The Civil War
Leaders of the Civil War (Before Gettysburg)
What was the Civil War?
When President Lincoln was elected in 1860, The South was afraid of "Slavery State Rights" and seceded from the North. The North wanted to get the new Confederate States of America back to normal. So the North went a came up with a plan to take over the CSA and they wanted to get started as fast as they could. On April 12th, 1861, the Union attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. That made the South get involved with trying to fight off the North. Thus the start of the Civil War.
Civil War Leaders
Since the Confederates (South) have gotten a surprise attack by the Union, the needed a General. The South had very good Military training so it wouldn't be hard to find. The Union, on the other hand, barely had Military training at all. So finding a General and sticking with one would be a complicated process.
Confederate General; Robert E Lee
General Robert Edward Lee was the South's General for the whole war. He had military training, graduated West Point Military Academy, he was a first lieutenant, and was a superintendent for West Point in 1852. After the South secedes, the North tries to win them back. The South takes a surprise attack in Fort Sumter and elect Robert E Lee as their main General. Lee had a right hand man, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson to stand by them in war. General Lee took some beating, but is known as the most respected General in the entire Civil War.
Robert E Lee's Right Hand Man; Thomas "Stonewall" Jackon
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson met Robert E Lee at the Mexican-American "Civil" War. After the war started, He took his orders of Colonel of Virginia's militia and commanded at Harper's Ferry. He was promoted to General and moved to help defend the South from North soldiers heading to take over Richmond. He took a victory in Fredericksburg and started to march to Chancellorsville. In Chancellorsville, A Confederate soldier shot him in the arm; he died 8 days later from pneumonia.
Union General; George McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was the Union general during the Antietam Battle. McClellan was a good general for the Union until his soldier found the battle plans for the Confederates. McClellan boasted loudly and took forever to attack so the word got to the Confederates and they got ready to fight. The War took place in a cornfield, a road, and across a bridge- all in the same range.
Union General; Ambrose Burnside
After George McClellan retired as General; Ambrose Everett Burnside took his spot. George McClellan actually told him to command the IX Corps AND the I Corps. During battle, his overly complicated directions causing confusion and delay. Capturing difficulties began and the site is known as "Burnside Bridge". At Fredericksburg, Burnside kept charging after the Confederates and were always defeated. That, and the "Mud March", caused Burnside to be "relieved of command".
Union General; Joseph Hooker
When Ambrose Burnside retired, Joseph Hooker was next in line. As new commander of the Army of the Potomac, Hooker improved many conditions; food, medical care, and leave; in a short amount of time. However, disagreements and arguments with his staff and commanders, lead to resignation of his General career.
North's President; Abraham Lincoln
As the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is known as the most likely reason the "Confederate States of America" seceded in the first place. When the South did separate, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation- Freeing every slave in the Border states (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) and the Confederacy. He also stated the whole plan to capture and bring back the CSA. To capture the capital- Richmond, Capture the Mississippi river, and Blockade the South.
South's President; Jefferson Davis
As the first and only president of the CSA, Jefferson Davis believed the importance of slavery. He owned his own Cotton Plantation in Mississippi. He was given the chance to become the US Senate and said no. He was the US Secretary of war, but ended up as the Senate anyways. He withdrew from the Senate when Mississippi seceded in 1861. Since he was a popular Senate to the South, The Confederate States of America elected him President.
Citations
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/confederate-states-of-america
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/lee-timeline/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kNkSe_aNmIvwcQhbp3c5rNornCre17MyV3d8aNfLoKI/edit
http://www.biography.com/people/robert-e-lee-9377163
http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-154571/Stonewall-Jackson
http://www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-generals.html
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ambrose-burnside.html
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/abrahamlincoln