The Civil War Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 7 PDF Download

Introduction

The Civil War was a major event in American history that took place from 1861 to 1865. It was a conflict between the northern states, called the Union, and the southern states, called the Confederacy, over issues like slavery, states' rights, and economic differences. The war shaped the United States, ended slavery, and brought significant changes to the nation. These notes cover the key events, battles, and important moments of the Civil War, including the famous Gettysburg Address, to help you understand this critical period.

The Civil War

The Beginning of the War

• The Civil War started in 1861 when southern states seceded from the United States.
• Seven southern states formed the Confederate States of America after Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860.
• Causes of the Civil War:
  • Slavery: The North wanted to abolish slavery, while the South depended on it for their economy.
  • States' rights: Southern states believed they could make their own laws, including about slavery.
  • Economic differences: The North had factories and industries, while the South relied on farming and plantations.
  • Political disagreements: Arguments over new states entering the Union as free or slave states caused tension.
• Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, wanted to keep the United States together and stop the spread of slavery.
• The war began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
• Key points about Fort Sumter:
  • It was a Union fort in Confederate territory.
  • The attack lasted 34 hours, and the Union surrendered.
  • This event united the North to fight to preserve the Union.
• Both sides prepared for war:
  • The Union had more people, factories, and railroads.
  • The Confederacy had strong military leaders and knowledge of the land.
• Northern strategy: The Union planned the Anaconda Plan to block southern ports and control the Mississippi River to cut off Confederate supplies.
• Southern strategy: The Confederacy aimed to defend their land and seek help from foreign countries like Britain and France.

Bull Run to the Emancipation Proclamation

• The First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861):
  • Fought in Manassas, Virginia.
  • Both sides expected a quick war, but the Confederacy won.
  • Showed that the war would be long and difficult.
• Key leaders emerged:
  • Union: General George McClellan led the Army of the Potomac.
  • Confederacy: General Robert E. Lee became a top commander.
• Battle of Antietam (September 1862):
  • Fought in Maryland, it was the bloodiest single day of the war.
  • The Union stopped the Confederate advance, but both sides suffered heavy losses.
  • Gave Lincoln confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
• Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863):
  • Issued by President Lincoln.
  • Declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were free.
  • Did not free slaves in Union states or areas under Union control.
  • Changed the war’s purpose to include ending slavery, not just preserving the Union.
  • Encouraged African Americans to join the Union army and navy.
• Life during this period:
  • Soldiers faced harsh conditions, including disease and lack of supplies.
  • Women served as nurses, spies, and workers to support the war effort.
  • African Americans in the Union army faced discrimination but fought bravely.

Gettysburg to the Election of 1864

• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863):
  • Fought in Pennsylvania over three days.
  • Union forces, led by General George Meade, defeated General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army.
  • Turning point of the war, as the Confederacy could not invade the North again.
  • Over 50,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing.
• Gettysburg Address (November 1863):
  • A short speech by President Lincoln at the Gettysburg battlefield dedication.
  • Emphasized equality, freedom, and keeping the nation united.
  • One of the most famous speeches in American history.
• Battle of Vicksburg (May-July 1863):
  • Union General Ulysses S. Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi.
  • Gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.
  • Split the Confederacy, cutting off their supplies.
• Sherman’s March to the Sea (1864):
  • Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led a campaign through Georgia.
  • Destroyed Confederate supplies, railroads, and farms to weaken their ability to fight.
  • Showed the Union’s strength and hurt Southern morale.
• Election of 1864:
  • Abraham Lincoln ran for re-election against George McClellan.
  • Lincoln won, showing that the North supported continuing the war.
  • Lincoln’s victory ensured the war would continue until the Confederacy surrendered.

The Conclusion of the War

• Union advantages grew:
  • More soldiers, supplies, and industrial strength.
  • General Ulysses S. Grant became the Union’s top commander.
• Grant’s strategy:
  • Attacked Confederate forces relentlessly to wear them down.
  • Focused on capturing Richmond, the Confederate capital.
• Fall of Richmond (April 1865):
  • Union forces captured the Confederate capital after long battles.
  • Confederate government fled, and their army weakened.
• Surrender at Appomattox (April 9, 1865):
  • General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
  • Marked the end of major fighting in the Civil War.
  • Grant allowed Confederate soldiers to return home with their horses.
• Assassination of Abraham Lincoln:
  • On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
  • Lincoln died the next day, a major loss for the nation.
• Aftermath of the war:
  • The Union was preserved, and slavery was abolished with the 13th Amendment.
  • The South faced destruction and economic challenges.
  • Reconstruction began to rebuild the nation and grant rights to freed African Americans.

Source Analysis: The Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863.

• Purpose of the speech:
  • To honor soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg.
  • To remind Americans of the nation’s commitment to equality and freedom.
  • To inspire people to continue fighting to keep the United States united.
• Key points of the speech:
  • Refers to the Declaration of Independence and its idea that “all men are created equal.”
  • Describes the Civil War as a test of whether a nation based on freedom can survive.
  • Calls for a “new birth of freedom” to ensure democracy continues.
• Why it matters:
  • Short but powerful, only about two minutes long.
  • Redefined the war’s purpose as not just saving the Union but also ensuring equality.
  • Still studied today for its message of unity and freedom.
• Impact of the speech:
  • Inspired the North to keep fighting.
  • Strengthened the idea that the United States must stay united.
  • Remains a symbol of American values and democracy.