http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/abraham-lincoln.html
Perhaps the North's most significant figure during the war, Lincoln's leadership kept the Union together during the hardship of the war. Lincoln's strategies were the deciding factor in closing out the war and saving the Union from being torn in half forever. In the early stages of the war, he had been hard pressed to find competent leadership for his armies. Many generals he promoted to the top would fail him. After Antietam, the President issued the Emancipation Proclamation to make the war a fight to end slavery in Northern eyes. Ulysses S. Grant began to push the Union towards victory, and the war ended with Union dominance. The President aimed to restore peace and love with no violence, but was killed by John Wilkes Booth before he had the chance. The nation would have to rely on Andrew Johnson instead.
Jefferson Davis
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/jefferson-davis.html
Davis was chosen as president in order to satisfy all members of the new Confederate Nation. Davis wanted to be a military commander, however. Davis appeared to be unfit for the job, making poor calls, and caving in when the chips were in the Union's favor. He rewarded unsuccessful people, angrily disagreed with others, and lost the fervor that he had once acquired at his original inauguration. He was captured by Union forces in Georgia on May 1865, and imprisoned for two years. Such a person could have been considered yet another disadvantage for the Confederacy in the war, as he lacked charisma and leadership skills that Lincoln possessed.
Stephen Douglas
http://www.history.com/topics/stephen-a-douglas
Douglas, a man inspired by Andrew Jackson, began his political career as a Democrat of Illinois. He was later elected a House member, which he held for two years, and a senator which he kept until his death. Douglas later supported slavery as an economic ideal in his debates against Abraham Lincoln. His accusing of Lincoln believing that African Americans were equal people secured him his senate seat again. He had been nominated as a Democratic presidential candidate as well, which yielded little results. He lost favor as the issue of slavery came to the forefront. After pledging his allegiance to the northern cause, he died, unable to help any further.
Frederick Douglass
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/frederick-douglass.html
Frederick Douglass, an educated black man, was a devout equal rights activist in his time. His life's work led to the passage of the 13th through 15th amendments. He published an autobiography, with the level of narration exceeding most other writers of the time. Douglass became a well known figure, and fought with many white men to pass emancipation. He also published his own newspaper, the North Star, and led to two black regiments formed in the Union Army. Douglas became the most well-known black man in the United States, and his contributions to the war effort and freedom of slaves all across the country helped bring about emancipation and the new reconstruction amendments.
John Brown
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/john-brown.html
John Brown was a prime example of an anti-slavery extremist. He believed his sole purpose in life was to bring an end to slavery. To accomplish this, he raided Harper's Ferry, Virginia's cache of weapons, and attempted to rouse the slaves into rebellion. He was captured, however, by General Robert E. Lee and his men. He was later executed for his actions of treason. John Brown was hailed a hero and martyr in the North, and an enemy of slavery in the South. The north used his actions as an example of the cause they were fighting for, and even published a song hailing him. This song was later revised without mention of Brown as an army chant.
This song highlights the North's love for John Brown, and he was a figure that the Union soldiers used as an example for what they should be fighting for.
George McClellan
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/george-mcclellan.html
McClellan was the organizer of the Potomac army of the Union. McClellan would rise through the ranks after the defeat at the Battle of Bull Run and the retirement of Winfield Scott, earning him the rank of General-in-Chief. McClellan proved to be a very cautious general, who would often let his enemies have ample time to retreat because he was afraid that the enemy army was many times the size of his own, even when it wasn't. He would be removed from the title of General-in-Chief, and would end up running as the Democratic candidate against Lincoln. However, he lost, and he returned his army commission. McClellan's cautious nature denied the North several key victories that they could have earned.
Robert E. Lee
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html
Robert E. Lee, one of the greatest military minds of his time, denied the offer to join the Union Army when Virginia seceded from the nation. He joined the Confederate army instead, and was made a general instead of his old title of officer. He was military adviser to Confederate President Davis, and given command of his own unit when General Johnston was injured. Lee's new army would become the most successful Confederate unit of them all. He would win many battles, and soon decided that victory would come with a victory on northern soil. McClellan learned of this, and they fought at the Battle of Antietam, which Lee's army was forced to retreat during. During the battle of Gettysburg, he ordered the Pickett's Charge, which ultimately failed, and Lee had to retreat again. When Grant took over the Union army, Lee faced a series of defeats which led to his surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse. Lee's military greatness would be the defining factor in several Confederate victories: he was probably the best general out of all others that lived during that time period, and his military tactician skills were unparalleled.
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/thomas-jackson.html
Stonewall Jackson earned his name from holding a fort against a strong Federal troop in the Battle of Manassas, (Bull Run). Now a major general, he would organize many successful campaigns against the Union army. During the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was wounded by friendly fire, dying eight days later due to pneumonia that effected him after an arm amputation. Jackson's fame was a point of morale towards the Confederate Army, as his unbreaking resolve served as an example to all others.
P.G.T Beauregard
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/p-g-t-beauregard.html
Beauregard was one of the first generals of the Confederate Army. He led troops to victory in the Battles of Fort Sumter, and Bull Run, and commanded armies during the Battle of Shiloh. He also defended Richmond, the Confederate capital, from being marched upon by Union soldiers. His influence on President Davis was one of the factors that led to Confederate surrender. He had poor relationships with both his fellow generals and the President, both of which did not help him, or the Confederate cause.
William Tecumseh Sherman
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/william-t-sherman.html
General Sherman was one of the most successful Union generals, along with General Grant. He first saw combat during the Battle of Bull Run, as a commander. Sherman performed excellently during combat, even though the Union lost that battle. Lincoln made a note of his success, and promoted him to brigadier general soon after. He was later demoted due to conflicting viewpoints on the war, and commanded again during the Battle of Shiloh. Afterwards, he was promoted back to major general. Sherman was the one who came up with "Sherman's March" and the idea of total war and modern warfare. He believed the only way to secure victory would be to completely destroy southern morale to fight. After the 60 mile wide march to the sea, he offered the city of Savannah as an early Christmas present to President Lincoln via telegraph. Sherman is a very important figure in the war due to his creation of modern warfare, mirroring the way America fights its wars even to this day.
Ulysses S. Grant
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ulysses-s-grant.html
Ulysses S. Grant, the most successful general during the Civil War, started out from poor beginnings. He graduated almost last in his class at West Point, and somehow performed well during the Mexican War as a captain. When the Civil War rolled around, he was almost promoted instantly to Brigadier General, after starting as a colonel for a short while. During the Battle of Shiloh, he was almost removed from command after heavy casualties, but Lincoln kept him in his post. When General Buell's troops arrived to bolster his own, they led their men to victory. Grant's military mastery also led to the winning of Vicksburg, and ultimately the entire Mississippi River. After being promoted to Lieutenant General, and General-in-Chief of the entire army, he crushed Robert E. Lee's forces which led to his surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse. Grant's political career took off after the war, earning the title of Secretary of War and even President of the United States, which was unfortunately a scandalous and corrupt affair. Without General Grant and General Sherman's combined might, America may have not seen the same end to the Civil War as it did.
Thaddeus Stevens
http://www.civilwarhome.com/stevensbio.htm
Stevens was a prime example of a Radical Republican during the Civil War era. He started out a federalist, then an Anti-Mason, then a Whig, and finally a Republican. He was a devout supporter of anti-slavery, even going lengths to criticize Abraham Lincoln for being too soft on the south. He favored destroying the south completely, and rebuilding it, new state lines and all. During the Civil War, he was leader of the House Ways and Means Committee. He used his position to become leader of the Radical Republicans. After the war, he thought that the Lincoln-Johnson plan for reconstruction was far too soft on the struggling southern states, and led the impeachment trial for Johnson. He died soon after Johnson was acquitted. Stevens had his mind in the right place, with the abolishment of slavery, but his violent tendencies against the south made him a difficult person to listen to.
Rutherford B. Hayes
http://www.history.com/topics/rutherford-b-hayes
Hayes, the nineteenth President of the United States, fought during the Civil War. He served as a major, and was wounded in Maryland. He was a brigadier general by the end of the war, and helped generals Grant and Sherman with their war strategies in closing out the war. Hayes was nominated for Congress as a Republican while he was still out fighting, and while he accepted the offer, did not campaign. If he went to campaign, the Union would be out a good leader. He became a Republican House member after the war, and served later as governor of Ohio and President, who had a controversial election due to several states sending in two voting results. After it was decided that a fifteen-man committee would decide the presidency, who were mostly Republicans, Hayes was given the Presidency. Democrats believe he stole the election, as Sam Tilden had far more popular and electoral votes than he did before Congress made the committee.
Benjamin Wade
https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Featured_Bio_Wade.htm
Wade was an important figure in the Reconstruction Era of the Civil War. He was a Radical Republican like Thaddeus Stevens, and didn't want to go easy on the now-returning southern states. His Wade-Davis Bill, which he made with Henry Davis, would allow states to re-enter the Union under several terms. Lincoln vetoed this, and instead came up with a more lenient plan. Lincoln wanted there to be little fuss on readmission to the Union, a view contrasting with the Radical Republicans. During Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial, Wade would have been the one to take the Presidency, but Johnson stayed in office by one vote.
John Wilkes Booth
http://www.history.com/topics/john-wilkes-booth
John Wilkes Booth, a Maryland confederate sympathizer, was the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln at the Fort Theater on April 14, 1865. His original plan was to kidnap Lincoln until all Confederate prisoners were set free, but instead opted to shoot him. He was the son of an actor, and became an actor himself, but he was a Marylander through and through, who supported slavery. He only stayed out of the Confederate Army by his mother's whim, but held a fierce hatred for Lincoln and John Brown. After devising his conspiracy for a year before actually going through with it, he would attend each of Lincoln's speeches and his inauguration. After he said he would pursue voting rights for blacks, Booth, in anger, felt the desire to shoot Lincoln instead of kidnapping him. After committing his conspiracy, he would be chased by federal soldiers for a month before being found and killed. His co-conspirator, Davy Harold, and the doctor who mended his broken leg after jumping from the Ford's balcony in his escape, were also arrested.
Ku Klux Klan
http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan
The KKK was the most major radical anti-black groups in America. It extended into every southern state, and was a method of resistance for the equality of blacks from 1870 and onward. The Klan can be described as a terrorist organization, and the methods they used were not unlike modern terrorism. They burned crosses on known African-American and African-American sympathizer's lawns, formed rallies, parades, marches, and other movements against blacks, bombed black schools and churches, lynched black people and their supporters, and had violent tendencies all around. They even felt the same hatred for Catholics, Jews, and organized labor. The Klan was founded by many veteran Confederate soldiers. Nathan Forrest was named the "grand wizard" or leader of the organization. The President, Ulysses S. Grant, would not apply habeas corpus, or the right to appear before a judge before being jailed, for anyone involved in the KKK, in an attempt to end the organization and their terroristic tendencies. This worked for a little while, but the organization was revived once again in 1915, existing even up to this day.
A political cartoon describing how the KKK would also lynch carpetbaggers. The KKK is also a donkey, the symbol of the Democratic party, which was coined in the year 1870. This may or may not be a coincidence.
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