Question 1

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Conscription Act, Enrollment Act

Accepted Answer

The Conscription Act, also known as the Enrollment Act, was legislation passed by the United States Congress during the Civil War. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1863. The act was officially titled "An Act for enrolling and calling out the national Forces, and for other Purposes," and it established a system for the federal government to draft men into military service.

The significance of the Conscription Act of 1863 lies in its role in bolstering the Union Army's numbers at a critical time during the Civil War. The act required the enrollment of every male citizen and those immigrants who had filed for citizenship between ages 20 and 45. The draft was used to provide manpower for the Union Army as volunteer numbers dwindled.

The act also allowed for certain exemptions from service. For example, those drafted could avoid service by either finding a substitute to take their place or by paying a commutation fee of $300, which was a considerable sum at the time. This provision led to significant controversy, as it effectively allowed wealthier individuals to avoid military service, leading to claims that the war was a "rich man's war but a poor man's fight."

The Enrollment Act was the first instance of a federal draft in the United States and led to widespread resistance and even riots in some places, most notably the New York City Draft Riots in July 1863. These riots were among the largest civil insurrections in American history, excluding the Civil War itself, and resulted in numerous deaths and extensive property damage.

Overall, the Conscription Act of 1863 was a pivotal measure in maintaining the strength of the Union forces, but it also exposed deep social and economic divisions within the Northern states. The act remained in effect until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

Question 2

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Anaconda plan

Accepted Answer

The Anaconda Plan was a strategic outline proposed by Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott early in the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. The plan was named after the anaconda, a type of snake that constricts its prey, because it aimed to suffocate the Confederacy economically rather than conquer it by sheer force of arms.

The main elements of the Anaconda Plan were:

1. Blockade: The Union Navy would establish a blockade of the Confederate ports along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico to prevent the export of cotton and the import of war supplies from abroad. This naval blockade was known as the "Union Blockade" or the "Blockade of the South."

2. Mississippi River: Union forces would gain control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two and severing the South's communication and transportation links. This would isolate the states west of the Mississippi from those in the east and disrupt the movement of troops and supplies.

The significance of the Anaconda Plan lies in its strategic approach to defeating the Confederacy by targeting its economy and infrastructure, rather than engaging in large-scale battles that would result in high casualties. The plan recognized the importance of controlling key geographical points and using the North's superior naval power to its advantage.

While the Anaconda Plan was not officially adopted in its entirety, many of its elements were implemented over the course of the war. The Union blockade was largely successful and contributed to the economic hardship in the South. The capture of the Mississippi River was achieved with the fall of Vicksburg in 1863, which was a turning point in the war. These strategies, along with other military campaigns, eventually led to the Union's victory and the end of the Civil War.

The Anaconda Plan is significant because it reflects the strategic thinking of the time and the Union's approach to leveraging its industrial strength and naval power to defeat the Confederacy. It also set the stage for modern warfare tactics that emphasize the importance of economic sanctions and blockades in weakening an opponent.

Question 3

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Peninsula Campaign

Accepted Answer

The Peninsula Campaign, also known as the Peninsular Campaign, was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia during the American Civil War. It took place from March through July 1862 and was led by Major General George B. McClellan. The campaign's primary objective was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond by moving the Union Army of the Potomac up the Virginia Peninsula, rather than overland where the Confederates had strong defenses.

McClellan's plan was to transport his troops by boat to Fort Monroe at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula, then move them up the peninsula to Richmond, which lies at the end of the navigable portion of the James River. The campaign included several battles, such as the Battle of Yorktown (April 5 – May 4, 1862), the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862), and the Seven Days Battles (June 25 – July 1, 1862), which consisted of a series of six major battles in seven days.

Despite having a larger army, McClellan's campaign was plagued by his cautious nature and tendency to overestimate the strength of the enemy. Confederate General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia in June 1862 and launched a series of counterattacks against McClellan's forces, culminating in the Seven Days Battles. These battles forced the Union Army to retreat from the outskirts of Richmond back to the safety of Fort Monroe, thus ending the campaign.

The Peninsula Campaign was significant for several reasons:

1. It was one of the early large-scale campaigns in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.
2. The campaign highlighted McClellan's weaknesses as a commander, particularly his indecisiveness and reluctance to engage the enemy aggressively.
3. The campaign marked the rise of Robert E. Lee as a prominent Confederate general. His aggressive tactics during the Seven Days Battles helped to save Richmond and set the stage for subsequent Confederate successes in the Eastern Theater.
4. The failure of the Peninsula Campaign led to a reevaluation of Union strategy in the Eastern Theater and eventually contributed to the development of the more aggressive tactics employed by later Union generals, such as Ulysses S. Grant.

Ultimately, the Peninsula Campaign was a missed opportunity for the Union to quickly end the war by capturing the Confederate capital. Its failure prolonged the conflict and led to further bloody engagements in the years to come.

Question 4

Instructions: Identify the following. Be as specific as possible, and include names, dates, and relevant facts as appropriate. Be sure to explain the significance of the person or term. Appomattox Court House

Accepted Answer