So we've finally reached the Civil War. This and next week's blog will be the last two of the year. I want to thank you again for all of your hard work contributing to this blog each week. I've loved the topics, discussion and interaction!
This week, research the advantages and disadvantages facing both sides at the beginning of the war. List at least three advantages and disadvantages for each side (total of 12) in the comment section. Also, based on your list, assess which side should have won the war based on your findings.
Advantages for North:
ReplyDelete1)More railroads than the south
2)more raw natural resources
3) 3 fold the population of the South
Disadvantages for the North:
1) largely incompetnet generals
2) fighting angressive war, hard to invade
3) bought their food
Advantages of the South:
1) intelligence of generals
2)cause to fight for
3)defending instead of invading land
Disadvantages for the South:
1)not a lot of factories in the south
2) out numbered 3:1 on battlefields so they lost most battles
3) expended on hunting for food
I think that the North should have won, which they did, because I am not really into hurting people just for the color of their skin.(108)
Northern Advantages:
ReplyDelete1- 4 times the amount of free people
2- Ulysses S. Grant as their commander
3- 70% of U.S. railways
Northern Disadvantages:
1- Not used to the Southern territory
2- Large amount of area to conquer
3- Less trained soldiers
Southern Advantages:
1- Well-accustomed to the land being fought on
2- Better generals... well, at the beginning at least
3- Skilled soldiers
Southern Disadvantages:
1- Less supplies
2- Few railroads
3- 1/3 of the pop. consisted of slaves, so fewer could be soldiers.
Based on these facts, it’s not hard to believe that the North won. They were well-prepared, well-populated and well-connected.
(110)
Northern Advantages:
ReplyDelete1. had almost 4x as many free citizens
2. Had a strong navy and a lot of private trading ships
3. had over 70% of railways
Southern Advantages:
1. had a strong reason to fight (defending homeland)
2. had skills to make good soldiers
3. had many of the best officers
Northern Disadvantages:
1. had to conquer huge amounts of land to get the South back.
2. had to fight mostly in unfamiliar land
3. were fighting against men with great spirits of winning
Southern Disadvantages:
1.had very few factories to produce needed supplies
2.had over 1/3 of the population were slaves who they wouldn't let fight.
3. had a smaller population (9 million vs. 22 million)
Based on the information I found, it would make more sense that the North would win. They had way more factories to make guns and ammo (which is highly necessary in a war...) and also had a larger population of men who could be soldiers. (164)
Southern advantages
ReplyDelete1 great military leadership
2 knew the terrain
3 had a good fighting spirit
Southern disadvantages
1 less soldiers and supplies
2 no railroad network or communication lines
3 did not have as much industry as the North
Northern advantages
1 lots of people(soldiers)
2 lots of supplies from industry
3 good railroad network and communication lines
northern disadvantages
1 weak military leadership
2 were the attacking force did not know the terrain
3 war was unpopular in the North
I believe that the North should have won the war because they had better supplies, more soldiers, more railroads, and better communications. While the South had a great fighting spirit and brilliant military leaders it wasn’t enough for the North’s troop numbers and industry.
Northern Advantages
ReplyDelete1. The North had way more people than the South did which gave them more soldiers when they put out draft laws.
2. The North had almost 75% of the nations rail lines letting them transport supplies, soldiers, and many other important things faster.
3. Large navy
Northern Disadvantages
1. The North had to go and conquer the South
2. They didn't know the land
3. Their soldiers weren't trained as well as South
Southern Advantages
1. Had a reason to fight because they were defending their land
2. Had highly skilled soldiers
3. Better leadership
Southern Disadvantages
1. Had fewer factories
2. Didn't have many rail lines for transport
3. Much of their population was enslaved giving them less people to serve as soldiers
I would think the North should win looking at it because they had more soldiers, supplies, and transportation. (145)
north advantages
ReplyDelete1. more men
2. north knew how to access railroads
3. had factories
north disadvantages
1. not as skilled
2. didn't know the land
3. north had to go to the south
south advantages
1. stayed on their land
2. more skilled
3. better generals
south disadvantages
1. not enough railroads
2. not enough factories
3.'south enslaved African Americans giving them less people to choose from
I believe the nor should have won, and they did, because of their men, factories, and courage to end slavery.
South:
ReplyDeleteAdv: 1) fought on their land 2) military leaders 3) fighting spirit
Disadv: 1) many unexperienced soldiers 2) slow communication 3) working against the president
North:
Adv: 1) population 2) recourses 3) rail roads
Disadv: 1) would have to completely take over south 2) going against Brittan and France 3) many unexperienced soldiers
Honestly I feel like this war was pretty even some of the stuff can cancel each other out to simplify it but there still pretty even. I think that when it comes down to it though that the north won because the south was too slow; as far as communication and travel they just couldn't keep up with the north
Advantages for the North:
ReplyDelete-Lots of resources
-Many railroads
-4 times as many free people
Disadvantages for the North:
-Had to conquer a huge area to bring the South back to the Union
-Fought on unfamiliar land (South’s land)
-Had weak generals at times
Advantages for the South:
-Defending homeland which gave them a strong will
-Had skillful soldiers
-Had many great officers
Disadvantages for the South:
-Fewer factories= less supplies
-Few railroads
-Many slaves= less soldiers
After reading from the website and our book, the North had the upper hand I think. They both had their ups and downs but overall the North was stronger. Also, even though the North fighting on unfamiliar land was a disadvantage, I think it was an advantage too. The South’s land and supplies were being destroyed. The North was never affected on their land.
(142)
Advantages for north:
ReplyDelete-The north had more railroads
-They had a larger population
-They also had better resources than the south
Advantages for South
-They had really good officers
-They knew territory
-Had a strong fighting spirit
Disadvantages for North
-They had a lot of area to conquer
-They had a weak military leadership
-They didn't know the land as well.
Disadvantages for the South
-They did not have as many railroads
-They were less productive in the factory area
-They had so many slaves that they did not have as many people able to serve.
I think that the should have won. Over all they had the best chance of winning. They had a lot of advantages. I think that the North's advantages were a lot better than the South's advantages.(132)
North's Advantages
ReplyDelete1. More railroads
2. Better technology
3. More people
North's Disadvantages
1. Unfamiliar with the land
2. South had a big army
3. Weak military
South's Advantages
1. Strong fighters
2. Very resourceful
3. Fought on their own land
South's Disadvantages
1. Not as up to date w/ technology
2. Less railroads
3. Blockades could suffocate the South
I believe that the North should win. They had better technology, which was frequently used, and had a larger army. Even though the South had a better fighting spirit, the North had a better chance. The South just didn't have what it took. (103)
Advantages for the north:
ReplyDelete1) they had almost 4x the amount of free people
2) they had more than 70% of the rail lines in the nation
3) they had a strong navy
Disadvantages for the north:
1) they had to conquer a large area to bring the south back into the Union
2) they had to play offense, which is harder than defense
3) fighting on unfamiliar soil
Advantages for the south:
1) many of the best commanding officers were on their side
2) they knew the terrain
3) played defense
Disadvantages for the south:
1) they had few factories and less rail lines (supplies and transportation)
2) 9 million vs. 22 million
3) Needed European help, but wasn’t recognized as independent
I believe that the north should have won because they had so much more than the south. They had more men, more factories=more supplies, and more rail lines=faster transportation. Even though the south had more spirit and were on their land, the north was just bigger. (169)