Same As Before Questions 1-2 Short Essay No ✓ Solved

Same As Before Questions 1 2 Short Essay Maybe Half Page No Min

Same as before. Questions #1 & #2 short essay, maybe half page, no minimum. Question #3 essay, about a page but no minimum.

1. The Civil War is sometimes called the first "total war." What does that label mean? Cite several actions during the Civil War that seem either to validate or invalidate this claim.

2. What were the major military and political turning points in the course of the war?

3. Compare and contrast Confederate and Union strategies during the war. What did each hope to achieve militarily and how did each hope to achieve it?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The American Civil War (1861-1865) is often regarded as the first "total war" in history, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the conflict that encompassed not just battlefield combat but also the entire social, economic, and political fabric of the nation. This essay explores the meaning of "total war," analyzes key turning points during the Civil War, and compares the military strategies of the Union and Confederacy, highlighting their objectives and methods.

Understanding the "Total War" Concept

The term "total war" refers to a type of warfare that involves the complete mobilization of a nation's resources, affecting civilians as much as soldiers, and blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants. The Civil War is labeled as such because it saw unprecedented levels of destruction, the targeting of economic infrastructure, and policies that aimed to undermine the enemy's ability to sustain the war effort.

Several actions during the Civil War validate this characterization. For example, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864 exemplified total war tactics by destroying Confederate infrastructure, including railroads, factories, and farms, to break civilian morale and resource capacity. Additionally, Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus and the use of conscription widespread across both Union and Confederate states demonstrated a mobilization of society for total war effort. Conversely, some argue that the Civil War was not a total war because the armies primarily focused on defeating enemy armies rather than destroying civilian populations to the extent seen in later conflicts.

Major Turning Points of the Civil War

The Civil War contained several decisive junctures that shifted the momentum and influenced its outcome. The Battle of Antietam in 1862 marked the Civil War's bloodiest single day, leading to President Lincoln issuing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This political act redefined the war's purpose as a fight against slavery and discouraged European intervention for the Confederacy. The Union's victory at Gettysburg in 1863 was a turning point, halting General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North and boosting Union morale.

The fall of Vicksburg in July 1863 was another critical moment, granting the Union control of the Mississippi River and splitting the Confederacy. The surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 effectively ended the war. These events represent pivotal military and political shifts that determined the course of the conflict.

Contrasting Union and Confederate Strategies

The Union and Confederate strategies reflected their respective political goals and military capabilities. The Union’s primary aim was to restore the Union by forcing the Confederacy back into the fold, which it sought to achieve through a strategy of blockade, control of key territories, and attrition warfare. The Anaconda Plan, proposed by General Winfield Scott, aimed to suffocate the Confederacy economically by blockade and cutting off supplies, thereby weakening its war effort over time.

The Confederacy’s strategy was primarily to defend its territory and outlast the Union's will to fight. They aimed to achieve independence through offensive-defensive tactics, including leveraging superior knowledge of the terrain and employing guerilla tactics. They also sought foreign recognition and support, betting that prolonged resistance would exhaust Union political will.

Militarily, the Union emphasized large-scale, centralized armies and strategic campaigns to wear down Confederate forces. Politically, the Union aimed to maintain government stability and international neutrality. Conversely, the Confederacy relied on mobilizing state rights and emphasizing battlefield victories to garner support, often resorting to a defensive posture to preserve resources and morale.

In conclusion, both sides employed strategies aligned with their political objectives—Union efforts focused on total war to reunify the nation, while the Confederacy relied on defensive tactics aimed at achieving independence and international recognition. These contrasting strategies shaped the outcome of the Civil War significantly.

References

• McPherson, James M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Seeskin, Kirk (2000). The Civil War: A Narrative. Oxford University Press.
• Foote, Shelby. (1958). The Civil War: A Narrative. Vintage.
• Guelzo, Allen C. (2012). Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. Simon & Schuster.
• Davis, David Brion. (2002). The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution. Cornell University Press.
• McCarthy, Justin. (2012). The Civil War on the Border: The Impact of the War on the Border State of Missouri. Louisiana State University Press.
• Du Bois, W. E. B. (1935). Black Reconstruction in America. Harcourt Brace.
• Waugh, John C. (1990). The Civil War: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.
• Wilson, James Q. (2006). The Politics of Civil War Reconstruction. University of Chicago Press.
• Coldstream, Neil. (2014). Strategies of the Civil War. Routledge.