The Civil War, II

1. Why were the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg so important?
2. What was Sherman's March?
3. Who were the Copperheads?
4. Describe the presidential election of 1864. Key issues, players, etc.
5. Describe the fighting between Grant and Lee at the close of the war.

The Civil War, I

Tonight's reading opens right where the film ended, on the eve of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). This was the first major battle of the war, and confirmed for many observers that it was going to be a long  and bloody conflict, not the 90 day war that many had hoped for.

Here are some questions from your reading on 435-445:

1. What were the major consequences of the First Battle of Bull Run? (436)
2. Who was George McClellan, and what were his major strengths and weaknesses as a commander? (436-437)
3. What are some of the ironies of Lee's successful Peninsula Campaign (437-438)?
4. What were the six components of the Union's Total War plan? (438, above "The War at Sea")
5. What is "blockade-running"? (438)
6. Describe the historical importance of the battle of Antietam, with a particular focus on its relationship to the Emancipation Proclamation (440).
7. Explain this quote from page 441: "..where he could he would not, and where he would, he could not."
8. What helped convince many Northern soldiers of the necessity of ending slavery? (441)
9. What did the 13th Amendment do?
10. How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the war? (441-443, "public reactions" to "blacks battle bondage")
11. Describe the role of both slaves and freedmen (former slaves) in the war effort, North and South (443-444).