Though the American Civil War is said to have commenced purely stemming from the issue of slavery, this particular issue involved more than just the slaves and their owners. Politically, the South was deeply involved in its agricultural issues and plantations, while the North was focused on technological and industrial advances. Simply because of the different lifestyles, the South seemed fit for slaves, and due to their everyday jobs, needed more hands to produce all the products that the South was responsible for. The mere issue of slavery tipped the scales on a peaceful nation, throwing the whole country into war. “Although there were serious differences between the sections, all of them except slavery could have been settled through the democratic process” (McPherson, 7). Throughout the American Civil War, the South’s determined will and strong purpose to fight led them to overcome significant disadvantages, and evade Northern Victory for four years. During the Civil War, though the North was heavily favored, the South was able to hold them off for four years through overcoming great disadvantages.
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In fighting the North, Rebels were forced to fight with the Union’s significantly favored army and navy, as well as their stronger, newer technology and industrial equipment. The South, consisting of fewer states, and less territory, naturally had a smaller population to work with. Additionally, seeing that a large majority of that population consisted of slaves, who were not permitted to fight in the Confederate forces, this population of those fit to fight shrunk even smaller. The CSA, or Confederate States of America, led by Jefferson Davis, brought more disadvantages upon themselves by not only banning these slaves from joining the military, but also forcing them to continue the production of cotton. In doing so, the slaves could not assist in military and wartime matters such as building forts or making ammunition. Having a weaker military and almost non-existent navy caused the Rebels to have obviously less impressive transportation systems. Lastly, the Rebels were at a disadvantage to the Yankees because of their choice in a leader. By establishing Jefferson Davis to the position, they put a mediocre wartime president in office, in contrast to the Union who was led by an outstanding one with Abraham Lincoln. Although the Rebels were obviously disadvantaged to the Yankees in several ways, they balanced the equation with their unique fighting style. While the Union took a more passive stance and tended to wait for an attack, the Confederacy took a more aggressive stance, leading their army into a charge. Usually this active, attacking position won them many battles giving hope to a confederate, slave nation with each volley. Not deduced until later in the war, the Union finally realized this defensive stance was leading to their downfall. Regarding both sides’ commanding generals, the North was comprised of fewer trained war generals, while the south was led by skilled, West Point graduated officers. “About a third of the West Pointers in the regular army had resigned to serve with the South; one of the Confederacy’s assets lay in the fact that these included some of the most capable men on the army roster” (McPherson, 56). The Southern troops, led by Generals Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jeb Stuart, were in competent hands, seeing as all three of these men proved to be wartime legends. “Militarily, the South from the opening volleys of the war had the most talented officers” (Kennedy, 438). In contrast, Northern troops were seen to be expendable in their generals’ eyes because their commanders would rather sacrifice them than lose popularity with the people. They were led by the popular yet careless McClellan, abysmal Burnside, and the incompetent Hooker. Excluded from list of dreadful leaders is Ulysses S. Grant because, though he was responsible for an appalling number troops’ deaths, he finally fit the mold of a general Lincoln was looking for—an aggressive risk taker. Because the Rebels rarely chased down the Yankees and sealed the victory, they allowed the Union to stick around and instead execute their own plan. The Union Army “[implemented] the Anaconda Plan down the Mississippi, then, depended on wresting those important outposts from the rebels” (Schweikart, 320). The Yankees planned to
In fighting the North, Rebels were forced to fight with the Union’s significantly favored army and navy, as well as their stronger, newer technology and industrial equipment. The South, consisting of fewer states, and less territory, naturally had a smaller population to work with. Additionally, seeing that a large majority of that population consisted of slaves, who were not permitted to fight in the Confederate forces, this population of those fit to fight shrunk even smaller. The CSA, or Confederate States of America, led by Jefferson Davis, brought more disadvantages upon themselves by not only banning these slaves from joining the military, but also forcing them to continue the production of cotton. In doing so, the slaves could not assist in military and wartime matters such as building forts or making ammunition. Having a weaker military and almost non-existent navy caused the Rebels to have obviously less impressive transportation systems. Lastly, the Rebels were at a disadvantage to the Yankees because of their choice in a leader. By establishing Jefferson Davis to the position, they put a mediocre wartime president in office, in contrast to the Union who was led by an outstanding one with Abraham Lincoln. Although the Rebels were obviously disadvantaged to the Yankees in several ways, they balanced the equation with their unique fighting style. While the Union took a more passive stance and tended to wait for an attack, the Confederacy took a more aggressive stance, leading their army into a charge. Usually this active, attacking position won them many battles giving hope to a confederate, slave nation with each volley. Not deduced until later in the war, the Union finally realized this defensive stance was leading to their downfall. Regarding both sides’ commanding generals, the North was comprised of fewer trained war generals, while the south was led by skilled, West Point graduated officers. “About a third of the West Pointers in the regular army had resigned to serve with the South; one of the Confederacy’s assets lay in the fact that these included some of the most capable men on the army roster” (McPherson, 56). The Southern troops, led by Generals Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jeb Stuart, were in competent hands, seeing as all three of these men proved to be wartime legends. “Militarily, the South from the opening volleys of the war had the most talented officers” (Kennedy, 438). In contrast, Northern troops were seen to be expendable in their generals’ eyes because their commanders would rather sacrifice them than lose popularity with the people. They were led by the popular yet careless McClellan, abysmal Burnside, and the incompetent Hooker. Excluded from list of dreadful leaders is Ulysses S. Grant because, though he was responsible for an appalling number troops’ deaths, he finally fit the mold of a general Lincoln was looking for—an aggressive risk taker. Because the Rebels rarely chased down the Yankees and sealed the victory, they allowed the Union to stick around and instead execute their own plan. The Union Army “[implemented] the Anaconda Plan down the Mississippi, then, depended on wresting those important outposts from the rebels” (Schweikart, 320). The Yankees planned to