Preview

African American Civil War Advantages

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
917 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
African American Civil War Advantages
The Union held numerous advantages over the Confederacy at the start of the American Civil War. However, these advantages are hard to discern by merely looking at events, for the Union was unable to achieve victory for a full four years and suffered numerous defeats in the early years of the war. While the Civil War is well known for improving the civil rights of African Americans and ending slavery, it also holds other lessons in military strategy, lessons that still are apparent in the modern day world. Only through Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and David Hunter’s innovative strategy of total war was the Union able to exploit its advantages and bring the war to a close. The South’s most noticeable disadvantages were …show more content…
That success was largely due to overcautious Union generals. While the Union did attempt to cut off Southern resources with a close blockade, generals like George B. McClellan failed to otherwise push home Northern advantages, continually refraining from action. Often, as depicted in the battle of Antietam, McClellan would win a battle, but then refrain from pursuing the retreating confederate forces, allowing them to recover, fearing the possibility of defeat. Such policy was characteristic of early Union generals, and continued for a span of almost three years. (“George B. McClellan”). As a result of refraining from offensive strategy, the Union could not drain Confederate supplies, enabling the Confederacy to continue to hold out, despite having inferior …show more content…
Grant assured a Union victory by engaging in a policy of total war, vigorously and continuously attacking Confederate resources and supply lines. He, along with generals William Tecumseh Sherman and David Hunter, raided cities, destroyed farms, railroads, factories and shipyards, and liberated slaves, having realized the inability of the south to recover from such losses (Haines 19; Surdam 115; Buhl; Black Soldiers in the Civil War). The most famous such raids were those on Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, in which Sherman destroyed all machinery and buildings beneficial to the Confederate cause. So fervent, indeed, were the efforts of Union soldiers during this period, that the soldiers were described as attacking “like famished wolves [...], breaking locks and whatever is in their way[,]” by Dolly Burge, a Savannah plantation owner. The South could, quite simply, not afford to loose these resources (Buhl). In fact, Confederate soldiers were described having “gone without rations for several days” at the time of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender (Plante). Through taking away Confederate supplies, Grant and his subordinates were able to do what prior generals could not, and utilize Union advantages. The effectiveness of total war is even still recognized by military strategists today, resulting in its usage in the modern world.
By allowing the Union to utilize its superior resources, the radical, new strategy of total war allowed the Union bring the American

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    This book focuses on the of number southern black and white who opposed the confedecy. He documented in The Road to Disunion, that anti-Confederates got strength from the weakness of slavery in the Border South, while slavery stunted population growth. The author argues that the varying support of the upper and lower South contributed to the fall of the Confederacy placing most of the blame on anti confederalist. He states that anti-Confederate whites undermined the Confederacy by remaining outside the nation while slaves unified form within and enlisted into the Union Army. Both groups guaranteed that the Union would have more men for the army which cause the Confederacy to lose because anti-Confederates waged war against Confederate southerners. That author also discusses the neutrality of the border slave states that made the Confederate war effort vulnerable. Losing nearly half of the slave states neutrality and the support for the Union army's invasion damaged the geography and population that the Confederacy could use for its defense.…

    • 232 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The war consisted mostly of young, inexperienced Americans who wanted to fight for their country and their honor. General Ulysses S. Grant pushed the Union army up the Tennessee River and captured Fort Henry, and then Fort Donelson. The Confederates were being defeated until the Battle of Shiloh, where leader Pierre G.T. Beauregard led them to victory. Quickly after, Grant’s men struck again and caused the Confederates to retreat. The next victory for the Union was the Battle of New Orleans. This battle was led by Admiral David G. Farragut, and allowed for the Union to shut down the exportation of goods from the South. In the East, General George B. McClellan went to attack the Confederate capital in Virginia. While he was waiting to strike,…

    • 186 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Northern armies reigned victorious, and the rebelling states were returned to the Union. Since the start of the war, the Union devised a strategy. They planned to blockade the South and drive on the Confederate capital. Even though organizing it took about four years, it was the single strategy that won the war. Lincoln and Grant cooperated well.…

    • 438 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This first entry into the book showcases the side of the southern Confederate armies, who were comparing the Civil War to the Revolutionary War. They saw their enemies, the Northern Yankees, as nothing more than tyrants trying to oppress the south. Just as the British had done to the colonists a century and a half ago. This gave them a "holy cause of southern freedom", a reason to step into the shoes of their famed forefathers and once again fight for their liberties and constitutional rights.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Historians have argued inconclusively for years over the prime reason for Confederate defeat in the Civil War. The book Why the North Won the Civil War outlines five of the most agreed upon causes of Southern defeat, each written by a highly esteemed American historian. The author of each essay does acknowledge and discuss the views of the other authors. However, each author also goes on to explain their botheration and disagreement with their opposition. The purpose of this essay is to summarize each of the five arguments presented by Richard N. Current, T. Harry Williams, Norman A. Graebner, David Herbert Donald, and David M. Potter. Each author gives his insight on one of the following five reasons: economic, military, diplomatic, social, and political, respectively.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Civil War (1861-1865) was the first true industrial war. With technological developments, most notably railroads, mass-produced rifles and telegraphs leading to drastic changes in tactics. With any change in how a war can be and is fought the largest test falls on the commanders ability to adapt. A good example of this and the contrasts between styles of leadership can be seen when looking at two of the protagonists of the war; Robert E Lee of the Confederacy and Ulysses Grant of the Union. The similarities and differences between the two Generals have been well covered, both by contemporaries and by historians since the conflict. The reason for this is best summarised by historian B.Catton saying, “They were two strong men, these oddly different Generals, and they represented the strengths of two conflicting currents that through them, had come into final collision” . The Wilderness Campaign, sometimes referred to as the Overland Campaign, was a brutal eight-week campaign that saw Grant attempting to maneuver his Army of Potomac between Lee’s Army of North Virginia and the Confederate Capital Richmond. The campaign consisted of fourteen conflicts that resulted in great casualties on both sides and allowed Grant and his forces to begin the Siege of Petersburg that eventually led to the end of hostilities.…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After reviewing the photographs of the tactics use by General Sherman throughout the Civil War, I have come to the conclusion that nowadays his approach can be seen as excessive and immoral; however, during a time of war, such tactics might have been necessary to culminate the conflict. Moreover, in my opinion, General Sherman conviction to end the war led him to employ a technique known as the “scorched earth tactics;” such strategy can be utilized to break the enemy’s economy and wage psychological warfare on the enemy’s population. By widespread of destruction of civilian infrastructure left behind by General Sherman and the consumption of supplies in South Carolina and Georgia was an effort to stop, demoralize and deplete the Confederate…

    • 143 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grant’s leadership tactics and battle strategies were not only adequate, but they were remarkable. At first, Lincoln disagreed with Grant’s plan to siege Vicksburg. Even though Lincoln did not agree with Grant’s plan, Grant continued because he thought he knew best and did what he thought would win the North Vicksburg. Grant’s plan was to surround Vicksburg and cut of all supplies. While doing this, they would continuously move in closer and closer and keep firing on the city. “...Vicksburg is so strong by nature and so well fortified that sufficient force cannot be brought to bear against it to carry it by storm against the present Garrison. It must be taken by a regular siege or by starving out the Garrison.” (Grant, 1). This six week siege proved to be effective when Vicksburg surrendered and Grant and the Union won the…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Old tactics and training became inefficient with the introduction of these modern weapons. Thus, the U.S Civil war became unparalleled in the advancement of military history. The war became the first to utilize rail and water ways combined with armored ships to create a battlefield stretching thousands of miles. The Union, in 1864, was the side to truly embrace this new technology coupled with older tactics to create a brilliant plan under the leadership of Grant. It was a three pronged attack strategy that would result in the military campaign to end the Civil…

    • 2152 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grant’s Total War policy seemed to be working, with the Confederate war machine losing its ability to wage war more and more each day. By the time Sherman got through South Carolina Lee’s army was the only one left of any size or ability to react to the Union onslaught.…

    • 634 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The battle of bull run, which Lincoln expected to win, was lost to general stonewall jackson. Here, the union failed to prove their superiority. still in 1861 Tardy george, McClellan failed to finish the North's staradegy with the Peninsula campagin. Their plan was as follows; Slowly blockading the coasts, liberate the slaves and undermine economy of the South, Cut the Confederates in half by taking the Mississippi, demoralise the South, and finally capture its capital at Richmond. Confident after his victory over McClellen, Lee moved up north and started the second bttle of bull run, or Antietum; where he lost, due to his battle…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the Civil War times the Union and Confederates had some large disadvantages and advantages. The Union has a bigger population and 12 more states than the Confederates . That all helps with the amount of soldiers they had to keep fighting. According to ushistory.org, “The North had an enormous industrial advantage as well.” Then they have a lot of supplies to make it through the battle.…

    • 192 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ever since the birth of The United States, we have shown resilience and determination, starting with the Revolutionary war. As years passed and national division became evident there was discussion on who would win the fight between the free and enslaved states. Over time it has become apparent that the colonies and the confederacy have shared many qualities, which makes one wonder how is it that the colonies won, but the confederacy did not? The reason the South didn’t win the Civil War was because they were outgunned, out supplied, received no international aid and this time, their enemy wasn’t an ocean away.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first way the Union won the battle was by having better weapons for defense. They used weapons like rifles, carbines, 630 cannons, and many other weapons. The Confederacy used many other weapons that were no use compared to the Unions. As you can see, the weapons were one of the main reasons the Union won. Another war the Union won the battle was by having better strategy, and defenders than the Confederacy.…

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When the Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Army General, Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, many considered the Civil War to be over. The fact that the North was victorious over the South was accepted and the process of reconstruction began in America. It was never openly discussed on why the North defeated the South. However, the question began to slowly arise over time on why the South lost the Civil War. Many historians have become interested in this question and many reasons have been given on why the South lost the Civil War. Lack of manpower, shortages of supplies, and inferior leadership and government were the three main reasons on why the South was defeated in the Civil War.…

    • 1101 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays