North vs.

South Will Guccione

Civil War—Clar
20 points

Directions: Using the map and charts at the links below, complete the following chart. Indicate which side—North or
South—had the advantage in each category and explain why.

North vs. South—The Economic Balance

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/static/neh/interactives/civilwar/lesson1/
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/american-civil-war/resources/north-south-comparisons

Which side had the Explanation

advantage?
North They had nearly twice as much money in banks
Wealth

North The majority of factories and factory workers are in the north
Manufacturing

The north They have more farmland that is worth more

Agricultural

South Cotton wasn't even being produced in the north, while in the south cotton
Cotton is the main thing being produced.
Production

North While the south did have railroad systems, the north's were much more
Railroads developed and vast.

South This should be obvious but slavery wasn't legal in the north
Slaves

North The north is where every country was immigrating to, virtually no country
Immigrants immigrated to the south
North vs. South—The Military Balance
Directions: Using the link below, answer the following questions, citing specific evidence from the source.

http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/cmdrs/

Question
Which side’s commanders were more likely to
have attended the U.S. military academy at West
Point? Why might this make a difference in
determining the overall military balance?
Answer
The south had more commanders that had graduated from west
point. This might matter because they would be more qualified as
commanders than the people who did not.

Which side’s commanders, on average, U:21.4 C:10.2

performed better at West Point? Why might this The South had higher rankings, this would matter because if they
matter? did better there, that would show that they are more qualified.

Which side’s commanders, on average, were Confederate average:50 Union average:42.1

older? How might this make a difference? The confederate commanders were older than the union, this
would make a difference because the older people would be wiser
and have more experience.

Which side’s commanders, on average, had more The South had much more experience. This would matter because
military experience? Why might this be they would know what they are doing a lot more than the
important? northern commanders.
Comparing Strategic Objectives:
Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation Calling Militia and Convening Congress, April 15, 1861

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/proclamation-calling-militia-and-convening-congress/

Question Answer
He believed the goal of the war to be to reunite the north and the south and
What does Lincoln believe to be recapture all the property that has been taken.
the overall goal of this war?

Based on the reading, what will The first thing that he orders the army to do is repossess the forts, property, and
Union troops have to do in places that have been seized from the union.
order to win the war?

President Jefferson Davis’s message to the Confederate Congress, April 29, 1861:

https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/csa_m042961.asp

Question Answer
The goal for the south is to gain independence and to be left alone. They want to
What does Davis believe to be be their own country and do their own thing.
the overall goal of this war?

The confederate troops will have to be unified and ready for battle at any moment,
Based on the reading, what will and they will do what they have to to achieve their goal.
Confederate troops have to do in
order to win the war?

The south has the easier task, all they have to do is defend their ground, while the
Comparing the two documents, north has to reclaim their possessions and bring the south back in.
which side has the easier task
ahead of it, and why?