Henry McNeal Turner and Ku Klux Klan

Henry McNeal Turner:

Henry McNeal Turner was an important man in our society and helped to form the African American society. He was a pioneering church organizer and missionary for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Turner also helped organize Georgia's Republican Party. Because of Turner's efforts and those of the black leaders before him, blacks were put onto the Georgia Legislature when the South was split. Unfortunately the white legislators did not agree with having blacks hold an office. So when the South was divided back into a whole, rather than military sections, the Democrats claimed that the right to vote did not equate to the right to he office. Therefore they kicked the African Americans out of office. The Federal government did not like the whites' attitude towards this and put the black people back on the legislature. Henry McNeal Turner changed the legislature in Georgia forever. He was one of the first black politicians and has been remembered throughout the nation.

Ku Klux Klan:

The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 and originated as a secret society after the war. The society soon became America's first domestic terrorists. Their initial goal was to stop blacks from voting and they attempted to deprive blacks of their rights. The society directed their violence at white, but mainly black, Republican leaders. Anyone who working to guarantee blacks' civil rights was targeted. The Ku Klux Klan was formed by Confederate soldiers but soon many other whites had a part in it. The Klan would burn crosses, stage rallies, parades and marches to prevent immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and blacks from exercising their rights and religions. During the civil rights movement of the 1960s the Ku Klux Klan also rained terror. They burned black schools and churches. The Great Depression in the 1930s finally out a stop to the Ku Klux Klan, but some actions still were carried out by individuals. President Lyndon Johnston's speech was what really ended the society. Their violence stopped and they finally disbanded. Even though the Klan is long gone, no one can forget the terror they caused.

Gettysburg and Chickamauga

Gettysburg:

     On July 1st, 1863, after the Battle of Chancellorsville, a second attack occurred: the Battle of Gettysburg. This war was located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, up north. General Robert E. Lee hoped to threaten Northern cities, encourage the North to stop fighting, and to help the peace movement in the North by winning a war on Northern grounds. Once Abraham Lincoln found out about this attack he sent Gen. George Gordon Meade to Pennsylvania to stop the invasion. Lee, having heard that Meade was moving to Pennsylvania, commanded his troops to march to Gettysburg instead. The two armies met and the fighting began. The Confederates managed to move the Union back towards Cemetery Hill and Culp's hill, slowing down the Union's forces. The battle went on till July 3rd and on the second day, the Union succeeded in holding their ground. Battles occurred in Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard and Cemetery Ridge, all while the Union defended the hills around Gettysburg. On the last day of fighting (July 3rd), the Confederates suffered a great loss at Culp's hill. General Lee lead his forced towards Culp's hill intending to invade the Union line. However the South had no such luck and had to retreat back to Virginia, marking the Battle of Gettysburg as a Union victory. After the battle, Abraham Lincoln held a dedication at the Gettysburg's Soldiers National Cemetery to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers in the Union. In addition, because of the Battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln had to re-state the reason for war in the Gettysburg address. 

Chickamauga:

      Following the Tullahoma Campaign, the Battle of Chickamauga began on September 18th, 1863; a few months after the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle lasted till September 20th, killing 34,624 soldiers. William S. Rosecrans, commander of the Union army, planned to push the South out of Chattanooga by force. Rosecrans planted his soldiers in Tennessee and Georgia, closing in on the Confederate army and leading them south. The Union army chased the Confederates down to Davis' Cross Roads. Braxton Bragg, commander of the Confederate army, was tired off being driven away and decided to create an attack on the Union army. On the 17th, the Confederates attacked the Union line, but the Northerners held strong. The next day Southern soldiers returned and fighting began at Horseshoe Ridge and Snodgrass Hill. The Confederates succeeded in pushing the Union army put of the field. The Northerners retreated back to Chattanooga while the South controlled Chickamauga.

Sharecropping/Tenant farming and Reconstruction Plans

Share cropping and Tenant farming:

During the reconstruction after the Civil War, share cropping was invented. Share cropping was an agricultural system developed in the South that improved farming. In this system, people farmed land that belonged to someone else. The sharecropper pays rent using half of the crop he raises and doesn't bring anything besides his own labor. They buy tools for their landowners in order to work the land. Being a sharecropper means you rarely had a chance to make any profit or save money, which is why tenant farming was created instead. Tenant farming is a "step up" from sharecropping. The farmers paid for their own tools and animals instead of buying it, but the landowners still provided the house and land. The good thing coming out of this system was that the sharecroppers were able to make money because the owners paid cash or shared the crops at the end at the year.

Reconstruction plans:

Once the Civil War ended, Lincoln put into effect his reconstruction plans. Abraham Lincoln wanted to quickly return the Southern states to the Union and make the nation a whole again. The Southerners and Southern states were forgiven for all the damage they caused during the Civil War once they took an oath of allegiance. When 10% of the voters took the oath, the state they lived in could rejoin the nation and form a state government. Once Lincoln died Johnston became President and took over the reconstruction plans. He agreed with Lincoln's ideas and helped to improve the 13th Amendment. Johnston had the states nullify their documents that they created to secede. Even though Johnston agreed with Lincoln's plan, that didn't mean the Congress did. Congress disagreed with all of President Johnston's plans and tried to override all of his ideas. They required the ratification of the 14th Amendment and placed the states under military rule. In the end, the President and Congress agreed on rules and bills and a new nation was formed.

New Amendments:

Because of the Civil War and the Reconstruction plans, new amendments were added to the constitution. The 13th Amendment was created first and it forbid slavery in the U.S. This amendment was passed by President Johnston on January 31, 1865 and was ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. The next amendment that was approved was the 14th. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to freedmen and equal protection under the law. It also prevented former Confederate officials from holding office. This amendment was important because it expanded the protection of civil rights to all Americans and allowed blacks to become citizens of the U.S. The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868. The final amendment created during the reconstruction period was the 15th Amendment which granted the right all men the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment allowed more African Americans to hold spots in office and become leaders. The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870.

Andersonville and Freedman's Bureau

Andersonville:

Throughout the war, many prisoners were taken hostage and tortured. One of the most famous prisons in the South was Andersonville. The camp was held in Andersonville, Georgia and was also known as Camp Sumter. It was built in 1864 when Confederate generals wanted to move their prison camp to a location that contained more food and better security. The camp started as a prison in February 1864, bringing in 400 soldiers each day. It was designed for 10,000 prisoners but held 30,000. Prisoners living at the prison camp suffered from swarms of insects, filth, and disease generates by the contaminated water supply. The critics were confused that the confederate government could not find enough supplies to move prisoners far away. The living space for the prisoners was in horrible condition. The small stream where they got their water was polluted, inmates didn't treat one another well, and gangs formed for protection. The prisoners slept in "shebangs" which were crude dwellings made from various items. Prisoners showed compassion by sharing their "shebangs" and caring for the sick. Captives attempted to be clean by using sand as soap to clean their clothes. With a large number of prisoners located at the camp, many guards were needed. Henry Wirz was one of those guards who was received as hostile and was a primary target for prisoners. Wirz was sentenced to death and hung in a courtyard because of war crimes. He was the only person tried and executed for war crimes during the Civil War. In August 1864, the prison's population decreased because as Sherman marched closer, the commanders transferred the prisoners in fear of an attack. When the infantry left, the GA militia took over and attempted to maintain control by creating a line consisting of weapons separating prisoners and guards. When the war ended Andersonville became a cemetery and a memorial. Andersonville is currently a state park which is still located in Georgia.

Freedman's Bureau:

In the year of 1865, Freedman's Bureau was created. Freedman's Bureau was an organization formed by Radical Republicans with the goal of helping to protect the rights of freed blacks. Missionaries associated with the Bureau started schools with the assistance of northern school teachers. The Bureau's task was to "help the Southern blacks and whites make the transition from slavery to freedom." (www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_freed.html)
The Bureau also settled arguments between white landowners and their black labor force, and granted justice for blacks in court. In 1866, President Andrew Johnston vetoed the Bureau's congressional bill because he thought it was unconstitutional. But Congress ended up passing a bill over his veto. Freedman's Bureau accomplished down of their goals including whites allowing blacks to set up their own church congregations with Bureau resources. But sadly, its staff was cut in 1869 and it stopped operations in 1872.

Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's to Sea

Atlanta Campaign:

The Atlanta Campaign was in the spring of 1864. The Union army, with Sherman as their general, wanted to take control of Atlanta and force Confederate soldiers out of it. The Union wanted to capture Atlanta for strategic and political reasons. Atlanta was a major rail center that the Confederates depended on for supplies and weapons. In addition, if the Union had a victory, it would ensure that Abraham Lincoln got re-elected. Sherman and his army needed Atlanta because it was a major city in the South. Atlanta was the capital city for the Confederate army. So Sherman took the Union army to Atlanta and attempted to control it. But the confederates weren't going to give up without a fight. Jefferson Davis sent his army, along with Generals Lee and Johnston, to protect Atlanta. Sadly, the Confederates had no hope in prevailing. The Union army was strong and massive. They slaughtered the Confederate and took hold of Atlanta. The capture was crucial because it increased Northern support and ensured Lincoln's re-election. The victory also ensured that the South would not come back and re-use the city or railroads for military purposes. It is said that after the campaign ended, General Lee replaced Johnston because he wasn't aggressive enough and would always retreat. The Atlanta Campaign was a major battle because it set up the plan for Sherman's March to Sea.

Sherman's March:

Sherman's March began in February 1864. William Sherman served with Ulysses S. Grant as generals of the Union army. At this point in the war, the Union desperately needed a victory. Sherman purposed that he march down to the sea, all the while wreaking havoc on the South states. Sherman hoped that by doing this, the war would end quickly because the Confederates would be scared to fight. He also hoped to destroy their main means of supplies and weapons. General Sherman waited in Atlanta, after the Atlanta Campaign, for the approval of his battle plan. Once it was approved, Sherman took his soldiers and began his march, heading to Tennessee. There Sherman meet up with the Confederate army who was under the command of John Hood. Hood was no match for Sherman and the Unions. The Union army outnumbered the Confederates and had more advanced technology. During his march, Sherman cut off all communication with the remaining Union armies. By December 1864, William Sherman had marked a forty to sixty mile line of destruction through Georgia and had captured Savannah. He then continued on to South Carolina, angry at them for seceding form the Union first. By February 1864, Sherman had taken Columbia and South Carolina hostage and was well on his way to North Carolina. On April 26th, 1865, Johnston and all the troops in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida surrendered. This was the biggest surrender for the Confederate army. This march was important because it caused Lincoln to be re-elected and railroads were destroyed , causing Confederate supply lines to stop. In addition, the capture of Atlanta was demoralizing for Southern citizens and because of the march, there were cracks in the Confederate military. Sherman's March was an important historical ever never to be forgotten. The March was so destructive that a few months later the South pulled out of the war, causing an end to the Civil War.

Union Blockade:

The Union blockade of Georgia's coast was when the Union army prevented supplies from entering Georgia's coast and ports. The Union hoped that this military strategy would limit the supplies going to the Confederate army, therefore the South would not be as prepared or advanced as the North.

Antietam and Emancipation Proclamation

Battle of Antietam:

On September 16th through 18th, 1862 the first major battle in the Civil War was fought. The battle was in Washington County, Maryland and was the single bloodiest day in American Military history. Throughout the war, the South's job was to defend their nation, but during the Battle of Antietam General Robert E. Lee decided to send his troops to Maryland to invade the North. Lee's plan was not as successful as he had planned. The Confederate Army was outnumbered 2-1 by the Union army. In addition, General McClellan had a copy of General Lee's plans because a confederate soldier had left it at the campgrounds. Both sides struggled for a victory but the Union did manage to repel a confederate advance to the North. The Union also succeeded in getting the European powers to avoid helping the South in the war. During one of the attacks at Antietam creek, General Lee sent out all his troops to fight while General McClellan only sent out less than three-quarters of his army. Because of McClellan's delicate and time-consuming attacks, his full army was used and the Confederate army was able to gain an advantage. General Lee and his army retreated in order to help their wounded. Much to Abraham Lincoln's distaste, McClellan did not follow the Confederates. The battle is considered a tie from military standards but Abraham Lincoln and the Union army consider it a win for them because the South didn't gain any land.

Emancipation Proclamation:

The Battle of Antietam gave Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863. The Proclamation stated that all slaves living in "rebellious" states were freed and slaves living in "border" states, such as Delaware, Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky were not free. The slaves' freedom depended on Union victory. Changes were made to the war, such as a change in focus and new soldiers, as the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. The document added a "moral force" to the war, by freeing the slaves. It also gave the Union new soldiers. Free black slaves were accepted into the Union Army and Navy. The focus of the war changed from keeping the Union together to freedom. The Emancipation Proclamation was important because it paved way for the 13th Amendment.

Clara Barton:

Clara Barton was a relief organizer and humanitarian in the early years of the civil war. Barton began an early education and later started her own school in Borden-town, New Jersey in 1853. She had many anti-slavery opinions and worked at charities and philanthropies in Washington. When the civil war broke out, Clara Barton went to care for the wounded soldiers at the Washington Infirmary. Barton cured bloody men and made food for them. She travelled with the Union army to their battles, healing the Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners. Her many supplies and tools made her work popular throughout the army. Her work required her to work so closely to the battle that many accidents occurred. During one of her battles, a bullet went through her sleeve and killed the man she was healing. In 1880, Clara Barton established The American Red Cross Association and held the office as president until 1904. She died in 1912 when she was ninety-one years old.

Election of 1860 and Secession of GA

Election of 1860:

Once the year of 1860 came around it was time to vote. The Democrats and the Republicans were two parties who had very different views, but they both had to pick a candidate for the upcoming election. The Democrats met in Charleston, Carolina to choose their candidate. The voting wasn't as easy as they thought. Northern Democrats wanted to elect Stephen Douglas because they believe he would be their best chance at beating the Republicans. The Southern Democrats considered Stephen Douglas a traitor because he had passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed states to chose whether to be slave or not. Mad about the North's decision, the South Democrats left (the meeting) without choosing a candidate. Later, they chose Vice-President John C. Breckenridge. Seeing that the Democratic party had split, the Republicans choose their best candidate: Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was a man who was able to win the electoral college and could manage the remaining uncertain states: New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. In the end, Abraham Lincoln ended up winning. The results pf the election made the South angry and led to the secession of Georgia.

Secession of Georgia:

After the surprising election of 1860, the South was having problems with the new president. Their reaction to the elections was so bad that they decided to secede from the union. The idea to secede was brought upon by the previous tensions over state and federal power, caused by the U.S constitution. By Georgia decided to secede, then most of the other Southern states seceded too. The North and South were split apart and each became their own temporary "countries". But not everyone was all for seceding. People who wanted to secede from the union were called Secessionists. People who were still uncertain were called Cooperationists. At the end of their meeting (held in the capital of Milledgeville) the decision was made to secede from the union, an event led by the state of Carolina. This secession, brought upon by Georgia, was initially the start of the war against the North and South.

Andrew Stephens:

Andrew Stephens was a cooperationist and an anti-slavery man. He worked as a teacher but then became a lawyer. Stephens assisted in passing the Compromise of 1850. He didn't like the idea of seceding but he knew it was unavoidable. If that was what the whole state wanted, then that was what was going to happen. Andrew Stephens was later elected as the Vice-President of the Confederacy because of his status as a former unionist. Once Stephens was elected into office, he and President Jefferson Davis worked together to decide what was best for the Confederacy. The two got along well at first but as their work became more hectic and strained, their bond began to weaken. Andrew Stephens was not a military man so he and President Davis argued over issues dealing with the military. After serving his term as Vice-President, Stephens was elected as governor of Georgia. He ended up dying in office on March 4, 1883.

GA platform:

Even though the Compromise of 1850 and the Missouri Compromise had already been passed throughout the country, slavery still posed a threat to the Union and Confederacy. In addition, new territorial gains and westward expansion contributed to the problems that faced the nation. To resolve all these issues, the GA platform was created. This platform stated that Georgia would accept the Compromise of 1850 if the North agreed to the Fugitive Slave Act. The South was happy with the platform, but the North wasn't. The GA platform prevented the North from expanding and pushing slavery into new territories. Over the course of the years, the terms of the GA platform began to wither down and the tensions between the North and South increased. All these events led up to the final war: the Civil War.