Module 5 Discussion Board

Directions,
This order is a discussion post, therefore must include an initial response to the prompt, and two secondary responses. These secondary responses of are students who have already replied to the initial post. These responses must be insightful and add to the discussion. The initial response MUST be at least 200 words, and the secondary responses must be at least 75 words each. The order must adhere to APA format, include appropriate in-text citations, and it MUST include a reference page.
Example of in-text citation: (Last Name, Year of Publication, Paragraph Number/Page Number)

Initial Post,
In brief, why did the Union win the Civil War? Was there anything the Confederacy could have done to stave off defeat?

Student Responses,
Joshua
Why did the Union win the Civil War? Well there’s quite a few reasons. The Union was massive when it came to militia size, weapons, industrial power, and the political leaders whom contributed victories (in a row victories) on the battlefield. The Confederacy was outnumbered due to most if not all of their soldiers coming from the South, the very place and rights they were defending. In 1861 they were equal but by 1863, it was 2 to 1 in favor of the Union. Basically as we all know, it was “the United States of America as a whole versus 11 states”…..good luck.

Another reason based off many historians was the cracks from inside of the Confederate South. There were massive social divisions, mostly due to the disagreements upon negro slaves and their treatment. Many weren’t falling in line with the ways of the South and that caused problems, all while going to war against a very strong Union.
Is there anything the Confederates could’ve done to stave off defeat? Absolutely not, they were losing badly by 1862, just the second year. How they lasted as long as they did is honestly a mystery. Outmanned, outsmarted, outgunned and just about the whole 9 yards under the title of “out-something”, they lost the moment they declared war against one of the most powerful country’s in the world (there own). The North’s White population was massive and then they started enlisting Blacks to fight while the South…was way too late. In fact, they were so badly outnumbered that the Union could’ve enlisted the entire population of New York and Pennsylvania alone and they still would’ve won. The Confederacy also failed to get Europe on their side due to President Jefferson Davis being arrogant enough to think that he could force Europe to the side of the Confederacy by not shipping cotton at the beginning of the war….big mistake. In fact Davis was so much on his high horse that their defeat was almost cemented.
In conclusion and to put it simply, the United States of America as a country was just too overwhelming for the Confederate South. If it were to happen again today, the result would still be the same if not worse.

Chanda
The Confederacy launched an impressive assault and defense against the Union, during the four year long Civil War. The Confederacy seemed destined to failure, because the Union had multiple factors in their favor. The North was known to have the majority of manufacturing and industry. The South was known for Agriculture, and relied heavily on imports. The North had most of the capability to manufacture weapons, and had the most firearms. The Union had the majority of lead to make rifles, pistols, and cannons too.
The Union outnumbered the Confederacy. The Union’s population was around 22 million. The Confederacy numbered around 9 million, 4 million of which were slaves. When 1 in 7 slaves fled the South and many joined the Union army, the Confederacy was ill-fated. Union soldiers outnumbered Confederate soldiers by double. The Confederacy did have some brilliant military strategists and leaders, but so did the Union Army.
The North had a stronger Naval force too. They employed a strategy early in the war of blocking Southern ports. This kept the South from importing weapons and goods. This also hurt the South economically, because they could not export their cotton and other cash crops to earn money to fund the war. The North had more railroads and were better equipped to transport war materials and medical supplies rapidly. Sherman’s March to the Sea produced destruction of Southern homes, livestock, crops, food, and military supplies. Many people in the South were starving.
I am a Southerner and most of my family are from the South. I have great love for the South. That said, I do not think the South was destined to win the Civil War and preserve slavery. I think slavery was cruel. Slaves were thought of as property and not humans. They were raped, killed, beaten, starved, hurt, and separated from their children and families. I think God heard their prayers and delivered them to freedom. The South was filled with pride and greed. The Bible does say that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty (arrogant or prideful) spirit before a fall.” For all of these reasons, I do not think the Confederacy could have staved off defeat, no matter what they tried.