Civil War Flashcards
What is Sectionalism?
Excessive devotion to local interests and customs to a region of a nation.
What were the causes of the Civil War?
Sectionalism Slavery Election of 1860 States' Rights Tariffs
Why was slavery a cause of the Civil War?
- The South viewed slavery as a necessity to maintaining economic wealth. The North viewed it as unconstitutional.
- Moral + Political issue: more slaves = more power in congress.
Why was the Election of 1860 a cause of the Civil War?
Abe Lincoln was a republican, so when he was elected, the South believed that their rights would no longer be respected.
What is States’ Rights?
Whether each state had the right to determine whether or not to follow federal laws.
•South supported
•North did not
The South believed they had the right to succeed from the Union if they wanted.
What were Tariffs?
Tax on imported goods.
•North believed the Fed. Gov. had the power to make laws that applied to states, including taxes
•South was angry that Congress used its power to impose taxes on their produce.
Who was the president of the Union?
Abraham Lincoln
Who were the Union generals?
Ulysses S. Grant
William T. Sherman
George Meade
George B. McClellan
Who was the the president of the Confederacy?
Jefferson Davis
Who were the Confederate generals?
Robert E. Lee
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
James Longstreet
James E. B. Stewart
Who was Nat Turner + what did he do?
He was a slave who led 70 (+) men from house to house and killed every white person they saw (55).
Who was John Brown?
He was an abolitionist who led his followers to Harpers Ferry, West VA + marched to free the slaves.
What was the significance of Dred Scott?
He was a slave that sued for his freedom, but Justice Roger Taney ruled:
- slaves are not citizens, so they can’t sue
- slaves are property + can be taken anywhere
- 5th amendment protects property, congress couldn’t ban slavery from any territory
What is an abolitionist?
Someone who wants to/does abolish slavery.
Who were the predominate abolitionists?
John Brown, William Lloyd Garrison, Fredrick Douglass
What were the North and South colors?
North: blue
South: gray
What were the North’s advantages?
Population (22 million)
90% of goods (especially munitions)
Efficient railroad systems
Controlled navy (blockade)
What were the South’s advantages?
Excellent generals (Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jackson)
Defensive war
Farmers fought better than factory workers
What were the North’s disadvantages?
Offensive war
Efficient generals, not as good as the Souths
What were the South’s disadvantages?
Smaller pop. (9 mil. + 3.5 mil. slaves)
Had to import goods + little munitions
Difficulty getting $$$
What was the North’s strategy?
The Anaconda Plan: blockade South, eventually North would control Mississippi River, army would invade + capture southern cities + capital (Richmond, VA)
What was the South’s strategy?
King Cotton: defensive strategy, become allies w/ France + England
What was the Missouri Compromise?
Drew an imaginary line @ 36•30’
above that line: no slaves… below: slaves
What was the Compromise of 1850?
Territories could decide whether they wanted to be a free or slave state. Fugitive Slave Act: had to return runaway slaves to their owners.
What was the Kansas/Nebraska Act?
Left it up to settlers on whether to become a free or slave state (popular sovereignty)
Significance of Fort Sumter.
Confederates won. Confederates fired first shots of Civil War.
Significance of First Bull Run/Manassas, VA.
Confederates won. Initial confederate victory.
Significance of Shiloh.
Union won. One of the bloodiest battles of Civil War.
Significance of War at Sea/Monitor + Merrimac.
Tie. Ironclad ship, revealed the future of naval warfare.
Significance of Antietam/Battle of Sharpsburg.
Union won. Bloodiest day, gave Lincoln the victory he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Significance of Fredricksburg.
Confederates won. Ambrose Burnside, General Joseph Hooker.
Significance of Vicksburg.
Union won. North now had control of Mississippi River.
Significance of Gettysburg.
Union won. Turning point of war, South did not invade the North, Union General Meade was fired.
Significance of Sherman’s March to the Sea.
Union won.
Significance of the Surrender at Appomattox.
Union won. Lee’s army had diminished, which contributed to Union General Grant’s many victories near the end of the war. In a sign of respect, Grant allowed Lee to keep his saber + horse.
What is a border state?
A state in the North that has slaves.
What was Bleeding Kansas?
When Northern + Southern settlers both flooded into Kansas to try to get votes.
Supporters of slavery invaded towns, burned a hotel, looted homes, etc.
Anti-slavery forces, led by John Brown, dragged 5 men from their homes and killed them.
What did Lincoln say in the Lincoln/Douglass debate?
- A house divided among itself cannot stand
- A government cannot endure half slave/half free
- Slavery is a MORAL issue. (Either right or wrong)
What did Douglass say in the Lincoln/Douglass debate?
- In the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court had decided the issue of slavery forever
- Slavery was legal
What was the Minie Ball?
Easily loaded ammunition, that caused devastating injuries
What was an artillery projectile?
Indirect fired weapon with much longer range
What was the tin can?
Preserved soldiers food much longer
What was the submarine?
Hand cranked propeller, steam powered underwater vessels
What was the gatling gun?
A machine gun on wheels
What was a rifled barrel?
Spiraled grooves in the barrel of a gun, much more accurate
What were torpedoes?
Detonated electronically, like the mines of today, not self propelled
Remember RAILROAD + TELEGRAPH
Remember RAILROAD + TELEGRAPH
Who made the Dred Scott decision?
Justice Roger Taney
What was the confederate capital?
Richmond, VA
What was the significance of free/slave states prior to the Civil War?
What ever side (N/S) had more slaves, they had more power in Congress.
Who killed Lincoln?
John Wilkes Booth
Where was Lincoln killed?
Ford’s Theatre
How did Lincoln die?
Got shot in the back of the head while watching a play.
What was the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation?
It tried to free slaves in the South, but couldn’t.
What was the significance of Gettysburg address?
.
What was the legacy of the Civil War?
Led to the passage of the 13th, 14th, + 15th amendments.
Abolished slavery.
Established the supremacy of the federal government.
