HIST 405 DISCUSSION QUESTION WEEK 4
The Civil War (graded)
In the beginning, each side in the Civil War believed the war would be brief and that their side would win.
What advantages did each side hold that made them feel this way? Elaborate.
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Responses
Response Author
Introduction Professor Deane 9/22/2012 6:36:04 PM
Welcome to week 4 students. I look forward to seeing your answers.
RE: Introduction Rodney Currington 9/26/2012 12:05:15 PM
Modified:9/26/2012 7:05 PM
Northern advantages:
Population
In some ways, northern expectations for a quick victory were reasonable, because the Union
possessed overwhelming material advantages over the South. In 1861, the total population of the
Union was around 22 million, compared to 9 million in the Confederacy. This statistic becomes
even more impressive when one considers that 3.5 million of the Confederacy’s people were
slaves, people clearly unwilling to fight on behalf of the perpetuation of slavery. In terms of
military-age white males, the Union outnumbered the Confederacy four to one.
Materials and Industry
The northern states had other advantages as well. The North had an existing navy and produced
more firearms than the South. It also produced more of the essential provisions of war, including
coal, textiles, corn, and wheat. By all estimates, the North was better able to outfit its men with
weapons, clothing, shoes, and food. The North also had a more extensive network of railroad lines
for transporting those supplies and a larger pool of money to finance its war effort. The Union
possessed about $200 million in bank deposits, while the Confederacy had only $47 million.
Southern Advantages
Will to Fight
The Confederacy did have certain strengths, however. Three of these advantages were vitally
important. First, northerners severely underestimated the southern will to fight. While only
slaveholders had taken the lead in the secession movement, by April 1861, most southerners
supported the bid for Confederate independence, and they were willing to fight to win it.
A Defensive Battle
The Union also had to wage an offensive war to occupy the South, while the Confederacy had the
simpler task of fighting on the defensive. The Confederacy did not have to overwhelm or occupy
the North; it merely had to frustrate northern efforts to conquer it.
, Military Leaders and Morale
At the beginning of the war, the South also had more well-trained military leaders and a stronger
tradition of military service. Many of the West Point–trained officers in the U.S. Army, including
Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sydney Johnston, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and James
Longstreet, sided with the Confederacy. In addition, living in a rural environment, most men in the
South were more comfortable with firearms than soldiers raised in the urban North. And, in terms
of morale, the Confederacy had the advantage of fighting for its existence.
(Schultz 238)
Schultz. HIST. Wadsworth Publishing, 01/2009. <vbk:9781133637721#outline(15.3.2)>.
RE: Introduction Sylvia Glover 9/25/2012 4:12:08 PM
Modified:9/25/2012 4:27 PM
The North had the advantage in almost every way. They could make iron faster and cheaper. Cannons,
rifles, railroads, even tools, all played a part in the war. The North could produce all of those things much faster than
the South. Railroads are a great example, in the South the rails would be destroyed, they would have to find rail that
was not needed and recycle it. With no means to produce new when it was all gone that was it. The North, on the
other hand, could mass produce rails. Mass production cut the time to replace damage rails and meant for quicker
transportation. just with that example the North had a huge advantage over the South.
The one area that the South believed they had covered: horsemanship. Being primarily a rural lifestyle, the South
used horses all day long for long distance movement, while the North was more urban, and used their feet.
The strength of the South was its motivation! The South believed it was being invaded and that its farms and homes
and women were at risk from the Yankee hordes. Northerners, on the other hand, were much less interested in a war
to sustain the Union and had to pay their recruits a sign-up bonus, similar to what is being used to recruit reluctant
soldiers today. In the South, every boy over the age of 14 wanted to join, and a great number of them did.
RE: Introduction Suzanne Sisk 9/25/2012 7:45:02 AM
Modified:9/25/2012 8:27 AM
This is a little off topic but I would like to say that I was really shocked to learn while reading chapter 14
about the northerners. I always thought they were anti slavery because they thought it wasn't morally right. Boy was I
wrong. They either didn't want to live among a large population of african americans or they didn't want wealthy
farmers buying large plantations and using slaves for free labor. They really were either racist or trying to make a few
extra bucks. Kind of disappointing to learn.
RE: Introduction William Brozenick 9/25/2012
8:36:52 PM
, Suzanne,
It looks like you are learning from this class, as I am also. Don't you agree that in some ways we are more civilized
than our ancestors? For example, in the old days if a dog hurt its leg, the dog was usually shot. Some still use this
practice, but we are now in a time where people buy medical insurance for their animals.
I guess what I am trying to say is some people had bad ideas back in the day, and others went along for the ride on
these bad ideas. I am sure that many people felt bad about how their slaves were treated, and some were brain-
washed into thinking it was acceptable to rape and abuse slaves. In the old days people would not even say the word
pregnant. They would say "she is expecting". I don't know where all of this secrecy and bad mindset came from, but I
think it is evil in it's worst form. I might be off topic as well, but should we not "learn from History"? You know... so we
do not repeat it? :~)
RE: Introduction Michael Armstrong
9/26/2012 5:45:42 PM
The Northern advantage was they felt as if they outnumbered the Southern. The Northern also
felt that since 3.5 million confederacy slave wouldn’t be as willing to fight in the war. They also
outnumbered them 4 to 1. The Southern advantage was one, their willingness to fight. Most southerners
also supported the bid for Confederate independence. The south also had more well-military trained
leaders.
RE: Introduction Kellie Beltrame 9/23/2012 4:15:50 PM
The Northern Advantages were population, existing Navy and produced more firearms than the
South.
The population of the Union was around 22 million, the union outnumbered the Confederacy four to one
(text 237)
The North was better able to outfit its men with the necessities for war, uniform, firearms and food. The
North had extensive network of railroad line to be able to supply their men.
The union also had 200 million in bank deposits, while the confederacy had 47 million.
In my opinion, the north was arrogant people who liked to bully. They were so sure of themselves
because of the statistics they had from all the educated learning.
They thought it would be a quick war because they underestimated the will of the South.
The Southern Advantages were the will to fight, a defensive battle, comfort with fire arms and strong
military leaders and morale (text 238)
The confederacy wanted to secession, they did not want to conquer. They wanted their rights and were
willing to fight for them. Years of injustice from the North gave them the "fire" inside to want to stand
up for themselves and not be bullied any longer. They did not have to be offensive and attack, they just
needed to be on the defensive and protect what is rightfully theirs.
The southerners knew their land and because it was more rural, they were very comfortable with the use
of firearms.
Many of the leaders for the south were West Point trained officers, they were better trained and had a
stronger tradition of military service.
In reading the text from the beginning of the colonial times through the revolution. Civil War was bound to
, happen. The North was always trying to suppress the South.
The North always thought of what was the best for them and tried to bully the South into change.
The South had a weak reputation by not wanting to advance like the North did. There were two
completely different ideas of living in the same country. Problems were bound to happen.
RE: Introduction Gregory Jeffers 9/24/2012
1:02:06 AM
Ah Kellie,
In the interest of healthy debate in our discussion posts I need to respectfully challenge
you on a couple of your "opinion" points. While my disagreement isn't with what you
may describe as the North's behavior but, rather how the Confederacy can be
considered lily white during this time. If we want to say the North was acting as a bully,
what is enslaving your fellow man if not acting like a supreme bully? And the South did
not want to conquer, yet they were happy to conquer a slaves spirit and body for their
own gain. Raping slave women to create more healthy offspring to enslave or selling off
children, or wives, or husbands is horrific. There can't be any justification for it. It was
already sad enough that slavery was in in the Constitution. All this liberty but none for
slaves. Really incredible. It really casts a shadow over an otherwise amazing document.
On pages 239-240, it describes how early in the conflict the Union army tried to fight a
limited war... by attacking the Confederate troops and being careful not to assault
southern civilians or damage their property. Their goal was to occupy southern territory
and defeat the Confederate army. They were not aiming to subjugate the southern
people." Additionally, President Lincoln seemed to do almost anything to unite the two
sides and seemed more than graceful here.
So hoping you can give us some specific examples of Northern bullying behavior?
Schultz. HIST. Wadsworth Publishing, 01/2009. (Schultz 239-240)
RE: Introduction Leisa Viramontes
9/24/2012 7:34:13 AM
I feel the same way Gregory. They tried at first to remain as civil as possible not wanting to harm them or
their property.
Other advantages too were that the south had more trained military men than the north, because of living in rural
areas they were comfortable using firearms. And with a smaller army but with a will to fight is sometimes more
powerful than a larger army with less experience and not as much drive to fight.
The Civil War (graded)
In the beginning, each side in the Civil War believed the war would be brief and that their side would win.
What advantages did each side hold that made them feel this way? Elaborate.
Collapse All Print View »Show Options
Responses
Response Author
Introduction Professor Deane 9/22/2012 6:36:04 PM
Welcome to week 4 students. I look forward to seeing your answers.
RE: Introduction Rodney Currington 9/26/2012 12:05:15 PM
Modified:9/26/2012 7:05 PM
Northern advantages:
Population
In some ways, northern expectations for a quick victory were reasonable, because the Union
possessed overwhelming material advantages over the South. In 1861, the total population of the
Union was around 22 million, compared to 9 million in the Confederacy. This statistic becomes
even more impressive when one considers that 3.5 million of the Confederacy’s people were
slaves, people clearly unwilling to fight on behalf of the perpetuation of slavery. In terms of
military-age white males, the Union outnumbered the Confederacy four to one.
Materials and Industry
The northern states had other advantages as well. The North had an existing navy and produced
more firearms than the South. It also produced more of the essential provisions of war, including
coal, textiles, corn, and wheat. By all estimates, the North was better able to outfit its men with
weapons, clothing, shoes, and food. The North also had a more extensive network of railroad lines
for transporting those supplies and a larger pool of money to finance its war effort. The Union
possessed about $200 million in bank deposits, while the Confederacy had only $47 million.
Southern Advantages
Will to Fight
The Confederacy did have certain strengths, however. Three of these advantages were vitally
important. First, northerners severely underestimated the southern will to fight. While only
slaveholders had taken the lead in the secession movement, by April 1861, most southerners
supported the bid for Confederate independence, and they were willing to fight to win it.
A Defensive Battle
The Union also had to wage an offensive war to occupy the South, while the Confederacy had the
simpler task of fighting on the defensive. The Confederacy did not have to overwhelm or occupy
the North; it merely had to frustrate northern efforts to conquer it.
, Military Leaders and Morale
At the beginning of the war, the South also had more well-trained military leaders and a stronger
tradition of military service. Many of the West Point–trained officers in the U.S. Army, including
Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sydney Johnston, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and James
Longstreet, sided with the Confederacy. In addition, living in a rural environment, most men in the
South were more comfortable with firearms than soldiers raised in the urban North. And, in terms
of morale, the Confederacy had the advantage of fighting for its existence.
(Schultz 238)
Schultz. HIST. Wadsworth Publishing, 01/2009. <vbk:9781133637721#outline(15.3.2)>.
RE: Introduction Sylvia Glover 9/25/2012 4:12:08 PM
Modified:9/25/2012 4:27 PM
The North had the advantage in almost every way. They could make iron faster and cheaper. Cannons,
rifles, railroads, even tools, all played a part in the war. The North could produce all of those things much faster than
the South. Railroads are a great example, in the South the rails would be destroyed, they would have to find rail that
was not needed and recycle it. With no means to produce new when it was all gone that was it. The North, on the
other hand, could mass produce rails. Mass production cut the time to replace damage rails and meant for quicker
transportation. just with that example the North had a huge advantage over the South.
The one area that the South believed they had covered: horsemanship. Being primarily a rural lifestyle, the South
used horses all day long for long distance movement, while the North was more urban, and used their feet.
The strength of the South was its motivation! The South believed it was being invaded and that its farms and homes
and women were at risk from the Yankee hordes. Northerners, on the other hand, were much less interested in a war
to sustain the Union and had to pay their recruits a sign-up bonus, similar to what is being used to recruit reluctant
soldiers today. In the South, every boy over the age of 14 wanted to join, and a great number of them did.
RE: Introduction Suzanne Sisk 9/25/2012 7:45:02 AM
Modified:9/25/2012 8:27 AM
This is a little off topic but I would like to say that I was really shocked to learn while reading chapter 14
about the northerners. I always thought they were anti slavery because they thought it wasn't morally right. Boy was I
wrong. They either didn't want to live among a large population of african americans or they didn't want wealthy
farmers buying large plantations and using slaves for free labor. They really were either racist or trying to make a few
extra bucks. Kind of disappointing to learn.
RE: Introduction William Brozenick 9/25/2012
8:36:52 PM
, Suzanne,
It looks like you are learning from this class, as I am also. Don't you agree that in some ways we are more civilized
than our ancestors? For example, in the old days if a dog hurt its leg, the dog was usually shot. Some still use this
practice, but we are now in a time where people buy medical insurance for their animals.
I guess what I am trying to say is some people had bad ideas back in the day, and others went along for the ride on
these bad ideas. I am sure that many people felt bad about how their slaves were treated, and some were brain-
washed into thinking it was acceptable to rape and abuse slaves. In the old days people would not even say the word
pregnant. They would say "she is expecting". I don't know where all of this secrecy and bad mindset came from, but I
think it is evil in it's worst form. I might be off topic as well, but should we not "learn from History"? You know... so we
do not repeat it? :~)
RE: Introduction Michael Armstrong
9/26/2012 5:45:42 PM
The Northern advantage was they felt as if they outnumbered the Southern. The Northern also
felt that since 3.5 million confederacy slave wouldn’t be as willing to fight in the war. They also
outnumbered them 4 to 1. The Southern advantage was one, their willingness to fight. Most southerners
also supported the bid for Confederate independence. The south also had more well-military trained
leaders.
RE: Introduction Kellie Beltrame 9/23/2012 4:15:50 PM
The Northern Advantages were population, existing Navy and produced more firearms than the
South.
The population of the Union was around 22 million, the union outnumbered the Confederacy four to one
(text 237)
The North was better able to outfit its men with the necessities for war, uniform, firearms and food. The
North had extensive network of railroad line to be able to supply their men.
The union also had 200 million in bank deposits, while the confederacy had 47 million.
In my opinion, the north was arrogant people who liked to bully. They were so sure of themselves
because of the statistics they had from all the educated learning.
They thought it would be a quick war because they underestimated the will of the South.
The Southern Advantages were the will to fight, a defensive battle, comfort with fire arms and strong
military leaders and morale (text 238)
The confederacy wanted to secession, they did not want to conquer. They wanted their rights and were
willing to fight for them. Years of injustice from the North gave them the "fire" inside to want to stand
up for themselves and not be bullied any longer. They did not have to be offensive and attack, they just
needed to be on the defensive and protect what is rightfully theirs.
The southerners knew their land and because it was more rural, they were very comfortable with the use
of firearms.
Many of the leaders for the south were West Point trained officers, they were better trained and had a
stronger tradition of military service.
In reading the text from the beginning of the colonial times through the revolution. Civil War was bound to
, happen. The North was always trying to suppress the South.
The North always thought of what was the best for them and tried to bully the South into change.
The South had a weak reputation by not wanting to advance like the North did. There were two
completely different ideas of living in the same country. Problems were bound to happen.
RE: Introduction Gregory Jeffers 9/24/2012
1:02:06 AM
Ah Kellie,
In the interest of healthy debate in our discussion posts I need to respectfully challenge
you on a couple of your "opinion" points. While my disagreement isn't with what you
may describe as the North's behavior but, rather how the Confederacy can be
considered lily white during this time. If we want to say the North was acting as a bully,
what is enslaving your fellow man if not acting like a supreme bully? And the South did
not want to conquer, yet they were happy to conquer a slaves spirit and body for their
own gain. Raping slave women to create more healthy offspring to enslave or selling off
children, or wives, or husbands is horrific. There can't be any justification for it. It was
already sad enough that slavery was in in the Constitution. All this liberty but none for
slaves. Really incredible. It really casts a shadow over an otherwise amazing document.
On pages 239-240, it describes how early in the conflict the Union army tried to fight a
limited war... by attacking the Confederate troops and being careful not to assault
southern civilians or damage their property. Their goal was to occupy southern territory
and defeat the Confederate army. They were not aiming to subjugate the southern
people." Additionally, President Lincoln seemed to do almost anything to unite the two
sides and seemed more than graceful here.
So hoping you can give us some specific examples of Northern bullying behavior?
Schultz. HIST. Wadsworth Publishing, 01/2009. (Schultz 239-240)
RE: Introduction Leisa Viramontes
9/24/2012 7:34:13 AM
I feel the same way Gregory. They tried at first to remain as civil as possible not wanting to harm them or
their property.
Other advantages too were that the south had more trained military men than the north, because of living in rural
areas they were comfortable using firearms. And with a smaller army but with a will to fight is sometimes more
powerful than a larger army with less experience and not as much drive to fight.
