Andersonville Prison

In the heart of no man's land, Georgia, lies the Andersonville Prison National Park. During the Civil War, Andersonville was used as a war prison for captured Union soldiers. It is also probably the most inhumane prison to ever be used in the United States. Prisoners were given small rations of coarse food, which caused stomach and bowel problems, leading to disease and undernourishment. Many men lost up to 80 pounds in their time at Andersonville. This meant that prisoners died by the hundreds, then they were carted off in a wagon full of other remains. This was the same wagon used to deliver prisoners' food, which most likely led to the diseased food. Prisoners lived in "shebangs" or small shelters most build by hand, using sticks, stones, logs, vines, and other assorted materials stitched together to make somewhat of a shelter. Many gamblers and traders came to Andersonville to get money from the soldiers, but also to provide goods and money to those who paid or won bets. In the winters, there was barley any wood for fires, some prisoners using twigs the size of matches to cook and try to stay warm. Many men traded and bid for other men's food and molasses, because such little food was given out. There was no soap or anything to wash their clothes or body with. Many Confederate recruiting officers came and told the prisoners 'there country had betrayed them' and tried to persuade them to join, but almost every prisoner said no, because they did not want to dishonor the Union.

Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and March

As Union General Sherman marched to Atlanta from Chattanooga, they were planning. Lots and lots of planning. They had to take Atlanta for a blow to southern morale, and it would guarantee Lincoln's victory in the next election. As they reached Atlanta, Sherman sent a letter to the Mayor asking that all Atlanta residents leave the city, so they would not be injured or killed. The Union army began to sat fire to all military bases and shelters, but some men got carried away and burned down other innocent buildings such as: homes, churches, farms, supermarkets, etc. After the army had captured Atlanta, Sherman stayed there for two months as he waited for approval for his "march to the sea". After receiving approval, Sherman and his army set out towards Savannah, "living off the land", as in relying on farms and such for food and water. This added risk to the march, because if enough food and water was not available soldiers could perish. As they marched, they tore up and bent Confederate railroad lines, effectively cutting off the transfer of supplies from Atlanta. Freed slaves were even allowed to join the march, although Sherman did not like the black people. They went and captured Savannah without a fight, they torched Charleston, and wreaked havoc all through the southeast.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga and the Blockade of Georgia's Coast

As Union General William Sherman came down to Chattanooga, TN to set up a base for the northern army, he decided he needed to try to take Atlanta. General Grant was to assist him in marching into Georgia. Aa they marched, Confederate General Hood intercepted them at Chickamauga. This was the first major battle in Georgia, and the Union army was forced back to Chattanooga. General Grant and the army was trapped in Chattanooga until they opened supply lines from the north, where the city would become the supply hub for the Atlanta campaign. The blockade of Georgia's coast was affecting the Confederates horribly. The Confederate army was not receiving enough food and tools, and their soldiers were either becoming very weak and dying in battle or leaving to join the Union. The south's economy was also failing because they could not ship cotton and tobacco out of their ports. 

The Turning Point: Gettysburg

After Antietam, Lee was a little disappointed that they did not gain land into the north. Even so, he decided to try again to invade the Union territory to gain external support. Although Vicksburg, a supply hub and the only city along the Mississippi still in Confederate control, had just been captured by the Union, Lee knew nothing of it, or he may have changed his mind. As they began their march, many things must have been going through Lee's mind. Problems for the Confederacy such as: the economy was in desperate shape, the slaves were in rebellion against their owners, and that the soldiers did not have enough supplies to survive, so they left to go to the Union. (The last problem was due to the Union blockade) As General Lee's army reached Pennsylvania, they came across a Union camp in the small town of Gettysburg,. They surprised them, some even getting their sandwiches shot out of their hands, and killed a decent amount of people before the Union soldiers began to fire back. After a long few days of battle, the Union army forced the retreat of Lee's army. There were about 50,000 casualties in the battle. This would be the last time Lee would try to invade the north. 

Emancipation Proclamation

After the success of the Battle of Antietam for the north, Lincoln made his plans to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which would free all slaves in states outside Union control. He did not actually emancipate all slaves immediately so that: he could keep the border states in the Union, the Constitutional protection of slavery, the prejudices of most northerners, and that he feared that the Proclamation may be overturned in the next election. The Emancipation Proclamation gave the northern army another purpose for fighting. Not only were they fighting against secession and for keeping the Union a whole, but also against the evils of slavery. Unfortunately for the southern slave owners, they would receive no compensation for their lost slaves, which angered almost all of the south. 

The Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg, MD)

After a series of well fought battle won by the south, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had a surge of confidence. With foreign powers close to recognizing the Confederacy as its own country, Lee believed that one more big victory in the north would finally make the foreign powers recognize them, and end the war quickly. So, he began his march through the north. When they reached Maryland, Lee made a plan for battle. While they were marching, a soldier dropped a copy of the battle plan . The Union army came across this plan and decided to intercept the Confederates in Sharpsburg. As the battle began, it appeared to be going well for the Confederates. All of a sudden, the Union army surged and started to force a Confederate retreat. Finally, the Confederate soldiers were forced to retreat back to Richmond. This battle proved to be the bloodiest single day of fighting throughout the entire war, with 12,000 Union casualties and 10,000 Confederate casualties. Another big event to come from Antietam was the Emancipation Proclamation. Although the battle was technically a draw, Lincoln was satisfied with the results and planned to make the Emancipation Proclamation, after firing General George McClellan for the second time for failing to pursue the weakened Confederate army.

Confederate/Union Strengths and Weaknesses and First Battles (Ft. Sumter and Bull Run)

As the Civil War was beginning, historians began to look at what the north and south had going for them before the war. The Union had many more people, could manufacture their own goods, and controlled the Navy. The Confederacy had a very large, well trained army, Produced their own food, and only had to defend their own territory. There were also a few weaknesses for each side; the Union had a smaller army, they did not produce much food, and their biggest challenge was that they had to invade, conquer, and occupy the south. The Confederacy did not have as many people, they could not manufacture goods, and they began to have transport problems as the Navy blockaded the ports. 
Ft. Sumter was the first battle of the American Civil War. It all started when Union soldiers occupying the fort(Which was in Charleston, SC, a confederate state) would not leave. The army in South Carolina launched an attack on the northern soldiers, overtaking them and taking the fort back. The second major battle in the Civil War was Bull Run, or Manassas. The Union troops marched towards Richmond, the new Confederate capital, with high hopes and even higher spirits. They believed that since they had more men, it would be simple to overtake the south and win the war. People even came to have a relaxing picnic and watch the battle! As the battle began, it seemed as if the north would win, yet there was a surprise for them. Confederate general Stonewall Jackson brought reinforcement at the last minute that effectively sent the Union army scrambling back to Washington, D.C. in a panic. 

Election of 1860 and Georgia Secedes

The election of the year 1860 was very important. Abraham Lincoln, the republican, won the voting although he was not even on the ballot in the south. This, along with the fact that he was the first republican president (Republicans were known to be supporters of the north and anti-slavery), angered the southern states enough to begin seceding. South Carolina was the first, on January 19, 1861. Georgia was the interesting state. It had many people who were still loyal to the Union. As Georgia voted, it became clear that the vote would not be unanimous, as it was in other states in the south. They voted for secession in the end, but not by much. Alexander Stephens was not originally sure about slavery and supported the Compromise of 1850 until the election of 1860. He realized secession was going to happen anyways, and in turn he was chosen as the Vice President as the Confederacy, most likely to show that even people who had supported the north were turning for the south.

Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott Case

When Kansas and Nebraska wanted to come in as states, there was a big problem. Each side wanted them to be on their side, and even though some people in the territory wanted slavery, they were above the 34 30 line. All of a sudden, an idea was formed. Why not let the states vote? This seemed like a good idea at the time, but it angered other northern states because it repealed the Missouri Compromise. The states ended up voting anyways, and the balance of slave and free states was uneven. The Dred Scott case involved an escaped slave, Dred Scott (Duh), suing for his freedom against the supreme court. The supreme court ruled against him, stating that since he was not a citizen, he could not sue. This upset northerners even more because it emphasized that the slaves were property, not people.

The Compromise of 1850, Fugitive Slave Act, and Georgia Platform

In 1850, the balance of the slave and free states were equal. Suddenly, the territory of California wanted to be admitted as a free state! If California would be admitted, it could anger the south and cause a premature Civil War. To compensate, when California was admitted into the Union, there were two benefactors for the south. First, Texas gave up land and in return, got $10 million. Another one was the Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act required citizens in the north to capture and return any escaped slaves they may come across. It also denied jury trials for captured slaves. This act basically started the abolitionist movement. The Georgia Platform was a meeting of the government leaders in Georgia. They accepted the Compromise of 1850 as long as the North complied with the Fugitive Slave Act. The compromise also stopped calls for secession in Georgia. 

Missouri Compromise

Basically the first event leading to the beginning of the Civil War, the Missouri Compromise was a very important event in stopping a Civil War from occurring immediately. At the time, there was a balanced number of slave and free states. This meant equal numbers in the senate, and an equal voice for both. Alas, when Missouri came along, begging for admission into the United States as a slave state, the north and south did not know what to do. The north said, "No! We will not allow the south to have power!", while the south exclaimed, "Yes! We shall have the power in the senate!". Then, an idea was formed to keep the power in balance. Massachusetts would split, and the new part would be a new free state, Maine, while Missouri would be accepted as a slave state. Another part of the compromise stated that no slavery would be allowed higher than the 36 30 parallel. This kept a Civil War from breaking out then and there.

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Sectionalism in the United States

Sectionalism: Is it the love for your region, or your hatred for another? In the Antebellum period, just before the Civil War, the meaning was often both. The tension between the north and south was higher than ever, and it was coming from the old "Where I live is better than where you live" comments. In these times, if a foreigner would have asked you where you were from, most people would have replied with: "From the North" or "From the South". Not, "I'm American", no, these comments were rarely used. A problem with this tension is that each side needed something from the other. The north provided the south with dairy products, cattle, and had all the manufacturing in the country. The south provided the north with tobacco, corn, wheat, and cotton. If both regions stopped trade, then both sides would lose very important, if not necessary products that would be difficult to make themselves in the differing climates.

States' Rights and Nullification in the Antebellum Period

In the years before the Civil War, many problems were occurring. A major issue that almost caused an early war to break out was the issue of States' Rights. Many southern states had the belief that the needs of the states should come before the governments' needs. South Carolina was a major supporter of this belief, and it show when they refused to enforce, or nullified, a tariff on imported goods that the government had set on the states to pay back some of the money used in the Revolutionary War. As South Carolina pleasantly went about with their business, Andrew Jackson became angry that a state was nullifying the tariff, and thus he sent troops into South Carolina to enforce the tariff. War almost began due to this action, but South Carolina backed down from the troops due to the fact that no other states supported them. In the end, the tariff was lowered, and South Carolina was cooperative again.

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