Discuss The Advantages Of The South In The Civil War | ipl.org On the contrary, the South still was a farming region where farmers mainly worded on plantations to grow cotton. Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc. Although his position was onerous and quite likely could not have been filled as well by any other Southern political leadermost of them having come to prominence in a period of growing disinclination to compromiseDaviss overall performance in office left something to be desired. The Southern armies had the advantage of fighting on interior lines, and their military tradition had bulked large in the history of the United States before 1860. While many important generals on both sides experienced both tactical and strategic victories as well as failures, what can be said certainly is that seven of the eight military colleges in the United States at the time of the secession crisis were located in the South, though not all of their graduates would be sympathetic to the Southern cause at the outbreak of the war. 8 What advantages did the north and South have in the US Civil War? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But it was to take four years of grim, unrelenting warfare and enormous casualties and devastation before the Confederates could be defeated and the Union preserved. I feel like its a lifeline. Because agriculture was so profitable, few Southerners saw a need for industrial development. The Shenandoah Valley was a prime example of the geography of the American South as the valley was surrounded by vast ridges and provided a strong natural defense for the Confederacy. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. One of these benefits was that they had nearly double the army that. The Union had many distinct advantages, such as manpower, industry and political structure. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The North possessed a population of 22 million, whereas the South had a population of only 9 million people--3.5 million of whom were slaves. Lincoln matured into a remarkably effective president because of his great intelligence, communication skills, humility, sense of purpose, sense of humour, fundamentally moderate nature, and ability to remain focused on the big picture. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. To win the war, the South had only to survive. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Although two-thirds of Southerners owned no slaves at all, by 1860, the South's "peculiar institution" was inextricably tied to the region's economy and culture. Disadvantages Of The South During The Civil War | ipl.org The South were not treating the slaves as humans but as properties, they do not feed enough for them nor give them warmth in the winter. Its land contained most of the countrys iron, coal, copper, and gold. In war, this meant more and better weapons, like cannons. The Union had many distinct advantages, such as manpower, industry and political structure. The Confederacy hoped they could use "King Cotton Diplomacy" to influence European powers such as the United Kingdom or France to intervene on their behalf. To help your students analyze these primary sources, get a graphic organizer and guides. In fact, in 1860, Northern factories made 97% of the nation's firearms. Well, it came down to their respective advantages. The North had many advantages. The Union overcame enormous geography early on in the War. The major difference between the North and the South and the one most responsible for the Civil War was the institution of slavery. Thus, if the Confederacy could inflict enough losses on the Union Army by fighting in favorable battles from strong defensive positions, they could win the war through attrition and compel the Union to give up on trying to reconquer their lost territory. There plans for the war was to blockade southern ports, gain control of the Mississippi River, and to capture Richmond, Virginia. Most of the fighting during the American Civil War took place on Southern soil. Natural resources such as iron and copper were more abundant in the North than in the South. What big advantages does the North have over the South quizlet? Not only was the South able to compensate for all of these seeming disadvantages, they had many strategic advantages that actually gave them the upper hand early on. The South had a disadvantage because the North blockaded the South. To win the war, the South had only to survive. Most of the fighting during the American Civil War took place on Southern soil. How much of the Confederacy's population was enslaved? Virginians owned the most slaves out of any state, with a total of 490,865 slaves. I always thought it was the mindset of the Confederate soldier (both officer & grunt). Create your account. Leaders on both sides thought of the Civil War that began with an attack on Ft. Sumter in 1861 would end quickly, but each side had numerous advantages that would enable both armies to prolong. The ability to rapidly transport soldiers and supplies greatly assisted the effort to defeat the Confederacy. What advantage did the South have over the North? Grant served efficaciously as general in chief throughout the remainder of the war. So the Confederacy developed a skilled cavalry with good aim that could run circles around the Union's big, slow infantry, and they could evade and sabotage the North's powerful artillery. The South also had arguably more experienced military leaders that could work strategically when it came to the South's lower population and lack of supplies. Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Civil War - StudyMode What did the Union need to do to achieve its war goals and win the Civil War? These decade-long divisions all culminated in the bloody conflict of the Civil War, which permanently ended the division and abolished slavery permanently. But he had much to learn at first, especially in strategic and tactical matters and in his choices of army commanders. The South then seceded, starting the conflict. Also, the South was an agricultural society due to the climate and fertile lands. European powers such as the United Kingdom or France to intervene on their behalf. Even after Gettysburg, which many cite as the turning point in the war (but is the topic of historical debate), morale among Southern troops remained high before it slowly dwindled with each new Union victory. The South had three main geographic advantages over the North at the outset of the Civil War. So the Southern cause was not a lost one; indeed, other countriesmost notably the United States itself in the American Revolution against Britainhad won independence against equally heavy odds. Everything you need for your studies in one place. There were other aspects within the institution of slavery that led to division in the United States. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Such was his reputation. Northern Advantages in the Civil War: Population, Industrial Capacity This was relevant because the strategic situation dictated . lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. What werethe advantages of the North and South in the Civil War? In fact, there were almost as many blacks, both enslaved and free, in the South as there were whites (4 million blacks and 5.5 million whites). The Norths wealth estimated to more than two time that of the South. The North and the South in the Civil War | American Battlefield Trust Britain's interest was economical, mostly with the textile and cotton industry which was fueled by the South's slaves, and even still supported slavery until 1862 when the African Slave Trade Treaty Act suppressed the Atlantic Slave Trade for good. Accessed 17 July 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. What major advantages did each side possess at the start of the Civil war? The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Get Access What Are The Advantages Of The North And South Civil War Advantages Essay From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America was fighting itself. Everything you need to know on . Both presidents, Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, had to take action to control the, The Northern states in the Union had a variety of advantages on their side, allowing them to become victorious in the Civil War. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. Learn about the personal and political life of Jefferson Davis from his great-great-grandson Bertram Hayes-Davis, Discover more about Copperhead opposition to Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. presidential election of 1864, Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) and Antietam, Conscription and the New York City draft riot, Shermans Georgia campaigns and total war, The cost and significance of the Civil War, Causes and Effects of the American Civil War. Southerners would be fighting on their own land, and had some of the best officers in the nation. The North had 22 million citizens where the South only had 5.5 million citizens. North and South were heavily dependent on each other during the years before the Civil War. In the Civil War, the North had the advantages of a larger population, a more expansive railway network, a superior navy, and a higher output of industrial production.