Why the North Won Why the North Won (or Why the Confederacy (or Why the Confederacy

Lost)Lost)

John SacherUniversity of Central FloridaJohn.sacher@mail.ucf.edu

1. Union 1. Union StrengthStrength

"I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it."

Quote attributed to George Pickett when asked why the Confederates lost at Gettysburg

““The Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled The Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources." to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources."

Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee

"God is always on the side of the heaviest battalions""God is always on the side of the heaviest battalions"

Financial StrengthFinancial StrengthSources of RevenueSources of Revenue

CSA USACSA USA BondsBonds 35% 66% 35% 66% TaxationTaxation 5% 21% 5% 21% Paper MoneyPaper Money 60% 13% 60% 13%

Indices of Prices and Real Wages Indices of Prices and Real Wages During the Civil War(1860=100)During the Civil War(1860=100)

Union Union Confederate Confederate Year Prices Real Wages Prices Real WagesYear Prices Real Wages Prices Real Wages1860 100 100 1860 100 100 100 100 100 1001861 101 100 1861 101 100 121 86 121 861862 113 93 1862 113 93 388 35 388 351863 139 84 1863 139 84 1,452 19 1,452 191864 176 77 3,992 111864 176 77 3,992 111865 175 821865 175 82 9,200 approx. 9,200 approx.

Problems with the “Union too Strong” Problems with the “Union too Strong” argumentargument

The stronger side doesn’t always win, and The stronger side doesn’t always win, and besides the South does not have to win.besides the South does not have to win.

CSA not suicidal; “No people ever warred for CSA not suicidal; “No people ever warred for independence with more relative advantages independence with more relative advantages than the Confederates.” Pierre G. T. Beauregardthan the Confederates.” Pierre G. T. Beauregard

In an intelligent view of the precedents of history, In an intelligent view of the precedents of history, it might safely [have been] predicted that the it might safely [have been] predicted that the South . . . would be victor in the contest, however South . . . would be victor in the contest, however unequally matched in men and the materials of unequally matched in men and the materials of war, war, unless the management of her affairs should unless the management of her affairs should become insane, or her people lose the virtue of become insane, or her people lose the virtue of enduranceendurance.” Edward A. Pollard, editor of the .” Edward A. Pollard, editor of the Richmond ExaminerRichmond Examiner

2. Lack of Confederate 2. Lack of Confederate NationalismNationalism

What is nationalism?What is nationalism?– Two definitions: Two definitions:

A.A. a country with an army, a treasury, a a country with an army, a treasury, a foreign policy, integrity of its borders, etc.foreign policy, integrity of its borders, etc.

B.B. a sense of belonging to a country a sense of belonging to a country (sometimes referred to as identity) (sometimes referred to as identity)

Confederate Confederate SymbolsSymbols

““Died of States’ Rights”Died of States’ Rights”

zz

Joseph Brown, Georgia Governor

Zebulon Vance, North Carolina

All Southerners were not All Southerners were not ConfederatesConfederates

How many southerners fought How many southerners fought for the Union?for the Union?

Southern slavesSouthern slaves 150,000150,000Border state whitesBorder state whites 200,000200,000Confederate state whitesConfederate state whites 100,000100,000

TotalTotal 450,000450,000

1/3 of all southerners who fought in the Civil 1/3 of all southerners who fought in the Civil War fought for the UnionWar fought for the Union

3. Slavery3. Slavery

United States United States Colored TroopsColored Troops

4. Leadership4. Leadership

““If the Union and the Confederacy had exchanged If the Union and the Confederacy had exchanged presidents with one another, the Confederacy presidents with one another, the Confederacy might have won its independence.” Historian might have won its independence.” Historian David PotterDavid Potter

Lincoln vs. DavisLincoln vs. Davis

1.1. Management stylesManagement styles

2.2. Attitude toward opponentsAttitude toward opponents

3.3. Types of oppositionTypes of opposition

4.4. As politiciansAs politicians

5.5. CounterviewCounterview

Historians Ludwell Johnson, “even a brief systematic comparison reveals [Davis] was clearly superior to Lincoln.”

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

Cotton ExportsCotton Exports

1860 4.5 million bales1860 4.5 million bales

During the Civil War:During the Civil War:

2.5 million bales destroyed2.5 million bales destroyed

1 million bales exported1 million bales exported

?? million bales smuggled into the ?? million bales smuggled into the NorthNorth

Leading GeneralsLeading Generals

Sherman

LeeGrant

Sherman regarding his March to the Sherman regarding his March to the Sea, “This might not be war but Sea, “This might not be war but rather statesmanship.”rather statesmanship.”

Grant “The art of war is simple Grant “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where you enemy enough. Find out where you enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike at him as hard as you can , Strike at him as hard as you can , and as often as you can, and keep and as often as you can, and keep moving on.”moving on.”

Flawed Strategy—Guerrilla Flawed Strategy—Guerrilla WarfareWarfare

5. Contingency5. Contingency (or Didn’t the Battles Matter?)(or Didn’t the Battles Matter?)

Lee’s Lost Order

Antietam--1862

GettysburgGettysburg(what if Stonewall Jackson was (what if Stonewall Jackson was

there?)there?)

VicksburgVicksburg

18641864

Sheridan in the Valley

Sherman Outside Atlanta