What advantage was the Confederacy missing that could have had the US Civil War turn in its favor?

Answer 1

Smaller population from which to recruit armies.

Lack of industrial manufacturing, resulting in lack of modern artillery.

Effects of the Union naval blockade - they couldn't export their cotton in exchange for war-supplies.

Free nations abroad were prevented from aiding the Confederates by Lincoln's issue of the Emancipation Proclamation - it would make them look pro-slavery themselves.

Answer 2

• At the outset of the war they had the majority of the most experienced and talented generals and other commanders from the then extant Army.
• They were fighting on their home territory - which they were more familiar with.
• Their forces were defending their homes - which is usually a stronger motivation than ideology (like maintaining the Union)
• Their men were mostly a lot more familiar with horse riding than the Northern forces (i.e. the Northern forces were more likely to have been urban than rural) - making them a better mounted cavalry
• Even those who were never previously soldiers were more likely to have been familiar with shooting (and better shots) than the newly drafted Northern soldiers.
• Since they were in their home territory, their supply lines were shorter.
• Use of slave labor freed up a larger fraction of the men for military service than in the North.

Answer 3

The Confederacy was missing more than one element that would have turned the US Civil War in their favor. Foremost was the almost total agrarian economy it had instead of a more diversified one that had more factories. The South had to build its industrial base almost from nothing to one that at least was able to manufacture ammunition and firearms. The South never lost a battle due to the lack of the afore mentioned items.

Answer 4

The Confederate States of America faced tremendous disadvantages in its battle for independence. Some of the major ones were:* A small population from which it could raise armies;

* No navy to protect its ports and harbors;

* A potentially hostile large slave population; and

* A small industrial base for manufacturing war materials.