Bull Run Ends the "Ninety-Day War"
The defeat at Bull Run psychologically showed the Union that they needed to step up their efforts. The Union army, under the command of General George B. McClellan, was not adequately prepared for battle. McClellan, although a superb organizer and drillmaster, was criticized for being a perfectionist and overcautious. Lincoln issued firm orders to advance, but McClellan did not move his army to Richmond, leading to further setbacks for the Union.
"Tardy George" McClellan and the Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign was a significant event in the Civil War. The Union army lost to a smaller Confederate force at Bull Run, and the Northern navy blockaded the South to suffocate cotton exports. Lincoln's willingness to tamper with slavery and the beginning of total war marked a shift in the Union's approach to the conflict.
The Pivotal Point: Antietam
The Second Battle of Bull Run, where Robert E. Lee defeated Union General John Pope, led to Lincoln restoring McClellan to command due to popular pressure. Union soldiers found a copy of Lee's battle plans, and McClellan succeeded in halting Lee at Antietam on September 17, 1862. However, he was criticized for not pursuing Lee further and was eventually removed from command. This halting of Lee's offensive justified Lincoln's issuing of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared that slaves in Confederate states were forever free, although it did not free slaves in the border states. The proclamation had a significant impact on the Union's efforts in the Civil War, leading to increased opposition to the war against slavery and ultimately strengthening the moral cause of the Union.
The War in the West and Sherman's March
Ulysses S. Grant succeeded by capturing Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862, securing Kentucky and opening the gateway to Tennessee. After victory at Gettysburg, Lincoln refused to allow a Confederate peace delegation to pass Union lines. General Grant was then given command of the Union forces attacking Vicksburg, Mississippi, which surrendered on July 4, 1863. Sherman's march through Georgia and South Carolina further weakened the Confederates, ultimately tipping the diplomatic scales in favor of the North.
The Election of 1864 and Grant Outlasts Lee
The Election of 1864 saw the Union party, consisting of the Republican party and War Democrats, supporting Lincoln's reelection. Despite opposition and doubts, Lincoln's succession of victories and General Grant's military successes ultimately secured his reelection. The Democrats were divided, with "War Democrats" supporting Lincoln and "Peace Democrats" opposing him.
In conclusion, the events of Chapter 21 of AP US History, including the Peninsula Campaign, the Emancipation Proclamation, the War in the West, and the Election of 1864, all had profound impacts on the outcome of the Civil War and the future of the United States. These events marked a turning point in American history and the fight for freedom and unity.
