The United States And The Civil War

The battle of Fredericksburg started on December 11th and ended on December 15th 1862. The two generals that were a part of this war was general Robert E. Lee and general Ambrose Burnside. Burnside had a plan to cross the Rappahannock river at Fredericksburg in mid-November and race to the confederate capital of Richmond before lees army could stop him. But before Burnside could do that they had a problem which were pontoon bridges which gave lee enough time to move his army. They finally had time to build the bridges while they were under fire. While all that was happening the Union troops prepared to assault Confederate defensive positions south of the city and on a strongly fortified ridge just west of the city known as Marye's Heights.

Nevertheless, they retreated without any humiliation and losses they received in the first battle in the year before during July. Most people don't fully understand the concept of war. Both the North and South were fighting for what they strongly believed in. The South was fighting to keep slavery, while the North wanted to abolish slavery. In the end of the Civil War, the Union won and Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery. The United states came together to rebuild each demolished city and to strengthen the

The United States post-Civil War era from 1875 to 1900 experienced massive economic and industrial growth, especially in the North. The rise of new machines, industries (railroad, oil, steel), and buildings contributed to a major upsurge in the prosperity of the American nation. In 1860, no American city had a population over one million; by 1890, three cities had passed the million mark. New York City became the second largest city in the world after London in 1900. The substantial growth of the U.S economically can be contributed to a group of wealthy capitalists that ran businesses/industries and stimulated economic growth. However, historians have argued over whether these capitalists were “robber barons” that were corrupt and took advantage of the American people or “captains of industry” that helped the U.S grow at unparalleled speeds. Wealthy capitalists such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller were indeed “captains of industry” who enlarged American industry and businesses, used their wealth to better their communities, and elevated the United States to new heights as one of the leading industrial powers of the entire world.

To really understand the battles of the Civil War I had to go outside the textbook. The Battle of Vicksburg or Siege of Vicksburg was a key turning point in the war. Grant’s armies converged on Vicksburg in May 1863 (“Vicksburg”, 3). Grant decided to lay siege to Vicksburg after his heavy losses during the attacks on the stronghold (3). Grants army surrounded the city cutting off access for 47 days (3). On July 4 the confederate army surrendered. The Mississippi river was now open to the Union. Grant was appointed the General of the Union Army by Lincoln.

The Battle of Shiloh is also called The Battle of Pittsburg Landing and was fought April 6-7, 1862. The battle took place in southwest Tennessee, the western theater. An army known as the Army of Tennessee, lead by Ulysses Grant, advanced into Tennessee territory by route of the Tennessee River. While they were camped deep in Tennessee territory the Confederate Army of Mississippi launched a surprise attack on General Grant and his soldiers. General Albert Sidney Johnston and his second-in-command P. G. T. Beauregard initiated the first assault on the Union troops. Unfortunately General Johnston was mortally wounded. General Beauregard decided not to continue the attack throughout the evening. In the morning Grant’s army having been reinforced

The people fighting in this war included the Confederates and the Union, like most battles during the U.S. Civil War. The battle took place around 10 miles northeast of Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is the Confederates capital so this area was somewhat familiar to them, which is a benefit.

The Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi was what needed to slice the Confederacy in half and to keep the south separate from each other made it easier for the Union end the war faster when General Grant was ordered by President Lincoln to come from the Western Campaign to the Eastern Campaign and engage General Lee the way General Grant engaged the Generals in the Eastern Campaign. General Grant took Vicksburg by laying siege to the city and he did this for three months, in doing this the Union gained control of the Mississippi River which was the goal because it separated the western side of the Confederacy from the eastern side; this also cut the Confederacy off from the Gulf of Mexico because the Union had a blockade in the Gulf of Mexico. General Grant came to the Eastern Campaign to fight in a campaign that would end the Civil War for good after four years of fighting and would in in the Union victory with General Grant cornering General Lee in Richmond, Virginia and the treaty or end official end of the war happening at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. General Grant was chosen by President Lincoln because he did not back down and kept

Fort Donelson, Tennessee, guarding the Cumberland River, became the site of the first major Confederate defeat in the Civil War. Victory at Donelson started Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant on his road to Appomattox and the White House. His cool judgment under pressure saved the day after the Confederates threatened to break his troop lines, yet errors by his opponents handed him a victory that he did not fully earn on his own.

The Battle Of Bull Run was fought on July 21st 1861 in Prince William County Virginia. It was the first main battle in the Civil War. Each side had around 18,000 men who were poorly trained. This Battle ended in a confederate victory.

On April 6-7, 1862 the Battle of Shiloh took place in southwestern Tennessee not far from Corinth, Mississippi. The battle was between the Union and the confederates. The Union won but with heavy casualties for both sides. The Unions casualties were 13,047 (1,754killed, 8,408 wounded, and 2,885 missing). While the confederates suffered 10,699 casualties (1,728 killed, 8,012 wounded, and 959 missing or captured.

The battle of Chancellorsville took place on April 30th to may 6th 1863. It was fought in Chancellorsville, Virginia.This was was fought to stop General Joseph Hooker’s attempt to flank General Lee’s men. In this battle the Union suffered 14,000 and the Confederates suffered 10,000.The Confederates also lost General Jackson, a major loss which will eventually feel the cost of losing him. Over this 7 day battle some major generals were in battle. Some of these names include General Robert E. Lee, Joseph Hooker, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Robert E. Rodes, William Mahone and George Sykes. To start the war General Sykes and General Mahone meet at the orange turnpike. General Sykes men seem to be forcing the the Confederates back. General Rodes

Federal government taking control would ensure free men would be given political equality, economic opportunity, and full civil rights, because the racist Confederate leaders weren’t in charge. This would also take the South’s power away, ensuring they wouldn’t revolt again or try to subjugate us freed slaves. This is what’s fair, as Congress wanted them to suffer what they deserve (we did too), but the President was too lenient.