Warbackground
Inthe19thcentury,theIndustrialRevolutionspreadtotheUnitedStates,andtheUnitedStates'economydevelopedrapidly,andatthesametime,theUnitedStatesgainedablockbusterintheWestTerritory,newstateswereestablishedoneafteranotherinthewest.WheneverNSWwasestablished,therewasastruggletoalloworprohibitslaveryinthestate.ThenorthernbourgeoisieandpeasantsadvocatedtheprohibitionofslaveryinNSWanddemandedthatNSWbedesignatedasafreestate.SlaveownersintheSouthtriedtoexpandslaverytothewest,advocatingthatNSWshouldbeastatethatallowedslaverytoexist.SlaveownerstookadvantageoftheirdominantpositioninCongressandthegovernmenttowinconsecutivevictoriesandarousedtheindignationofthepeopleinthenorth.
DuetothedifferentpoliciespursuedbytheNorthandtheSouth,severetestshavealsoappearedinthereligiouscircles.ThechurchesinthenorthhavemoreflexibilityinunderstandingtheBibleandareconstantlytryingtodefendtheliberationofslavesthroughtheinterpretationoftheBible..ChurchleadersintheSouthsuchas:RobertLewisDabneyusedCalvinismtoprovideaplausibletheoreticalbasisforslaveryandtheSouth’ssecessionfromtheUnion.BecauseofthedifferencesbetweentheNorthandtheSouth,thechurchesdidnottrusteachotherandcriticizedeachother,whichledtothedivisionofthechurch.ThePresbyterianChurchhadsplitasearlyas1837,which,inadditiontoracialissues,madethesplitmorecomplicated.TheMethodistChurchandtheBaptistChurcharealsoverydividedduringthisstorm.
Thecauseofthewar
AftertheUnitedStatesbecameindependent,theSouthandtheNorthdevelopedalongtwodifferentpaths.Inthenorth,thecapitalisteconomydevelopedrapidly.Fromthe1820s,theindustrialrevolutionbeganinthenorthernstatesandwascompletedinthe1950s.In1860,northernindustrialproductionrankedfourthintheworld,withatotaloutputvalueofUS$1.88billion.IntheSouth,plantationblackslaverywaspracticed.ThesouthernslaverysystemisatumorthatgrowsinAmericansociety,anditseverelysuffocatesthedevelopmentofnorthernindustryandcommerce.ThecontradictionsandstrugglesbetweentheNorthandtheSouthhavebecomeincreasinglyfiercesincethebeginningofthe19thcentury.Thestrugglemainlyrevolvedaroundthelandinthewest.TheNorthrequiresthedevelopmentofcapitalisminthewesternregionandrestrictsorevenprohibitstheexpansionofslavery;theSouthseekstoexpandslaveryinthewesternandeventhewholecountry.
Bythe1850s,theconflictsbetweenthetwosideshadledtoarmedconflictsinsomeareas.Facingtheadvanceofslaveowners,thepeopleinthenorthlaunchedamassive"abolitionistmovement",andtheblackslavesinthesouthcontinuedtoriot.Drivenbythestruggleofthepeople,thenorthernbourgeoisiebegantoadvocatetheabolitionofslavery.In1854,theRepublicanPartywasformedintheNorth.Inthesameyear,SouthernslaveownersattemptedtouseforcetoexpandslaverytoKansas,soanarmedstrugglebetweenWesternfarmersandimmigrantsfromtheFreeStatebrokeoutinKansastojointlyopposeSouthernslaveowners.TheKansasCivilWarlasteduntil1859.In1857,slaveownersusedtheScottsentencetotrytoextendslaverytotheentireterritoryoftheUnitedStates,leadingtotheJohnBrownuprising.
OnNovember6,1860,Lincoln'selectionaspresidenttriggeredalong-standingpoliticalcrisis.OnDecember20,SouthCarolinapassedadecreedeclaringthat"theallianceexistingbetweenSouthCarolinaandotherstatesinthenameoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica"wasdissolved.Withinsixweeks,sixothersouthernstateswithdrewfromtheUnionandbegantoseizefederalassetslocatedwithintheboundariesofthestates,includingmilitaryinstallationssuchasFortSumterandFortPickens.OnFebruary18,1861,thesouthernstatesformedtheConfederateStatesofAmerica,andJeffersonDaviswasthepresident.OnMarch4,1861,LincolnbecamePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Onthesameday,DavissentamissiontoWashingtontoexpeditethereceptionofFortPickensburgandFortSumter.Afterreceivingassurancesthatthesefortswouldnotbestrengthenedwithoutnotice,theSouthernMissionreturnedtoRichmond.Waitingforthegarrisontoretreat.OnMarch6,FederalChiefExecutiveJeffersonDaviscalledupavolunteerarmyof100,000people.Davis’actionsdisruptedthestandingarmy.Amongthe1,080active-dutyofficers,286resignedorwerefiredandenteredtheSouthernArmy.WestPointgraduatesalsosplit.Ofthe824active-dutyofficers,184betrayedtheUnitedStatesandjoinedtheSouthernArmy.Ofthe900peoplewhohaveretired,114havejoinedtheFederalArmyand99havejoinedtheSouthernArmy.OnMarch29,aftercarefulconsideration,LincolndecidedtoonlyprovidesuppliestoFortSumter,andthensentanexpeditionaryforcethroughthesea.OnApril8,LincolnnotifiedthegovernorofSouthCarolinaofhisdecision.Subsequently,thelocalConfederatecommanderBrigadierGeneralBorregardtookmilitaryaction.Onthe11th,MajorGeneralRobertAnderson,thecommanderofFortSumter’sgarrison,refused.Therequestforaformalsurrender.At4:30amonthe12th,theartilleryoftheSouthernArmybegana34-hourshelling.Andersonledhis90-mangarrisontofightback.Afterreceivingthetermsofhonor,AndersonhandedoverthefortressonApril14.HeledthedepartmenttoretreattoNewYork.OnApril15,LincolnpersonallywroteandissuedastatementannouncingthattherehadbeenarebellioninthesevensouthernstatesthatviolatedAmericanlaws.Onthe19th,itorderedtheblockadeofthecoastlinefromSouthCarolinatoTexasandenlisted75,000militiamenfromthenorthernstates.ThepresidentialdecreeangeredtheeightslavestatesthatremainedintheUnion,forcingVirginia,NorthCarolina,Tennessee,andArkansastojointheSouth,whileMissouri,Kentucky,Maryland,andDelawarehaveyettomakeadecision.
Warprocess
Pre-warcomparison
CivilWarscenariomap(4photos)
ThenorthernpowerwasgreatlyenhancedintheearlydaysofthewarExceedingtheSouth,the23northernstateshave22.34millionpeople,andthe7southernstateshaveonly9.1million.Therearedevelopedindustriesinthenorth,withanannualoutputvalueofUS$1.5billion,1.3millionworkers,22,000milesofrailwaynetworkandabundantfood,whilethesouthernindustryisweak,withanannualoutputvalueofUS$15.5million,withonly110,000workersandonly9,000milesofrailways.ButtheSouthhassufficientmilitarypreparations.ThankstotheUS-Mexicowarthatendednotlongago,thesouthernarmyhasahighquality,experiencedcommanders,andreceivedassistancefromBritain,Franceandothercountries.Moreover,ontheeveoftheCivilWarJ.PresidentBuchanan(theslaveowner'sagent)triedtosendlargeamountsofweaponsandmoneytotheSouth.TheSouthwantstodefeattheNorththroughaquickfight.
TheAmericanCivilWarisroughlydividedintotwophasesandtwobattlefields,eastandwest.
The"LimitedWar"Phase
TheperiodfromApril1861toSeptember1862isthe"LimitedWar"phase.BothsidesconcentratedtheirforcesontheEasternBattlefieldandfoughtfiercebattlesfortheopposingcapital.
Themainbattlesare:thebattleofFortSumter,thefirstbattleofManassas,thebattleofSiro,thebattleofAntietam,thesecondbattleofManassas,etc.
ThecommanderofthesouthernarmyistheoutstandingmilitarystrategistRobertLee.Heformulatedanoffensive-defensestrategybasedonthedisparitybetweentheforcesofthetwosides.Heconcentratedhisforcestoseekannihilationofthenorthernarmy'smainforceandforcedtheNorthtosignanallianceunderthecity.TheNorthwasnotpreparedforwarandadoptedtheso-called"OriginalSnakePlan",spreadingitsforcesoveran8,000-mile-longfront,andthepassivetacticsadoptedbythecommanderMcClelland,whosympathizedwiththeslaveowners,causedtheNorthArmytofrustrateagainandagain.
ThepurposeoftheLincolngovernment'swarintheearlydaysoftheCivilWarwastorestoretheunityoftheNorthandtheSouth.Itwasworriedthattriggeringslaverywouldpushsomeborderslavestatestothesideofthesoutherninsurgents,thuslosingtheborderstates,animportantstrategicarea.Becausethenortherngovernmentrefusedtoannouncetheemancipationofslaves.Therefore,inthefirstphaseoftheCivilWar,theNorthsufferedsuccessivemilitarydefeats.
TheBattleofManassas
ManassawasheldontheEastBattlefieldinJuly1861BattleofSiberia.OnJuly21,theNorthlaunchedanoffensivetowardsRichmond,thecapitaloftheSouth.35,000NortherntroopslinedupinaneatformationandmarchedtowardsRichmondamidstthesoundofmilitarymusic.BecausetheNorthhadmadeabigshowinadvance,thinkingthattheConfederatearmywasvulnerable,andthatitwasSaturday,manyWashingtoncitizens,congressmen,journalists,etc.weredressedinfullcostumes,wives,carryingbasketswithpicnics,andsomerodeinhorse-drawncarriages.Somewentonfootwiththearmyandcametothebattlefieldtoseetheexcitementlikeafestival.
22,000troopsfromthesouthernarmylinedupattherailwayhubManassas.Thenorthernarmyattackedthesouthernarmyamidstthecheersoftheaudience,andthefiercegunfireshroudedthesouthernarmy'spositioninsmoke.TheNorthernArmythencrossedtheBullRiverandlaunchedanassaultontheoppositebank.WhowouldthinkthatthecommanderoftheSouthernArmywasthefamousgeneralThomasJackson.HecommandedcalmlyandrepelledtheNorthernArmy'sfiveassaults,thusearningthereputationof"StoneWall".Thebattlewasveryfierce.Becausethemilitaryuniformsofbothsideswerealmostthesame,itwasdifficulttotelltheenemyandtheenemyforawhile,andthebattlefieldwasinchaos.Soon,9000reinforcementsfromtheSouthArmyarrivedandlaunchedacounterattack.TheuntrainedNorthArmycollapsedimmediately,leavingbehindalargenumberofgunsandammunitionandfledbacktoWashington.Inthisbattle,theNorthernArmylost3,000soldiersandtheSouthernArmylostlessthan2,000.
TheBattleofPeninsular
Entering1862,thebattlesituationbecamemoreintense.Lincolnorderedanarmyof500,000tolaunchageneralattackonFebruary22.TheNorthernArmywonsteadilyontheWesternFrontandalmostopeneduptheMississippiRiver,themajorarteryoftheNorthandSouth.ThenavyalsocapturedNewOrleans,thelargestportintheSouth.ButintheEasternBattlefield,theNorthernArmysufferedanotherdefeat.NorthernArmyCommanderMcClellandhas100,000troops,buthehasn'tmovedforafewmonthsbecauseheregardstheenemy's50,000horsesas150,000.Later,undertheurgingofLincoln,the"BattleofthePeninsula"waslaunchedinanattempttocaptureRichmond.
RobertLeequicklyledtheSouthernArmytomeet.FromJune25toJuly1,Li’s90,000troopsand100,000peopleintheNorthernArmylaunchedthe"Seven-DayBattle."TheexpulsionofthepeninsulanearRichmondcausedtheNorthernArmytolose16,500andtheSouthernArmyalsolost20,000.However,theyachievedastrategicvictoryindefendingthecapital.
LiChengshengwentnorth,andattheendofAugust,hehadthesecondManassasbattlewiththeNorthernArmy.TheSouthernArmyhas54,000peopleandtheNorthernArmyhas80,000people.LiGaochao'scommandingarthasbeenbroughtintofullplay.HeattractedthemainforceoftheNorthernArmytothepositionwithasmallforce.Themainforcemaneuvered,attackingfromtheflanksandtherear,andthenflankedthefrontandthesidetodefeattheNorthernArmyinonefellswoop.TheNorthernArmyhad14,000casualtiesand7,000captured.SouthernsoldiersapproachedWashington.TheNorthernArmyonlywithstoodtheLi'soffensiveintheBattleofAntietaminSeptember.
Intermsofnavalwarfare,althoughthenorthernnavyhasanoverwhelmingadvantage,thearmoredwarshipsinthesouthhavealsobroughtgreattroubletothenorth.
DeclarationofLiberation
AlthoughtheNorthernArmyhasachievedaseriesofbrilliantresultsonthewesternfront,TheSouthernArmycapturedseveralimportantstrategicstrongholds,buttheseresultswerealloffsetbytheterribledefeatontheEasternFront.InthecaseofrepeatedmilitaryfailuresintheNorth,radicalswithintheRepublicanPartyandsocialabolitionistsproposedtoemancipateslavesandarmblacks.Lincolnalsorealizedthenecessityofemancipatingslaves.
In1862,theNorthernArmylaunchedanoffensive.TheWesternFrontwascommandedbyGrant.Theprogresswentsmoothly.InFebruary,FortHenryandFortDonaldsonwerecaptured.InApril1862,theydefeatedtheSouthernArmyattheBattleofCharlotte,1862.ConqueredCollinsandMemphisinMayof1991,liberatingKentuckyandTennessee.TheNorthernArmyontheEasternFrontwasslow.InJuly1862,itwasdefeatedbytheSouthernArmyunderthecommandofRobertLee.LiChengshengmarchednorthward.InAugust1862,hedefeatedtheNorthernArmyagainatBullRiver.ThesoldierscametoWashington,andthetwoarmiescametoWashingtoninSeptember1862.IntheBattleofAntietam,Leewasrepulsed.InDecember,theNorthernArmywasdefeatedbyLeeagainattheBattleofFortFrederiksborg.
OnSeptember22,1862,Lincolnissuedapreparatorydeclarationofliberation.Proclamation:IfthesouthernrebelsdonotlaydowntheirweaponsbeforeJanuary1,1863,theslavesoftherebelliousstateswillbefreefromthatday.Afterthenewsreachedthesouth,thousandsofslavesfledtothenorth.TheBritishworkingclassalsolaunchedacampaigntosupporttheNorth,forcingtheBritishgovernmenttoabandonitsoriginalinterventionplan.
The"revolutionarywar"stage
Thewarenteredthe"revolutionarywarstage"inSeptember1862.
Themainbattlesare:BattleofFredericksburg,BattleofChancellorville,BattleofGettysburg,BattleofVicksburg,BattleofAtlanta,BattleofAptomaxCounty,etc.
TheLincolngovernmentalsoimplementedaseriesofrevolutionarymeasuresandpolicies:
Thepolicyofarmingtheblackswasimplementedfrom1862to1863.Therefore,thousandsofblackssigneduptojointheNorthernArmy,andmostofthemwerefugitiveslavesfromtheSouth;
TheCivilWar(2photos)
promulgatedinMay1862TheHomesteadLawstipulatesthatalladultswhoareloyaltotheUnioncanreceive64.74hectaresoflandinthewestaslongastheypayaregistrationfeeof$10,andcanbecometheownerofthislandafterfiveyearsofcultivationontheland.TheLincolngovernmentseverelysuppressedcounter-revolutionariesandpurgedsouthernagentsinthearmy.Theenlistmentlawwasintroducedin1863toreplacetherecruitingsystemandstrengthenthetroopsinthenorth.Atthesametime,Lincolnadjustedthemilitaryleadership,implementedunifiedcommand,andappointedGrant,whohasoutstandingmilitarytalents,asthecommander-in-chiefoftheentirearmy.
OnNewYear'sDayin1863,Lincolnpromulgatedthe"EmancipationProclamation"announcingtheemancipationofblackslavesandallowingblackstojointheNorthernArmy.Later,the"HomesteadLaw"waspromulgatedtoallowallAmericanstoobtainlandinthewest.InMayofthesameyear,theNorthernArmyattackedRichmondagainandwasrepelledbyLeeatChesrowville.OnMay22,theNorthArmylaunchedageneraloffensive,whichlastedfor47days,andinJuneLimovednorthagain.
ThetwoarmiesfoughtadecisivebattleatGettysburgonJuly1,1863,andtheSouthernArmywasdefeatedonJuly3.Thesouthernarmylost28,000people,whichbecameaturningpointinthecivilwar,andtheinitiativeonthebattlefieldwastransferredtothenorthernarmy.WhileLiBeiwasadvancing,GrantencircledVicksburg,thefortressoftheSouthernArmydefendingtheMississippiRiverontheWesternFront.OnJuly4,theSouthernArmysurrendered.OnJuly8th,theNorthernArmyoccupiedHudsonHarbor,andtheSouthernArmywasdividedintotwoparts,eastandwest.TheNorthernArmycapturedChattanoogainSeptemberandrepelledtheSoutherncounterattackinNovember.
CivilWar(12photos)
In1864,theSupremeCommanderoftheNorthadoptedanewstrategicpolicyandlaunchedapowerfuloffensiveontheEastandWestatthesametime.Ontheeasternfront,themaingoalistoconsumetheenemy'spower;onthewesternfront,usepowerfulforcestopenetrateintotheenemy'shinterlandandcutofftheconnectionbetweenthenortheastandsouthwestofthe"SouthernLeague".InSeptember1864,theNorthernArmyunderGeneralShermancapturedAtlantainonefellswoop.Twomonthslater,thefamous"MarriagetotheSea"began.Duringthemarch,theenemy’svariousmilitaryinstallationswerecompletelydestroyedandtheenemywashithard.Theenemy’seconomicpowerwasparalyzedandtheeconomyoftheSouthwasparalyzed.OntheEasternFront,GeneralGrantledtheNorthernArmytodrivetheenemyforcesnearRichmond,the"capital"oftherebellion.
Inearly1865,slavesfledoneafteranother,andtheplantationeconomywasonthevergeofcollapse.ThenavalblockadeimposedbythenorthernnavyalmostcutofftradebetweentheSouthandEurope.Atthesametime,oppositiongroupshavealsoemergedintheSouth,andmanysmallfarmershavejoinedthe"Federalists"toengageinanti-waractivities.Thenumberofdesertersinthesouthisincreasingdaybyday.Foodanddailynecessitiesarescarce.
OnApril9,1865,Li'stroopsfellintothesiegeoftheNorthernArmyandwereforcedtoaskGranttosurrender.TheCivilWarended.TheUnitedStatesregaineditsunity.
Resultsofthewar
TheCivilWarwastheonlycivilwarinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates.ThetwoparticipatingpartiesweretheUnitedStatesofAmericaintheNorthandtheConfederateStatesofAmericaintheSouth.Thewarfinallyendedinafederalvictory.Atthebeginningofthewar,itwasawartomaintaintheunityofthecountry,andlateritevolvedintoarevolutionarywarforthenewlifeofblackslaves'freedom.
TheCivilWarwasthefirstlarge-scalewaraftertheIndustrialRevolution.Duringthisperiod,modernwarfarestandardssuchastactics,strategicthinking,andfieldmedicaltreatmentwereestablished.Thevastmajorityofthe3.5millionpeoplewhoparticipatedinthewarwerevolunteers.Thewarkilled750,000soldiersanddisabled400,000soldiers.Therelevantassociationestimatesthatthenumberofdeathsmaybehigher,andanunknownnumberofcivilianshavealsobeenaffected.ThenumbergivenbyUSmilitaryhistoryis301:359,528peoplediedintheUnion(theUnion),ofwhich:138,154werekilledinbattle,221,374werekilledbyothercauses(mainlydisease),and280,040wereinjured;TheConfederacy(theConfederacy)deathstatisticsareincomplete.Atleast94,000peoplediedinbattle,70,000diedfromothercauses,andanother30,000diedintheNorthArmyprisoncamp.
ThelimitationoftheCivilWaristhatLincolnonlyabolishedslaveryinthesouthernrebelliousstates.Althoughtheseblackswereliberated,theydidnothavethesamerightsaswhites.
Theinfluenceofthewar
ThevictoryoftheNorthinthewar,whileconsolidatingtheunityofthecountry,establishedthedominantpositionofthenorthernbigbourgeoisieinthecountry.TheCivilWareliminatedslaveryandclearedthewayfortherapiddevelopmentofcapitalismintheUnitedStates.Theimplementationofthe"HomesteadLaw"acceleratedthedevelopmentofthewestandcontributedtothevictoryoftheAmericanroadinthedevelopmentofagriculturalcapitalism.Therefore,attheendofthe19thcentury,theUnitedStatesbecamethemostadvancedindustrialandagriculturalcapitalistcountryintheworld.
Inthepost-CivilWarreconstructionperiod,blackswerestillsubjecttovariousdiscriminationandexploitationbyplanters,buttheyobtainedcitizenshipandvotingrightspoliticallyandwereliberatedfromtheshacklesofslavery.Therefore,theAmericanCivilWarhasanepoch-makingimpactinthedevelopmentofAmericanhistory.
WarEvaluation
TheCivilWardestroyedslavery.TheCivilWarwasthesecondbourgeoisrevolutioninthehistoryoftheUnitedStates,butitsolvedthepeasant’slandproblemandsafeguardedthecountry.ReunificationhasclearedthewayfortheaccelerateddevelopmentofAmericancapitalismandlaidthefoundationfortheUnitedStatestobecomeoneoftheworld'spowers.
IntheCivilWar,theIndustrialRevolutionbroughtgreatprogressinthemilitary.Bothsidesusedmetalshellsandrear-loadingriflestofight,railroadsandsteamshipswereusedtoachieverapidforcemaneuveringandassembly,andsteamiron-cladbattleshipswereusedforbattle.Innavalbattles,themechanicalcontinuousfiringgunwasputintoactualcombatforthefirsttime.Inparticular,theNorthdevelopedaproductionmethodofmanufacturingstandardizedpartsandassemblingweapons,whichgreatlyimprovedindustrialproductionefficiencyandpromotedprogressinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates.
InthehistoryoftheUnitedStatessinceitsfounding,theCivilWarwastheonlycivilwar.Afterthiswar,theUnitedStateshasimplementedatruesenseofunity.Althoughthedirectpurposeofthiswarwasnottosafeguardthefreedomofblacks,inthecourseofthefightingbetweentheNorthandtheSouth,theblackslaverysystemeventuallydisintegrated.Sincethen,theUnitedStateshasestablishedarelativelyconsistenteconomicpattern,removingobstaclestothefurtherdevelopmentoftheeconomy.Aftertheimplementationofthe"HomesteadLaw",theUnitedStateshasfurtheracceleratedthedevelopmentoflandandresourcesinthewesternregion.Bytheendofthe19thcentury,theUnitedStateshadbecomethemostadvancedindustrialandagriculturalcapitalistcountryintheworld.Duringthepost-CivilWarreconstructionperiod,althoughblackswerestillsubjectedtovariousdiscriminationandexploitationbyplanters,theygraduallygainedcitizenshipandvotingrightspoliticallyandwereliberatedfromtheshacklesofslavery.Therefore,thiswarisofgreatsignificanceinboththehistoryoftheUnitedStatesandthehistoryofhumanrightsintheworld.
WarMemorial
Photos(8photos)
February2,2015theUnitedStatescelebratesthe150thanniversaryoftheabolitionofslavery,FebruaryThe1stisNationalFreedomDayintheUnitedStatestocommemorateLincoln'ssigningofthe13thAmendmenttotheConstitution,whichabolishedslavery.TheserarephotosduringtheAmericanCivilWar150yearsagorevealthebrutalityofthebloodywaratthattime.Thiscivilwartookplacebetween1861and1865.ThetwoparticipatingpartiesweretheUnitedStatesofAmericaintheNorth(referredtoastheNorthernArmy)andtheConfederateStatesofAmericaintheSouth(referredtoastheSouthernArmy).TheNorthernArmywasledbyLincoln,andtheSouthernArmywasledbyJeffersonDavis.ThisundatedphotoisagroupphotoofNorthernArmycommanders.DuringtheCivilWar,thesepeoplewereresponsibleforcommandingsoldiers,maintaininglawandorder,andmanaginglocalorder.