Changes

==Names==

==Names==

The American Civil War has been called by other titles: the '''War Between the States''' was popular in the South before the 1970s, as is the informal title '''The Lost Cause'''.  Officially, the United States government has called it the '''War of the Rebellion'''.  The term "civil war" is most accurate, as it not only involved state against state from a common country, but the splitting of families as well; fathers would take sides against sons, and brother would fight against brother in many battles.  In one sad case, Private Wesley Culp of the 2nd Virginia Regiment would die for the Confederacy at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]], killed on his father's farm. <ref>(TL 15, pp. 154-155)</ref>

The American Civil War has been called by other titles: the '''War Between the States''' was popular in the South before the 1970s, as is the informal title '''The Lost Cause'''.  Officially, the United States government has called it the '''War of the Rebellion'''.  The term "civil war" is most accurate, as it not only involved state against state from a common country, but the splitting of families as well; fathers would take sides against sons, and brother would fight against brother in many battles.  In one sad case, Private Wesley Culp of the 2nd Virginia Regiment would die for the Confederacy at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]], killed on his father's farm.<ref>(TL 15, pp. 154-155)</ref>

==Prelude to war==

==Prelude to war==

{{cquote|'''Many in the South once believed that slavery was a moral and political evil.  That folly and delusion are gone.  We see it now in its true light, and regard it as the most safe and stable basis for free institutions in the world.''' (TL 1, pg 40)}}

{{cquote|'''Many in the South once believed that slavery was a moral and political evil.  That folly and delusion are gone.  We see it now in its true light, and regard it as the most safe and stable basis for free institutions in the world.''' (TL 1, pg 40)}}

Slaves for the most part were treated brutally.  Born in bondage, a slave usually began his first work in the fields at the age of twelve.  They would work in the fields from the light of day until, in the words of a Louisiana slave, "until it is too dark to see, and when the moon is full, they often labor until the middle of the night" (TL, pg 48).  They were fed and clothed poorly, usually in rags; shoes were uncommon.  Disease was rampant; only four out of 100 lived past age 60.  Absolute subservience to whites was enforced.  Punishment for infractions was severe, involving stocks, pronged neck collars, and whippings where salt water was used to clear infection, with the resulting pain so excruciating a slave recollecting it wrote "the flesh crawls upon my bones" (TL 1, pp 49-58)

Slaves for the most part were treated brutally.  Born in bondage, a slave usually began his first work in the fields at the age of twelve.  They would work in the fields from the light of day until, in the words of a Louisiana slave, "until it is too dark to see, and when the moon is full, they often labor until the middle of the night" (TL, pg 48).  They were fed and clothed poorly, usually in rags; shoes were uncommon.  Disease was rampant; only four out of 100 lived past age 60.  Absolute subservience to whites was enforced.  Punishment for infractions was severe, involving stocks, pronged neck collars, and whippings where salt water was used to clear infection, with the resulting pain so excruciating a slave recollecting it wrote "the flesh crawls upon my bones" (TL 1, pp 49–58)

[[Eli Whitney]] patented the cotton gin in 1793.  Prior to that, slaves were harvesting cotton, pulling the seed from the boll, and packing it by hand for market at a rate of 100 bales a week.  The gin did the hard work of separating the boll, enabling bales of cotton at a rate of over 1000 a week, often more.  The result was the number of annual cotton harvests increased to three, which saw a concurrent rise in profits made by plantation owners; the number of slaves needed for the fields and other tasks increased as well, climbing from 300,000 in 1790 to over three million by 1860.

[[Eli Whitney]] patented the cotton gin in 1793.  Prior to that, slaves were harvesting cotton, pulling the seed from the boll, and packing it by hand for market at a rate of 100 bales a week.  The gin did the hard work of separating the boll, enabling bales of cotton at a rate of over 1000 a week, often more.  The result was the number of annual cotton harvests increased to three, which saw a concurrent rise in profits made by plantation owners; the number of slaves needed for the fields and other tasks increased as well, climbing from 300,000 in 1790 to over three million by 1860.

The Border Ruffians also stirred up violence between themselves and the Free-Staters, which became known as ''[[Bleeding Kansas]]'', beginning with the burning of a hotel and printing press in [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]] on May 21, 1856.  Several days later an anti-slavery religious fanatic named [[John Brown]] and a few followers retaliated against five pro-slavery men, hacking them to death with [[broadsword]]s.  By August thousands of men had formed into pro-slavery armies and marched into Kansas, expecting to force the territory to accept slavery. That same month a small, pitched battle occurred near the city of [[Osawatomie]]; 300 pro-slavery soldiers under the command of John W. Reid fought against Brown and 40 men.  Brown lost the battle and Osawatomie was looted and burned.  A fragile peace led by a new territorial governor would commence only when Brown and his men left the territory. [http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/kansas.html]

The Border Ruffians also stirred up violence between themselves and the Free-Staters, which became known as ''[[Bleeding Kansas]]'', beginning with the burning of a hotel and printing press in [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]] on May 21, 1856.  Several days later an anti-slavery religious fanatic named [[John Brown]] and a few followers retaliated against five pro-slavery men, hacking them to death with [[broadsword]]s.  By August thousands of men had formed into pro-slavery armies and marched into Kansas, expecting to force the territory to accept slavery. That same month a small, pitched battle occurred near the city of [[Osawatomie]]; 300 pro-slavery soldiers under the command of John W. Reid fought against Brown and 40 men.  Brown lost the battle and Osawatomie was looted and burned.  A fragile peace led by a new territorial governor would commence only when Brown and his men left the territory. [http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/kansas.html]

The day after the hotel in Lawrence was burned, a [[South Carolina]] congressman named [[Preston Brooks]], incensed over an anti-slavery speech given by Massachusetts Senator [[Charles Sumner]], walked onto the senate floor and beat him with a cane so severely that Sumner took three years to recover. <ref>(Bowman, pg 38)</ref>

The day after the hotel in Lawrence was burned, a [[South Carolina]] congressman named [[Preston Brooks]], incensed over an anti-slavery speech given by Massachusetts Senator [[Charles Sumner]], walked onto the senate floor and beat him with a cane so severely that Sumner took three years to recover.<ref>(Bowman, pg 38)</ref>

During the spring of 1858, John Brown held a meeting in Ontario between blacks and whites in which he stated his intentions to form a stronghold in the mountains between Virginia and Maryland for escaped slaves, even going so far as to adopt his own provisional constitution for the United States, which his group adopted.  Several prominent Boston [[abolitionist]]s also gave him financial and moral support.

During the spring of 1858, John Brown held a meeting in Ontario between blacks and whites in which he stated his intentions to form a stronghold in the mountains between Virginia and Maryland for escaped slaves, even going so far as to adopt his own provisional constitution for the United States, which his group adopted.  Several prominent Boston [[abolitionist]]s also gave him financial and moral support.

By summer, 1859, Brown was in a rented farmhouse in Maryland, across the river from the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia; with him was an armed band of sixteen whites and five blacks. On the night of October 16, he raided the armory and took some sixty of the area's leading men as hostages, and hoped that slaves would get word of his forming an "army of emancipation", escape, and fight with him to liberate their fellow slaves. For the next thirty hours he and his men held out against the local militia, but on the following morning a small force of United States Marines led by Army colonel [[Robert E. Lee]] quickly broke into the arsenal building, wounding Brown, and killing two of his sons and ten other followers. He was tried for murder, slave insurrection, <!-- that's a particular crime? --> and [[treason]], and at the end he was convicted and hanged.  The day he was to die he spoke no last words, merely handing a note to a guard on which he had written a last, prophetic statement: ''"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."'' (TL 1, pp. 70-89)

By summer, 1859, Brown was in a rented farmhouse in Maryland, across the river from the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia; with him was an armed band of sixteen whites and five blacks. On the night of October 16, he raided the armory and took some sixty of the area's leading men as hostages, and hoped that slaves would get word of his forming an "army of emancipation", escape, and fight with him to liberate their fellow slaves. For the next thirty hours he and his men held out against the local militia, but on the following morning a small force of United States Marines led by Army colonel [[Robert E. Lee]] quickly broke into the arsenal building, wounding Brown, and killing two of his sons and ten other followers. He was tried for murder, slave insurrection, <!-- that's a particular crime? --> and [[treason]], and at the end he was convicted and hanged.  The day he was to die he spoke no last words, merely handing a note to a guard on which he had written a last, prophetic statement: ''"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."'' (TL 1, pp.&nbsp;70–89)

Ever fearful of a slave insurrection, the South became tougher on its slaves.  In Washington, Senator Jefferson Davis assumed, like many others, that the North was behind a conspiracy involving John Brown and others like him, aimed at abolishing slavery.  He said in a speech:

Ever fearful of a slave insurrection, the South became tougher on its slaves.  In Washington, Senator Jefferson Davis assumed, like many others, that the North was behind a conspiracy involving John Brown and others like him, aimed at abolishing slavery.  He said in a speech:

[[Image:CMercury.GIF|thumb|150px|right|The Charleston ''Mercury'' newspaper printed this special broadside edition on December 20, 1860, just as news reached the editors that South Carolina had withdrawn from the Union.]]

[[Image:CMercury.GIF|thumb|150px|right|The Charleston ''Mercury'' newspaper printed this special broadside edition on December 20, 1860, just as news reached the editors that South Carolina had withdrawn from the Union.]]

[[image:President-Jefferson-Davis.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.]]

[[image:President-Jefferson-Davis.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.]]

By December of 1860, both houses of Congress were working on proposals for compromises that would postpone the split they knew was coming.  [[John J. Crittenden]] of the Senate committee introduced [[Crittenden Compromise|a proposal]] that would restore the Missouri Compromise by extending the northern boundary line across the continent to the Pacific, as well as preventing Congress or a Constitutional amendment from ever abolishing slavery. The [[Crittenden Compromise]], as well as the others, came down to a vote, but events would prove it was too late.  Most of President Buchanan's cabinet, long angered at him (and his predecessor, Democrat Franklin Pierce) for not standing up to Southern demands which were tearing the country apart, walked out in protest; the latest outrage occurred when a delegation from South Carolina arrived at the White House and demanded the removal of Federal troops from the state (Buchanan rejects it). And President-elect Lincoln, although trying to be careful regarding the slavery issue, is insistent that slavery not be expanded into the territories. (Bowman, pg. 41)

By December 1860, both houses of Congress were working on proposals for compromises that would postpone the split they knew was coming.  [[John J. Crittenden]] of the Senate committee introduced [[Crittenden Compromise|a proposal]] that would restore the Missouri Compromise by extending the northern boundary line across the continent to the Pacific, as well as preventing Congress or a Constitutional amendment from ever abolishing slavery. The [[Crittenden Compromise]], as well as the others, came down to a vote, but events would prove it was too late.  Most of President Buchanan's cabinet, long angered at him (and his predecessor, Democrat Franklin Pierce) for not standing up to Southern demands which were tearing the country apart, walked out in protest; the latest outrage occurred when a delegation from South Carolina arrived at the White House and demanded the removal of Federal troops from the state (Buchanan rejects it). And President-elect Lincoln, although trying to be careful regarding the slavery issue, is insistent that slavery not be expanded into the territories. (Bowman, pg. 41)

On December 20, 1860, the South Carolina government votes to secede from the Union.  Within days they begin war preparations, and seize Federal property.  By the end of the month Major Robert Anderson spiked the cannon and removed the force stationed at Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor; nearby Fort Sumter is considered more defensible, and he places the force there.  Aware of Anderson's condition, President Buchanan orders reinforcements sent, and he readied USS ''Brooklyn'' for that purpose in Norfolk; she would be replaced days later by General [[Winfield Scott]]'s preference for a non-Naval supply ship, ''Star of the West''.

On December 20, 1860, the South Carolina government votes to secede from the Union.  Within days they begin war preparations, and seize Federal property.  By the end of the month Major Robert Anderson spiked the cannon and removed the force stationed at Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor; nearby Fort Sumter is considered more defensible, and he places the force there.  Aware of Anderson's condition, President Buchanan orders reinforcements sent, and he readied USS ''Brooklyn'' for that purpose in Norfolk; she would be replaced days later by General [[Winfield Scott]]'s preference for a non-Naval supply ship, ''Star of the West''.

*February 1, Texas votes 166-7 to secede.

*February 1, Texas votes 166-7 to secede.

On February 4th, a[[ peace convention]] meets in Washington, headed by former President [[John Tyler]].  The 131 members from 21 states (none from the South) work out a last, desperate compromise to save the Union.  Speaking to the delegates, Tyler implores that "the eyes of the whole country are turned to this assembly, in expectation and hope."  The convention ends in failure. (Bowman, pg. 45)

On February 4, a [[peace convention]] meets in Washington, headed by former President [[John Tyler]].  The 131 members from 21 states (none from the South) work out a last, desperate compromise to save the Union.  Speaking to the delegates, Tyler implores that "the eyes of the whole country are turned to this assembly, in expectation and hope."  The convention ends in failure. (Bowman, pg. 45)

In Montgomery, Alabama, a provisional congress assembles and draws up a constitution by the end of the week; this document is essentially the United States Constitution, but mildly altered to include provisions for states' rights and protection for slavery:

In Montgomery, Alabama, a provisional congress assembles and draws up a constitution by the end of the week; this document is essentially the United States Constitution, but mildly altered to include provisions for states' rights and protection for slavery:

==Continuing articles==

==Continuing articles==

[[File:Sheridan s ride by Thure de Thulstrup 1886.jpg|thumb|Sheridan's Ride by Thure de Thulstrup.]]

[[File:Sheridan s ride by Thure de Thulstrup 1886.jpg|thumb|Sheridan's Ride by Thure de Thulstrup.]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_1861|Continue to the events of the Civil War in 1861]]

*[[American Civil War: 1861|Continue to the events of the Civil War in 1861]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_1862|1862]]

*[[American Civil War: 1862|1862]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_1863|1863]]

*[[American Civil War: 1863|1863]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_1864|1864]]

*[[American Civil War: 1864|1864]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_1865|1865]]

*[[American Civil War: 1865|1865]]

*[[American_Civil_War:_Aftermath|Aftermath]]

*[[American Civil War: Aftermath|Aftermath]]

==Sources==

==Sources==

*Time-Life Books ''The Civil War'', vol. 1 (''Brother Against Brother''), Time Inc, New York (1983), popular history

*Time-Life Books ''The Civil War'', vol. 1 (''Brother Against Brother''), Time Inc, New York (1983), popular history

*Time-Life Books ''The Civil War'', vol. 15 (''Gettysburg''), Time Inc, New York (1983), popular history

*Time-Life Books ''The Civil War'', vol. 15 (''Gettysburg''), Time Inc, New York (1983), popular history

*Nevins, Allan. ''Ordeal of the Union'' (1947-70), the most detailed history by a leading scholar

*Nevins, Allan. ''Ordeal of the Union'' (1947–70), the most detailed history by a leading scholar

*Bowman, John S. (editor), ''The Civil War Almanac'' World Almanac Publications, New York (1985)

*Bowman, John S. (editor), ''The Civil War Almanac'' World Almanac Publications, New York (1985)