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How did the ideas on warfare established by Carl Von Clausewitz match the goals of the Union and Confederacy in the US Civil War?
ChuckSiata
Military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz wrote that wars are basically one of two types. One such type is the over throw of the enemy, making that enemy powerless and politically helpless. And or militarily impotent. This perfectly matched what the Union had to do to end the Southern rebellion. The other type of war described by Clausewitz was one to merely occupy some of the enemy's frontiers or territories. Annexation could then be used as bargaining chips at a peace negotiations.
This type of war fits a good portion of the Southern strategy. Yes, the South placed itself on the defense for practical purpose. Yet prior to and during the US Civil War, attempts were made to have the border slave states join the Confederacy.
Lee hoped he could do that in Maryland. At Gettysburg his plan was stay in Pennsylvania and force the Union to negotiate.
Attempts were also made in Missouri and Kentucky.
Had the South made inroads in any of these important states, it would be likely that President Lincoln would never be reelected. In fact, if Southern progress in the border states was successful from 1862 to 1863, the Union would either have to abandon the war, or come to terms with the South out of necessity.
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Who was Carl von Clausewitz?
Carl Von Clausewitz (1780 - 1831) was a Prussian soldier best known for his military treatise, 'Von Kriege' (On War) and the famous quote, "war is the continuation of politics by other means". Clausewitz learned allot about warfare by participating in Prussian wars under Frederick the Great. His excellent publication called "On War" is still a widely read book on warfare. In fact his ideas concerning culmination points appeared in a US Army Field manual as late as 1982. Clausewitz and Henri Jomini had a degree of influence on the commanding officers on both sides of the US Civil War.
What can be said about political appointments to military positions according to theorists Jomini and Clausewitz?
Perhaps the two most referred to military authorities on 19th Century warfare, Henri Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz had slightly different views on political appointments to generalships that may apply to the US Civil War. Jomini studied the US Civil War and he opposed political appointments that both presidents Lincoln and Davis made. Some readers of both military theorists claim that Clausewitz would have understood it based on his argument that policy creates war, and the US Civil War was the result of political policies. There was, however, agreement between these theorists on this: That generals were made not born. There was nothing to prevent a politician, with the necessary attributes and study of warfare to become a capable general. US Civil War political appointees however, were not much inclined to study warfare before engaging the enemy.
Was Otto Von Bismarck influenced by Clausewitz?
Yes, Bismarck was one of the few who read and understood him at the time. He was especially influenced in Clausewitz's military theory. Additionally, US West Pointers used Clausewitz to a good degree in the US Civil War.
What state was part of another state before the civil war?
Before the Civil War, the state of West Virginia was part of Virginia. Unionists did not support the Confederacy and established West Virginia in 1863.
During the civil war was Texas a member of the confederacy or the union?
Confederacy
What was the confederacy in the civil war 1860?
The Confederacy as a nation did not exist in 1860.
What did Carl von Clausewitz believe was the key to the successful destruction of a defeated army?
Military theorist, Carl von Clausewitz wrote his works on warfare based on the Prussian wars and the Napoleonic era wars. He observations determined that very often a defeated army could maneuver a successful retreat and live to fight another day. This was frequently the result of US Civil War battles. For Clausewitz, a strong cavalry was the key to the pursuit required to hamper an enemy army's retreat. In the US Civil War, the value of cavalry troops were lessened due to the firepower of rifles. Therefore, no effective pursuit of a defeated army was available.
How can you use the word confederacy in a sentence?
The Confederacy lost the United States Civil War.The states formed a confederacy. We joined the confederacy.
Would military theorists have predicted that General Sherman's methods of warfare would defeat the Confederacy?
Historians familiar with the leading military theorists of the early 19th century believe that Union General Sherman's style of a scourged earth warfare would not convince theorists such as Carl Von Clausewitz or Henri Jomini that this could defeat the South. For them the South encompassed an area too large for the Union to conquer with the forces the Union made available, especially when opposed by a strong national resistance. It should be noted that these are opinions of certain, not all US Civil War historians.
What opposed the confederacy in the civil war?
The Union or Federal forces opposed the Confederacy.
Who was involved in the civil was?
The union and the confederacy.
Who was the confederacy in the civil war?
The South.
