“Political leaders were more significant than military leaders during the Civil War.” Discuss.

The question requires that the candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that political leaders were more significant than military leaders during the Civil War. Candidates may offer equal coverage of political leaders and military leaders, or they may prioritize their discussion of significance. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the significance of Lincoln for the Union and Jefferson Davis for the Confederacy. Military leaders that might be discussed could include McClellan, Meade, Hooker, Burnside, Grant or Sherman for the North. For the South: Lee, Jackson, Stuart, Johnston Longstreet or Forrest could be discussed. Candidates might argue that the significance of political and military leaders varied at different times during the war or on the eventual outcome of the war. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that the candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that political leaders were more significant than military leaders during the Civil War. A few candidates chose to discuss the relative importance of political versus military leaders during the US Civil War. Most were competent and asserted the importance of Lincoln as a political leader. However, the majority concentrated on the military efforts of Grant for the North and Lee for the South.