A Nation at War

Eleven southern states left the union and formed the confederacy.  Four Border States stayed in the union.  They wanted to attack the south from the east and west at the same time.  July 1861 at the battle of Bull Run they learned a war might last a longtime. Both sides thought they could win quickly.

 

Robert E. lee led the confederate army.  He stopped the union army capturing Richmond. He invaded the north. North had rich people that could pay to get out of the draft.  People to poor to pay protested. The union captured Vicksburg and gained control of the Mississippi river.

 

 

 

                        Source; Houghton Mifflin readings