The course of the Civil War: military campaigns; the reasons for the final defeat of the Confederacy
The Civil War moved through several decisive military campaigns between 1861 and 1865. A combination of Union military pressure, economic strangulation, and Confederate internal weaknesses eventually forced the South to surrender.
Real World
Grant's Vicksburg campaign (1863) split the Confederacy along the Mississippi, cutting off Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas from the eastern states — a geographic strangulation strategy comparable to how naval blockades were used to isolate enemy economies in both World Wars.
Exam Focus
When explaining Confederate defeat, use a hierarchy: structural weaknesses first, then turning-point battles — avoid a simple narrative of events.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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