Civil war of 1861 — 1865 - the dramatic page of history of the United States of America when the country broke up into two conflicting camps – the North and the South. The victory of the North had progressive value: in all parts of the state the slavery was cancelled. But at the same time the conflict cost the large human victims.
War prerequisites
To the middle of the 19th century the social and economic device of northern and southern parts of the USA of the country differed from each other markedly.
The industry and commerce was a basis of economy of the Northeast and the Midwest. Free hired workers whose number constantly was replenished at the expense of the emigrants arriving from Europe were the main labor at the same time. Free farmers worked at the earth. Slavery was forbidden.
The southern states were almost exclusively agricultural and specialized, mainly, in cotton cultivation. Practically all earth at the same time was in hands of large planters. Their huge cotton plantations were processed by African American slaves. Own industry was almost not.
Large landowners of the southern states were rich, and in the first half of the 19th century dominated in the political relation. They sought to keep and expand the land possession, defended identity of the way of life and need of slavery. The interests of planters slaveholders were expressed by Democratic party.
But to the middle of century the situation began to change. In process of development of the industry and trade force of the bourgeoisie which, naturally, wanted also bigger political weight also grew in northern states. Their interests reflected several parties on the basis of which in 1854 one large - Republican was created.
The question of slavery was a key contradiction between elite of the North and South. Planters supported the right to own slaves throughout the United States. One of the reasons - sovereign southerners sought to organize new plantations in the territories attached to the country. Northerners were for that on new lands the agriculture developed in the farmer way.
On the other hand, industrialists of the North demanded for the country of high import duties for the imported manufactured goods to protect themselves from the competition. The southern planters were for free trade. They began to export the cotton to Europe, mainly, to England. In the same place began to buy also industrial output. It was extremely unprofitable to the North.
Speaking briefly, it is possible to allocate the following main reasons for war between the North and the South:
- Fight of industrial and slaveholding elite for the power in the state.
- Question of slavery.
- Question of development of again attached territories.
- Question of freedom of trade.
Split of the country
In 1860 the leader of Republican Party, the active opponent of slavery Abraham Lincoln was elected the U.S. President. Long-term domination of southerners in political arena of the USA was interrupted.
The southern states one after another began to leave the USA. They formed the state - the Confederative States of America, or, for short, Confederation. Jefferson Davies, the capital - the city of Richmond became the president of the country.
The North did not want to recognize new state education. Seeking for recognition of the statehood, the Confederation begins military operations.
South:
- quantity of states - 11
- the population - 9.1 million people (from them 3.6 million - slaves)
- the railroads - about 30% of total in the country.
But at the same time southerners had considerable financial resources. Besides, the most part of officers was on their party.
North:
- quantity of states - 23
- the population - more than 22 million people,
- the railroads - 70% of total in the country
- overwhelming share of industrial production.
Let's note that armies of both parties of the conflict had similar regimentals. It differed, mainly, in color. Northerners had a blue form, at southerners - gray.
Main events of the first stage of war (1861-1962)
- On April 12, 1861 - start date of war. Southerners attack a fort Samter in the bay Charleston and take it. After that Lincoln announces sea blockade of the South and begins to bring together army.
- On July 21, 1861 - the first large battle at the Manassas station (Virginia). Here 32 thousand southerners and 33 thousand northerners faced. The last suffered crushing defeat.
- On April 25, 1862 - capture of northerners of New Orleans by the fleet. Southerners lose the major port.
- On June 26 ‐ on July 2, 1862 - battle on the Chikakhomini River east of Richmond. The army of the North (100 thousand people) tried to seize the Confederation capital that the army of the South (80 thousand people) did not allow to make by it.
- September, 1862 - the commander-in-chief of troops of Confederation general Li tries to take Washington, but unsuccessfully.
Troops of northerners under command of the general Ullis Grant acted on the western theater. It wins from southerners of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and also a part of states Mississippi and Alabama.
The most important actions of Lincoln
Meanwhile, the president Lincoln holds a number of key internal events which affected the war course:
- The law on gomsteda adopted on May 20, 1862. According to it, any citizen of the States who was not at war for Confederation could receive in unallotted territories an allotment (Homestead) at a rate of 160 acres.
- The leaflet about release of slaves in rebellious states. Slaves received freedom since January 1, 1863 without any repayment, and acquired the right to serve in the American army. It was, in fact, the revolutionary step of Lincoln.
- At the beginning of March, 1863 Washington enters a conscription thanks to which the regular army was created. Its number repeatedly increased, including at the expense of the introduction in its ranks of the former slaves.
Thanks to these actions Lincoln and its government received a great number of supporters within the country. Besides, cancellation of slavery brought sympathies of the international community. Great Britain and France refused plans to recognize independent Confederation, and the last lost hopes for external support.
The second stage (1863-1865)
Osnovy events of the second stage of military operations:
- May, 1863 - fight at Chanselorville. The general Li from 60 thousand troops inflicted defeat over northerners (130 thousand).
- June - July, 1863 - Gettysburg campaign. Troops of the general Li are included into Pennsylvania, seeking to approach Washington. On July 1-3 at Gettysburg there is a bloody battle after which confederates were forced to recede. A change in war: northerners begin to come more and more actively, and southerners - to defend.
- July, 1863 - A Viksbergsky campaign in the valley of Mississippi. Troops of the North take fortress Viksberg and Port Hudson and receive control over the region. The territory of Confederation is divided into two parts.
- May - June, 1864 - An Overlendsky campaign during which, by whom Grant with almost 120-thousand army tried to capture Virginia. On May 4, 1864 - fight in Backwoods. Grant's troops tried to break almost twice smaller army of southerners, but those managed to beat off. After several more fights the northerners departed and started a siege of the city of Petersberg.
- On May 7 — on September 2, 1864 - the battle of Atlanta. Following the results troops of northerners headed by the general Sherman took the capital of the State of Georgia. After that Sherman undertook a so-called "March to the sea" during which he seized a number of the cities.
- On April 3, 1864 - capture by northerners of Richmond.
The remains of the main forces of Confederation were given on April 9, 1865 near Appomattoks. This date is often specified as day of the end of war. However, a number of historians consider that war still continued. Separate parts of southerners still continued resistance - however, already senseless. On June 23 the same year also the last groups of confederates were given.
On May 10 the president Davies and members of the Richmond government were arrested. Not the recognized Confederation ceased to exist.
War results
The most important results of Civil war and victory of the North:
- Maintaining unity of the United States.
- Cancellation of slavery in all state.
- Creation of prerequisites for the accelerated economic development of the States and development of new western territories.
At the same time, Civil war brought to the country huge negative consequences from which main thing - human losses. At northerners died, died of wounds or diseases of nearly 360 thousand people. The general losses (including wounded) - the persons is a little less than 620 thousand. The army of southerners suffered the general losses in 368 thousand people from whom irreversible - 258 thousand.
Civil war remains the most dramatic page in the history of the American people. It found versatile reflection in literature and cinema. The most striking example - the novel M. Mitchell "Gone with the Wind" and the eponymous movie put on it.