was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. He was superior as a troop trainer and supply technician, but he was not an aggressive fighter. At the Battle of Antietam, McClellan had General Robert E. Lee on the run but did not follow Lee and completely defeat the Confederate army. Lincoln was furious with McClellan and fired him. Later, McClellan ran against Lincoln in the election of 1864 and lost.
General George C. Meade was appointed the new leader of the Union army. Meade was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran, and an Indian fighter. Meade proved himself at the Battle of Gettysburg, but the losses were so heavy at this battle Lincoln still searched for an adequate leader.
General Ambrose Burnside (Union) was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a tailor, and inventor by trade. He was appointed the new leader of the Union army after Meade. He did not want the command, but he did his best to serve. Burnside tried to live up to his responsibilities, but a horrible defeat at the battle of Fredericksburg doomed him. Relieved of his command by Lincoln, he left a legacy for future generations. Burnside had facial hair that went from his scalp just above his ears all the way to below his nose. People began to call this facial hair sideburns and the name stuck. Even today hair grown that way on the face is still called sideburns.
Lincoln appointed General Joseph Hooker as the next Union commander. Hooker was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a rancher. Hooker was a hero of the Mexican War and earned the nickname of “Fighting Joe.” This nickname followed him into the Civil War. Hooker was a man of culture and class. Wherever he went with his troops he took with him all the comforts of home. He traveled with the best food, china, wine, and music. Every night he sat down to several course meals and entertainment. In spite of his love for finery Hooker was humiliated at the Battle of Chancellorsville and later relieved of his command.
After much trial and error, Lincoln finally found his man in Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was a West Pointgraduate, a Mexican War. Grant’s views on war were simple. Find your enemy, get your enemy, strike hard and as often as you can, and move on. Grant believed in total warfare –take the war to your enemy from all sides and break their will to fight and ability to support their troops. This meant destroy everything: burn homes, burn crops, kill animals, destroy railroads, and businesses.
One of the Union’s most able generals and supporter of Grant was William T. Sherman. Sherman was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, a lawyer, and a banker. Grant ordered Shermanto inflict “all the damage you can against their war resources.” Shermanmarched through Georgia and the Carolinas destroying everything his troops found of value. Later Grant and Sherman met near Richmond, Virginia and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
---------------------------SOUTH------------------------------
Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America and led the South (Confederacy). He grew up on a small plantation in Mississippi, attended West Point, and later served in the Mexican War. Davis was tall (6’) and lean. He was a very intense person, hated politics, and did not really want to be president of the Confederacy. He was devoted to the secessionist cause and, therefore, agreed to serve the Confederacy in any capacity. But he was never able to form a strong, single nation out of the eleven strongly independent states of the Confederacy.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee came from one of the oldest, most distinguished Virginia families. Lee was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and an engineer by trade. Lee captured John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, but he was opposed to slavery and to secession. He was asked by Lincoln to command the Union forces, but declined because he could not fight against his native Virginia. Instead he became the commander of the Confederate Army.
Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a West Point graduate, Mexican War veteran and an engineer by trade. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he gave the order to fire on Fort Sumter, the first shot of the Civil War.
General Albert S. Johnston, a Texan,was considered by both sides to be one of the finest soldiers in the military. He was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a farmer by trade, but he was not good at farming. He was the second highest-ranking Confederate officer. Lee gave him command of the western part of the Confederacy. His orders were to keep the Union from taking the Mississippi River. At the Battle of Shiloh, Johnston was shot in the leg. He kept on fighting later bleeding to death after being defeated by Grant. Lee said upon hearing of his death, “I have lost my left arm.” There was no way to replace this loss to the Confederacy, and as a result the Union was able to take away the Mississippi River from the South.
Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute. Jackson was a commander at the first major battle of the war – Bull Run. At this battle it looked as though the Union would win until Jackson and his regiment of Virginians refused to give way. Confederate General Bee shouted to his men upon seeing Jackson,“Look, there is Jacksonwith his Virginians, standing like a stone wall.” The nickname “Stonewall” stuck and continued to characterize Jackson’s personality. He fought in many battles and was victorious. At the Battle of Chancellorsville his own men mortally wounded Jackson. Upon hearing about Jackson’s death, Lee commented, “I have lost my right arm.” Jackson’s death was a severe blow to the South and to Lee personally.
Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran, and a career military man. He was with Lee at Harper’s Ferry and helped capture John Brown. He led the Cavalry corps (horse soldiers) of Lee’s army. He was called the “eyes of the army” because of his extraordinary skills in intelligence (scouting and spying). During the Battles of the Wilderness he was mortally wounded. Not long after his death the South surrendered.
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was uneducated, but not illiterate. He was a farmer, horse and cattle trader, and a realtor by trade. He was considered one of America’s greatest tactical minds. He rose from private to general due to his military genius. He commanded and paid for one of the South’s best cavalry regiments. Forrest raided Union lines of communication and led surprise attacks on Union garrisons. Both Grant and Sherman feared him. Many military schools of today teach classes on Forrest’s tactical skills.
Confederate General George Pickett was a West Point graduate, a Mexican War veteran and an insurance salesman by trade. Pickett commanded an infantry (foot soldier) division for Lee. The division under Pickett’s charge was the “cream”of Lee’s army. On July 3, 1863, Lee ordered Pickett to take his infantry and charge across an open field at the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a disaster and one of Lee’s few military mistakes. Pickett lost more than half of his division. He lost fifteen regimental commanders, two brigadier generals, and six colonels. What was left of Pickett’s infantry division retreated and upon their retreat, Lee was said to have uttered these words,“it’s all my fault, all my fault.” Pickett’s Charge and Lee’s defeat at Gettysburgtook one-third of Lee’s army. Supposedly General Pickett was so upset with Lee that he refused to ever talk to Lee again.
The Confederacy was not ever able to recover from the losses at Gettysburg. Difficulties continued until they finally lost the war.
More Expert Information
One specific act or individual did not spark the Civil War. In the mid 1800s, many events slowly simmered until the tension became so great that the nation split in two and erupted into bloody battle from 1861-1865. Throughout this period of conflict, lawmakers were trying to negotiate compromises to hold the country together and avoid war, yet a few ordinary people were working just as hard to force the nation to make dramatic changes. Most notably, the actions of John Brown, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Dred Scott all played a role in fueling the fire that finally exploded into the Civil War.
In the mid-1850s, John Brown led a small group of militant (warlike) abolitionists and killed five proslavery settlers in the violent vote over slavery known as“Bleeding Kansas”. Three years later in 1859, John Brown led another band of men to capture the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to steal weapons for slave uprisings throughout the South. However, Robert E. Lee commanded federal troops who surrounded Harper’s Ferry and forced Brown to surrender. Brown was tried, found guilty of treason and sentenced to hang. At his execution, John Brown gave a note to his guard that stated, “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged (cleansed or eliminated) away but with blood.” Brown’s story was told in newspapers, songs and plays, which further divided the nation. While Southerners were outraged at his actions, abolitionists in the North considered him a hero .Newspaper articles, songs, and plays throughout the country retold the story to the citizens.
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published a novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which lit both sides of the nation on fire. For the first time, she exposed graphic details about slavery in the South in a shocking story about a slave named Uncle Tom who was beaten to death by his cruel master. Although a work of fiction, her book’s influence was so profound that its rumored President Lincoln greeted Harriet Beecher Stowe by saying, “So, you’re the little woman who started this big war.” Of course, this claim exaggerated the truth, but her novel did dramatically divide the nation by turning up the heat against slavery in the North and deeply angering the South.
By the mid-1850s, Congress had offered a series of compromises, but many citizens felt that the slavery question should be settled by the courts. At this same time, a case made its way from Missourilocal/state courts to the U.S. Supreme Court concerning a slave named Dred Scott who lived in Missouri where the Missouri Compromise allowed slavery. Scott’s master, an army doctor named Dr. John Emerson, took him to live in Illinois and Minnesota where slavery was prohibited. From 1834-1838, Dred Scott lived as a free man before he returned to Missouriwith Dr. Emerson. Shortly after, Dr.
Emerson died and his wife claimed that Dred Scott was her property. Dred Scott sued for his freedom since he had lived as a free man for four years and believed that his liberty could not be withdrawn. His case, Dred Scott v. Sandford, was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court where the final decision became known as the Dred Scott Decision. The Supreme Court made the following divisive decisions:
1. Slaves were not citizens, so they could not bring suit in court.
2. Slaves were property.
3. Because the 5th Amendment protected property, and slaves were property, Congress could not ban slavery from the territories.
4. The Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery in certain areas, was unconstitutional.
To make matters worse, Chief Justice Roger B Taney said, “A black man had no rights a white man was bound to respect.” Sparks flew over this controversial decision and further divided the nation. Southerners were overjoyed, and Northerners were outraged. With nearly 4 million slaves in America, the ruling turned back the clock concerning African American rights, ignoring the fact that black men in five original states had been full voting citizens since the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
In the mid-1850s, John Brown led a small group of militant (warlike) abolitionists and killed five proslavery settlers in the violent vote over slavery known as“Bleeding Kansas”. Three years later in 1859, John Brown led another band of men to capture the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to steal weapons for slave uprisings throughout the South. However, Robert E. Lee commanded federal troops who surrounded Harper’s Ferry and forced Brown to surrender. Brown was tried, found guilty of treason and sentenced to hang. At his execution, John Brown gave a note to his guard that stated, “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged (cleansed or eliminated) away but with blood.” Brown’s story was told in newspapers, songs and plays, which further divided the nation. While Southerners were outraged at his actions, abolitionists in the North considered him a hero .Newspaper articles, songs, and plays throughout the country retold the story to the citizens.
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published a novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which lit both sides of the nation on fire. For the first time, she exposed graphic details about slavery in the South in a shocking story about a slave named Uncle Tom who was beaten to death by his cruel master. Although a work of fiction, her book’s influence was so profound that its rumored President Lincoln greeted Harriet Beecher Stowe by saying, “So, you’re the little woman who started this big war.” Of course, this claim exaggerated the truth, but her novel did dramatically divide the nation by turning up the heat against slavery in the North and deeply angering the South.
By the mid-1850s, Congress had offered a series of compromises, but many citizens felt that the slavery question should be settled by the courts. At this same time, a case made its way from Missourilocal/state courts to the U.S. Supreme Court concerning a slave named Dred Scott who lived in Missouri where the Missouri Compromise allowed slavery. Scott’s master, an army doctor named Dr. John Emerson, took him to live in Illinois and Minnesota where slavery was prohibited. From 1834-1838, Dred Scott lived as a free man before he returned to Missouriwith Dr. Emerson. Shortly after, Dr.
Emerson died and his wife claimed that Dred Scott was her property. Dred Scott sued for his freedom since he had lived as a free man for four years and believed that his liberty could not be withdrawn. His case, Dred Scott v. Sandford, was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court where the final decision became known as the Dred Scott Decision. The Supreme Court made the following divisive decisions:
1. Slaves were not citizens, so they could not bring suit in court.
2. Slaves were property.
3. Because the 5th Amendment protected property, and slaves were property, Congress could not ban slavery from the territories.
4. The Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery in certain areas, was unconstitutional.
To make matters worse, Chief Justice Roger B Taney said, “A black man had no rights a white man was bound to respect.” Sparks flew over this controversial decision and further divided the nation. Southerners were overjoyed, and Northerners were outraged. With nearly 4 million slaves in America, the ruling turned back the clock concerning African American rights, ignoring the fact that black men in five original states had been full voting citizens since the Declaration of Independence in 1776.