The Civil War, my thoughts

The Civil War was an extremely interesting conflict. The south left due to their desire to hold on to their ways of life and their economic wealth, but at what cost? The south believed in themselves to be able to make a nation of their own device, but the north stomped it out. Also, why did Lincoln want to start a war, anyway? He intentionally provoked the south at Fort Sumter, but why? Why did the south need to stay in the Union, exactly? Not that I'm a Confederate sympathizer, but the motives behind the President still confound me. Was it to keep their economic superiority? Was it manifest destiny? Maybe I'll never know, but it would be interesting to pry into Lincoln's brain and figure out... why.

What was with the harsh Reconstruction?

Alright, I understand how the southern states needed to be disciplined due to their actions in the Civil War, but I wonder what was going through Congress' collective heads as they passed a Military Government Bill. The President vetoed it on the grounds of unconstitutionality, but Congress was able to overrule his decision. I don't quite understand why. And where exactly was the Supreme Court to put an end to that madness before the ball got rolling? People say our Congress today is corrupt, but the events of the late 1860's were insane.

Science is Amazing!

One thing I've noticed throughout this unit is how far technology had come since the days of the American Revolution. Civil War soldiers were carrying guns that could fire multiple rounds, replacing the unwieldy muskets. Ships turned from wood into tough iron, and mortar cannons were applied to them so they could fire from ranges previously unheard of. Trenches were dug as a countermeasure to the deadly Minnie Ball. The progress of science and technology is extremely amazing, even though it was the harbinger of death and destruction for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Without the Civil War, what would our modern day battles look like?

Death Toll

After doing some research, I've noticed how the Civil War's American death toll is just as high as their deaths in all other foreign wars America fought in combined. This is mainly because it was solely an American affair, with the death of foreign people in the civil war being at almost zero, but it does highlight the bloody affair that the Civil War was. There is no denying that the Civil War was a bloody campaign, and the fact that it almost eclipses the total number of deaths in foreign wars is astounding.

How did the South survive for as long as it did?

What really interests me about this war is the fact that the south survived for so long despite all of their crippling disadvantages. The north had better industrial business, weapons, and communications, whereas the south's only advantages were within its military leadership, defensiveness, and desire to make their own nation. I think the one advantage that kept them in the game for as long as they were was their cause. The north was sort of forced to fight through drafts and the like, whereas each soldier in the Confederate army truly believed in their cause and were willing to die for it.

America: The Story of Us: South Vs. The North

Lee, a graduate of Westpoint, is the obviously superior general of both sides. During Bull Run, Lee was able to destroy the Union's fifth regiment, which was the North's heaviest loss during the war. However, Lincoln's railroads meant that he was able to cut down travel times of troops and supplies by a very heavy amount. Once the railroads were under the government's control, the railroads became a very useful weapon of war. The South's railroads were under private control for the whole war. The North's industrial nature meant that swords, clothing, and other objects were able to be produced at a very large rate, which was the first time the industry was focused on the war effort. The South had no such luck. Also, the invention of the telegraph and morse code in 1844 provided instant messaging for messages to the North's army that the South couldn't use. Telegraphs became a deadly weapon, and Lincoln's control center. Lincoln had clear insight into his commander's tactics, and on an instant basis. Lincoln was also able to issue direct orders to his troops. Despite its obvious disadvantage, the South's belief of its cause made them refuse to give in.

America: The Story of Us: The Civil War's Modern Weapon Technology

The Civil War was the first time the  mini ball ammo was used used in battle. Unlike older ammunition, this type of bullet can cut through a person entirely. This was the primary reason the war was such a bloody conflict. The Civil War is also called the first modern war as a new, easy to reload musket equipped with rifling was introduced. It was quicker to fire, and more accurate than ever before because of the spiraled grooves on the inside, called rifling. A direct hit with this new combination of deadly firepower caused an unprecedented amount of bloodshed.