North

The Union
Advantages
Superior leadership in Abraham Lincoln Greater population More money More railroads More farm lands Industrial power Military power Planned to blockade all Southern ports Taken control of the Mississippi river
the Union would capture the southern capital of Richmond, Virginia

South
The Confederacy
Outstanding military Strong motivation Fighting on home ground
soldiers skilled with guns and horses because they lived in rural areas

Strategies

Bring enemy into southern territory Counting on help from Europe Wanted to capture Washington D.C. Weak leadership No navy Fewer men and supplies Few factories Less money Weaker government

Disadvantages

Weak Motivation Officers not aggressive enough Fighting unfamiliar territory Believed the war would be over quickly