CHAPTER 21 WORKSHEET
QUESTIONS
1. What was Lincoln's objective when he asked the states for 75,000 militiamen?
He had only planned on them to serve for 90 days. Lincoln wanted the war to end quickly and preserve the Union, reaffirming the war was not about slavery but about keeping the country together.
2. At the Battle of Bull Run, the Union troops, "fled in a shameful panic." How did victory affect the South? How did defeat affect the North?
Victory was actually bad for the South as it inflated their already enlarged ego and dangerous amount of overconfidence. Many Confederate soldiers deserted, and other felt that the war was surely over. Defeat was actually better for the North as it made them realize it would be a much longer war, helping them prepare for a war not only for the Union but also for emancipation.
3. Why did Lincoln ask General McClellan if he could borrow the army?
McClellan was being overcautious of Southern forces and was reluctant to march towards Richmond, simply drilling his army. This made the North make fun of him and angered Lincoln. Lincoln threatened to borrow the army from McClellan so McClellan would finally act.
4. The text states that Lee's success in June and July of 1862 ensured the thorough destruction of the Old South. Why?
Lee was success in defending Richmond and beating McClellan's army had the irony of forcing the war to last longer. If McClellan had been able to take over Richmond and end the war early, the Confederate states probably would have returned to the Union with little problem and slavery would have continues for at least some more time. Lee letting the war continue through his success forced Lincoln to turn the war into a war about slavery.
5. Describe the Union's total war strategy. Anaconda Plan?
The main idea of the Anaconda Plan was to starve the South and "divide and conquer." The North wanted to South to be forced into surrender by lack of supplies and food to the people. They did this by a blockade on the Southern ports. The other part of the plan required for the taking of the Mississippi river in order to cut the South in two which would let the Union army go through and capture Richmond.
6. Why did Britain honor the Union blockade?
Usually European countries would have ignored this blockade, but Britain recognized the blockade and binding and warned their shippers. Britain did not want to be involved with a future war with the U.S. by insisting that Lincoln should make a better blockade.
7. Why did Lee invade Maryland? What advantage did the Union have at the Battle of Antietam? Why was McClellan fired again?
Lee wanted to invade Maryland because he wanted to convince foreign powers to assist the South as well as convince Maryland to join the Confederate States. The Union had the advantage because Northern soldiers had found Lee's battle plan and was able to intercept Lee's army on their way to Maryland at Antietam Creek. McClellan was fired for the final time because had did not pursue the retreating Lee.
8. The text refers to the Battle of Antietam as probably the most decisive battle of the war. Why?
It was probably the most decisive battle because many of the foreign powers were interested in supporting the South. It was also the closest Jefferson Davis would get to victory. Paris and London were interested in armed collusion with Richmond but the unexpected power the Union showed at Richmond cooled their thinking. The war was also decisive because it was the "victory" that allowed Lincoln to pass the Emancipation Proclamation.
9. The text states that the Emancipation was stronger on proclamation than emancipation. Explain.
The Emancipation was genuinely more of a proclamation that emancipation because it did not actually free any slaves. It states that slaves in the Confederate States were freed, which obviously the Southern planters disregarded as to them, Lincoln was no longer their president, but Davis was. The Emancipation was more to declare the shifting of the war to be more about slavery as well as morally stop European powers from helping the South.
