1848-1877 1/6/7/2025 Flashcards
What were the conditions for soldiers during the civil war?
Very poor, leading to disease and death
Poor conditions were a significant factor in the suffering of soldiers on both sides.
Who became the superintendent of women nurses during the civil war?
Dorothea Dix
Dix recognized the need for organized nursing support.
Who was the most famous Union nurse during the civil war?
Clara Barton
Barton was known for her efforts in helping soldiers at the front line.
What organization did Clara Barton help to create after the civil war?
The American Red Cross in 1881
The organization was established to provide emergency assistance and disaster relief.
What city did Union forces control along with most of the Mississippi River in spring 1863?
New Orleans
This control was significant for the Union’s strategy in the Civil War.
How long did General Grant besiege Vicksburg?
7 weeks
The siege ended with the Confederacy’s surrender on July 4, 1863.
What was the outcome of the siege of Vicksburg for the Union?
Control of the entire Mississippi River
This cut off Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas from the Confederacy.
What was General Lee’s objective during the Gettysburg campaign?
Capture a major Union city or destroy the Union army
This was part of the Confederate strategy to gain an advantage.
On what date did the Confederates invade Union forces at Gettysburg?
July 1, 1863
This invasion marked the beginning of the crucial battle.
What was the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg?
It became the most crucial and bloodiest battle of the Civil War
The battle resulted in approximately 50,000 casualties.
What was the result of the Battle of Gettysburg for the Confederate army?
Major destruction and retreat back to Virginia
After the battle, the Confederate army could not regain the offensive.
What is the main theme of the Gettysburg Address?
The main theme is the dedication to the principles of human equality and the importance of preserving the Union.
True or False: The Gettysburg Address was delivered during a speech at a cemetery dedication.
True
Fill in the blank: The Gettysburg Address emphasizes the idea of a ‘____ nation’ that was conceived in liberty.
new
Who delivered the Gettysburg Address?
Abraham Lincoln
Which battle is the Gettysburg Address associated with?
The Battle of Gettysburg
Who was General Grant’s key military leader known for aggressive tactics?
General William Tecumseh Sherman
What type of warfare was General Sherman known for?
Total war tactics
What effect did Sherman’s march have on the Confederacy?
Helped to break the spirit of the Confederacy
What significant event did Sherman’s actions coincide with?
Lincoln’s Gettysburg address
Fill in the blank: Sherman was known for setting out on a path of _______.
destruction
What was one of the most memorable actions taken by Sherman during his march?
Burning down most of Atlanta
True or False: Sherman’s tactics were ineffective for the Union.
False
How did General Grant’s tactics contribute to the success of the Union?
By using aggressive tactics, including Sherman’s total war approach
Who was the Democratic nominee in the Election of 1864?
General George McClellan
What was General George McClellan’s platform in the Election of 1864?
For peace
What did the Republicans rename the Unionist party for the Election of 1864?
To attract new voters
Who was nominated as President by the Republicans in the Election of 1864?
President Lincoln
Who was nominated as vice president alongside Lincoln in the Election of 1864?
Andrew Johnson
What was the outcome of the Election of 1864?
Lincoln won his 2nd term
What did the Confederate government attempt to negotiate for?
Peace
However, Lincoln would accept nothing less than restoration of the Union.
What was Jefferson Davis’s stance during the negotiations?
Demanded independence
How many soldiers did General Lee have when he tried to escape?
About 30,000
Where did General Lee surrender to General Grant?
Appomattox Courthouse
On what date did the surrender at Appomattox occur?
April 9, 1865
What was the nature of the interaction between General Lee and General Grant during the surrender?
They treated each other with respect and honor
What’s the main point of the 13th amendment?
No more slavery is allowed in the U.S.
Who assassinated President Lincoln?
John Wilkes Booth
Booth was a Confederate sympathizer.
On what date did Lincoln’s assassination occur?
April 14, 1865
Where was President Lincoln assassinated?
Ford’s Theater in Washington
What happened to Lincoln after he was shot?
He remained unconscious overnight and died the next morning
On what date did President Lincoln die?
April 15, 1865
How many Americans publicly mourned the loss of President Lincoln?
7 million
Why was John Wilkes Booth able to get near Lincoln in fords theater
He was an actor in fords theater
What’s another name for Lincoln’s and Andrew Johnson’s plan for reconstruction?
Presidential reconstruction
What was the period after the Civil War during which the U.S. began to rebuild?
Reconstruction
Lasting from 1865 to 1877.
What did Lincoln believe about the Southern states after the Civil War?
They had never truly left the Union
Lincoln hoped they could be reestablished by meeting a minimum test of political loyalty.
What was Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction known as?
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (10% Plan)
This plan proposed that a Southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10% of its voters swore an oath of allegiance.
What was the name of the bill that proposed a stricter requirement for Southern states’ readmission?
Wade-Davis Bill
This bill required a majority of white males in a state to take an oath of allegiance.
What was Lincoln’s 10% Plan?
A plan for reintegrating Southern states into the Union after the Civil War.
What conditions were required for Confederates to receive full presidential pardons under Lincoln’s 10% Plan?
They had to:
* Take an oath of allegiance to the Union and the U.S. Constitution
* Accept the emancipation of the slaves
How many voters in a Southern state needed to take the loyalty oath for a state government to be reestablished under Lincoln’s 10% Plan?
10% of the voters in that state
What did Lincoln’s proclamation require from each Southern state regarding their state constitution?
Rewrite it to eliminate the existence of slavery.
What were the primary goals of Lincoln’s lenient policy?
To shorten the war and give weight to the Emancipation Proclamation.
True or False: Lincoln’s 10% Plan was a harsh punishment for Confederates.
False
Fill in the blank: Lincoln’s 10% Plan aimed to reintegrate Southern states into the Union as soon as _______ of the voters took the loyalty oath.
10%
Who led the Radical Republicans in Congress?
Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens
What was the main objection of the Radical Republicans to Lincoln’s 10% plan?
It was too lenient for the South
What did the Wade-Davis Bill require from voters in a state?
50% of the voters to take the loyalty oath
What action did Lincoln take regarding the Wade-Davis Bill?
He refused to sign it, pocket vetoing it
What was the consequence of Congress’s powers during the war in relation to the Wade-Davis Bill?
Congress had no choice but to adhere to it
Fill in the blank: The Wade-Davis Bill was championed by the _______.
Radical Republicans
True or False: The Wade-Davis Bill was signed into law by Lincoln.
False
How did Abraham Lincoln pocket veto the Wade-Davis bill?
Lincoln had a lot of documents too deal with and didn’t have time to /purposefly didn’t didn’t deal with the wade davis bill
What was the primary focus of Johnson’s Reconstruction Policy?
To reintegrate the Southern states into the Union after the Civil War
How did Johnson’s Reconstruction Policy differ from Lincoln’s 10% plan?
It included the loss of voting rights for former Confederate leaders and those with over $20,000 in taxable property
Who retained the power to grant individual pardons in Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan?
Andrew Johnson
True or False: Many former Confederate leaders were back in office by the fall of 1865 under Johnson’s plan.
True
How many ex-Confederate states qualified to rejoin the Union eight months after Johnson took office?
11
Fill in the blank: Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan required ex-Confederate states to draw up new constitutions that _______.
repudiated secession
What amendment did the ex-Confederate states have to ratify as part of Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan?
13th amendment
What was a significant consequence of Johnson’s ability to grant pardons?
Many Confederate leaders regained political power
List two key components of Johnson’s Reconstruction Policy.
- Loss of voting rights for certain Confederates
- Requirement to ratify the 13th amendment
What was the primary purpose of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
It acted as a welfare agency for those made destitute by war.
The Freedmen’s Bureau provided assistance to freed blacks and others affected by the Civil War.
What official name was given to the Freedmen’s Bureau?
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedman, and Abandoned Lands.
This name reflects the bureau’s focus on helping refugees and freed individuals.
What authority did the Freedmen’s Bureau have regarding land?
It had the authority to resettle freed blacks on confiscated farmlands in the South.
This was part of the bureau’s efforts to support economic independence for freed individuals.
What happened to the confiscated lands that the Freedmen’s Bureau used to resettle freed blacks?
They were confiscated again and restored to their original owners.
This action undermined the bureau’s efforts to provide stable land ownership for freed individuals.
What were the Black Codes?
Laws that restricted the rights and movements of former slaves
Black Codes were enacted in the Southern states after the Civil War.
What did the Black Codes prohibit regarding land ownership?
Prohibited blacks from either renting land or borrowing money to buy land
This restriction aimed to limit economic opportunities for African Americans.
What was a consequence of the Black Codes for freedmen?
Forced freedmen into becoming vagrants
This often resulted in criminalization of poverty among African Americans.
What restriction did the Black Codes impose on legal testimony?
Prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court
This ensured that African Americans had limited legal recourse.
How did President Johnson alienate Republicans in early 1866?
By vetoing a bill to increase services and protection offered by the Freedmen’s Bureau and vetoing a civil rights bill
These vetoes were seen as opposition to the rights of African Americans.
What was the purpose of the civil rights bill vetoed by Johnson?
To nullify the Black Codes and grant full citizenship and equal rights to African Americans
This bill was part of the broader Reconstruction efforts.
What was the first round of Reconstruction?
The first round of Reconstruction (1863-spring 1866) was directed by presidents Lincoln and Johnson.
What was a key action taken during the first round of Reconstruction?
Restored the 11 ex-Confederate states to their former position in the Union.
What was one consequence of the first round of Reconstruction?
The return of ex-Confederates to high offices.
What legislation was passed by southern legislatures during the first round of Reconstruction?
The passage of the Black Codes.
How did the first round of Reconstruction affect Republicans in Congress?
It angered the Republicans in Congress.
What initiated the second phase of Reconstruction?
The anger of Republicans in Congress over the first round of Reconstruction.
What did Congress do in response to presidential Reconstruction?
Congress adopted a plan that was harsher on southern whites and more protective of freed blacks.
True or False: The second phase of Reconstruction was directed by Congress.
True.
Fill in the blank: The first round of Reconstruction was directed by presidents Lincoln and _______.
Johnson.
True or false: the Black codes were illegal
False
True or false: the Black codes were illegal
False
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 declare regarding African Americans?
It pronounced all African Americans to be U.S. citizens
This repudiated the decision in the Dred Scott case.
What was one of the main purposes of the Civil Rights Act of 1866?
To provide a legal shield against the operation of the southern states’ Black Codes
Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans.
What was a concern of Republicans regarding the Civil Rights Act of 1866?
The law could be repealed if the Democrats ever won control of Congress
This concern led to the search for a more permanent solution.
What legislative actions did Republicans manage to override?
Johnson’s vetoes of both the Freedmen’s Bureau Act and the first Civil Rights Act
This was significant in the context of post-Civil War reconstruction.
What was the Republicans’ response to concerns about the Civil Rights Act?
They looked for a more permanent solution in the form of a constitutional amendment
This led to the introduction of the 14th Amendment.
What was the Reconstruction Act of 1867?
A series of three acts passed by Congress that placed the South under military occupation.
How many military districts were created by the Reconstruction Acts?
Five military districts.
Who controlled the military districts established by the Reconstruction Acts?
The Union army.
What amendment had to be ratified for an ex-Confederate state to gain readmission to the Union?
The 14th Amendment.
What did ex-Confederate states have to guarantee in their constitutions for readmission?
The franchise (right to vote) for all adult males, regardless of race.
Which amendment ensures the right to vote for all adult males, regardless of race?
The 15th Amendment.
True or False: The Reconstruction Acts were passed despite presidential vetoes.
True.
Fill in the blank: The Reconstruction Acts divided the former Confederate states into ______ military districts.
five
What act did Congress pass in 1867 that restricted the president’s ability to remove federal officials?
The Tenure of Office Act
This act required Senate approval for the removal of federal officials or military commanders.
What was the political purpose of the Tenure of Office Act?
To protect the Radical Republicans in Johnson’s cabinet
Notably, this included Sec. of War Edwin Stanton.
Who did President Johnson dismiss in defiance of the Tenure of Office Act?
Edwin Stanton
Johnson believed the law was unconstitutional.
What was the result of Johnson’s dismissal of Stanton?
The House of Representatives impeached Johnson
He was charged with 11 ‘high crimes and misdemeanors.’
Who was the first president to be impeached?
Andrew Johnson
What was the outcome of Johnson’s impeachment trial in the Senate?
Johnson’s political enemies fell one vote short of conviction
7 moderate Republicans joined Democrats against conviction.
What was the required vote percentage to remove a president from office?
Two-thirds vote
Why did some moderate Republicans oppose Johnson’s conviction?
They believed it set a bad precedent for removing a president for political reasons
Fill in the blank: Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives for 11 _______.
high crimes and misdemeanors
True or False: The Tenure of Office Act allowed the president to remove federal officials without Senate approval.
False
What significant event occurred in 1868 during a presidential election year?
The impeachment and trial of Andrew Johnson
This event was crucial in shaping the political landscape of the time.
Who did the Democrats nominate in the 1868 presidential election?
Horatio Seymour
Seymour’s nomination was part of the Democratic strategy to challenge the incumbent presidency.
Who was the Republican nominee for President in 1868?
General Ulysses Grant
Grant was a war hero but had no prior political experience.
How many more popular votes did Grant receive than his Democratic opponent?
300,000 more popular votes
Despite this, the election was closely contested.
What role did African-American votes play in the 1868 election?
They provided the margin of victory for the Republican ticket, totaling 500,000 votes
This highlighted the importance of African-American suffrage in the political process.
What did Republicans recognize about the voting rights of freedmen after the 1868 election?
They needed federal protection to maintain control of the White House
This realization led to further discussions on civil rights and federal legislation.
What term did Democrats use to refer to Southern white Republicans?
Scalawags
Scalawags were often former Whigs who were uncomfortable in the Democratic Party.
What belief did scalawags share regarding the Republican Party?
The Republican Party would serve their economic interests better than the Democrats.
What term did Democrats use for white men from the North who were Republican leaders in the South?
Carpetbaggers
Carpetbaggers were said to have traveled with all their belongings in a carpetbag.
What was the typical background of most carpetbaggers?
Well-educated people of middle-class origin, including doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
What was a significant drive for freedmen after gaining freedom?
Building black communities
This drive aimed to establish independence from white control.
What were two key institutions founded by freedmen?
- Independent African American churches
- Black colleges
These institutions played a vital role in the community and education.
To which states did many freedmen migrate after emancipation?
Frontier states such as Kansas
This migration represented a search for new opportunities and autonomy.
What was a significant drive for freedmen after gaining freedom?
Building black communities
Freedmen sought to establish their own communities to reduce white control.
What institutions were founded by African Americans to support community building?
Independent African American churches and Black colleges
These institutions played a crucial role in fostering community and education.
Which states did many freedmen move to after gaining their freedom?
Frontier states such as Kansas
This migration was part of the larger movement of African Americans seeking new opportunities.
What was the state of the South’s agricultural economy after the war?
In turmoil due to the loss of the labor force
The loss of enslaved laborers significantly impacted agricultural productivity.
What farming practices did landowners turn to due to a lack of labor?
Tenancy and sharecropping
These practices emerged as alternatives to traditional labor arrangements.
Define sharecropping.
A type of farming in which families rent small plots of land from a landowner in return for a portion of their crop
This arrangement often left families in debt and tied to the land.
In a sharecropping arrangement, what do families provide to the landowner at the end of each year?
A portion of their crop
This is typically negotiated as a share of the harvest.
What does the landlord provide in a sharecropping agreement?
Seed and other needed farm supplies
These supplies are essential for planting and maintaining crops.
In a sharecropping arrangement, what portion of the harvest does the landlord typically receive?
½ of the harvest
This division reflects the landlord’s investment in farming supplies.
What was the primary purpose of secret societies formed by southern whites during Reconstruction?
To intimidate blacks and white reformers
These groups aimed to maintain white supremacy and resist the changes brought by Reconstruction.
Who founded the Ku Klux Klan and in what year?
Nathaniel Bedford Forrest in 1867
Forrest was an ex-Confederate general.
What term refers to the Ku Klux Klan’s self-description as a secret society?
Invisible empire
This term emphasized their clandestine operations and goals.
What actions did the Ku Klux Klan take against black-owned buildings?
Burned them
The Klan engaged in violent acts to instill fear in the black community.
What was one method the KKK used to intimidate freedmen?
Flogged and murdered them
These acts were aimed at preventing them from exercising their voting rights.
What legislation did Congress pass in 1870 to address KKK violence?
Force Acts
These acts aimed to empower federal authorities to protect civil rights in the South.
What power did the Force Acts grant to federal authorities?
To stop KKK violence and protect civil rights
The acts were a federal response to the rampant violence and intimidation by the Klan.
What was the Amnesty Act of 1872?
A general amnesty act that removed the last of the restrictions on ex-Confederates, except for the top leaders.
Passed by Congress seven years after Lee’s surrender in the Civil War.
What political consequence did the Amnesty Act of 1872 have?
It allowed southern conservatives to vote for Democrats to retake control of state governments.
This shift was significant in reshaping the political landscape in the South.
True or False: The Amnesty Act of 1872 applied to all ex-Confederates without exception.
False.
The act excluded the top leaders of the Confederacy.
Fill in the blank: The Amnesty Act of 1872 was passed by Congress in _______.
1872
What sentiment was prevalent among many northerners seven years after the Civil War?
Many were ready to put hatred of the Confederacy behind them.
This change in sentiment contributed to the passage of the Amnesty Act.
What were Northerners primarily focused on during the scandals and money crises?
Labor and money
What resulted from the focus on labor and money by Northerners?
Many corrupt schemes by business and political bosses to enrich themselves at the public’s expense
What was the Credit Mobilier Affair?
A dummy corporation for those building the transcontinental railroad
What unethical action did some members of Congress take during the Credit Mobilier Affair?
They were paid off to stay quiet
What was the Whiskey Ring?
A group of officials importing whiskey and using their offices to avoid paying taxes
What was the outcome of the Whiskey Ring’s actions?
Cheated the treasury out of millions of dollars
Who did the Republicans nominate for the election of 1872?
Ulysses S. Grant
Grant was nominated despite the scandals surrounding his administration.
Who did the Liberal Republicans nominate in the election of 1872?
Horace Greeley
The Liberal Republicans had the backing of the Democratic Party.
What phrase did the Republicans use to remind voters of their Civil War victory?
Waved the bloody shirt
This phrase reminded voters that Grant won the Civil War and that the soldiers’ sacrifices should not be in vain.
What was the outcome of the election of 1872?
Grant won his second term.
What event marked the beginning of Grant’s second term?
The Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a significant economic depression that lasted for four years.
How long did the economic depression following the Panic of 1873 last?
4 years
What were the two main causes of the Panic of 1873?
Over speculation by financiers and overbuilding by industries
These causes led to widespread business failures and economic depression.
What did debtors demand during the Panic of 1873?
The creation of greenback paper money
In what year did Grant agree to release additional greenbacks?
1874
Fill in the blank: The Panic of 1873 began with Grant’s _______.
second term
Who did the Republicans nominate for the election of 1876?
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hayes was the governor of Ohio and was chosen to represent the party due to his lack of association with the corruption of the Grant administration.
Who was the Democratic candidate in the election of 1876?
Samuel Tilden
Tilden was the governor of New York and known for his efforts against the corrupt Tweed Ring.
What was the outcome of the popular vote in the election of 1876?
Democrats had won a clear majority
This led to expectations of Tilden becoming president.
Which three southern states had contested returns in the election of 1876?
South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana
These states were critical for Tilden to secure the necessary electoral votes.
How many electoral votes did Tilden need from the contested states to win the election?
One electoral vote
This was essential for him to secure the presidency.
What was created to determine the rightful winner of the disputed electoral votes in 1876?
A special electoral commission
This commission was formed to resolve the disputes over the votes from the contested states.
What was the decision of the electoral commission regarding the contested votes?
The commission gave all the electoral votes to Hayes
This decision was made in a straight party vote of 8 to 7.
What action did outraged Democrats threaten to take after the electoral commission’s decision?
Filibuster the results
They also threatened to send the election to the House of Representatives, which they controlled.
What was the Compromise of 1877?
An informal deal between two parties regarding the presidency and federal support in the South.
This deal involved Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president under specific conditions.
What condition was set for Hayes to become president?
He would end federal support for the Republicans in the South and support building a southern transcontinental railroad.
The compromise aimed to resolve the contested election of 1876.
What action did President Hayes take shortly after his inauguration?
He withdrew the last of the federal troops protecting blacks and other Republicans.
This withdrawal marked the end of Reconstruction efforts in the South.
Fill in the blank: The Compromise of 1877 involved Hayes becoming president on the condition that he would immediately end federal support for the Republicans in the _______.
South
True or False: The Compromise of 1877 included support for building a northern transcontinental railroad.
False
The condition was to support the building of a southern transcontinental railroad.
