Civil War Introduction Flashcards
Define casualty
The number of dead, wounded, missing, or imprisoned after a battle. (No longer able to fight = casualty)
Define infantry
A soldier who fights on foot
What was the Gettysburg Address?
The speech given by President Lincoln praising the bravery of Union soldiers and stating his commitment to winning the Civil war
Define Emancipation
Freedom from bondage (like a slave)
Define Proclamation
A public declaration
Define the border states + Name them.
States that had slavery but were still a part of the union; located between the North and the South
Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland
What was the Union’s uniform color?
Blue
What were some nicknames given to the Union?
Federals/Feds; Yankees
What was the Union’s capital city?
Washington, D.C.
What was the Union’s goal going into the Civil War?
To preserve the Union (After the Emancipation Proclamation: To stop slavery)
Who was the President of the Union?
Abraham Lincoln
Who is the Union General?
George McClellan
Who was Ulysses S. Grant and what was his nickname?
Commander of Union Armies; Unconditional surrender
What did William Tecumseh Sherman? Union or Confederacy?
Union; led march to the sea through Georgia and burned everything.
What did Winfield Scott do? Union or Confederacy?
Designed Anaconda plan; union
Name strengths of the Union (3 things)
- Greater Population (22 Million)
- More roads, canals, and railroads (easier transportation)
- More exports = more money = more supplies
Weaknesses of the Union (5 things)
- Offensive war strategy; had to invade the south (unfamiliar with the land)
- Had to transport supplies over a long distance
- Soldiers had less conviction than the south (Changed by the Emancipation Proclamation
- High turnover of generals at the beginning of the war (better generals in south)
- Less military experience than south (hunting, etc)
What was the Union’s strategy plan to winning the war?
The Anaconda plan
Whose idea was the anaconda plan?
Winfield Scott
How would the Anaconda plan work?
- Blockade around southern ports, thus limiting exports and hurting south’s economy.
- Cut off supplies
- Divide the region by gaining control of the Mississippi River
What color were the Confederates?
Grey
What were the Confederates often nicknamed?
Rebels, Johnny Reb
Capital cities of the Confederacy:
Montgomery, Alabama (1st) then Richmond, VA (most valuable state but closer to the north)
What was the Confederates’ main goal in the civil war?
To maintain independence + slavery
President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis
Who is Robert E. Lee?
A general graduate of West Point for the Confederacy
Who was Stonewall Jackson?
A Confederate general
Stonewall Jackson died where? From what?
Battle of Chancellorsville; friendly fire (killed by own side)
Who was George Pickett?
A Confederate general at Gettysburg
Name the strengths of the Confederacy (4 things)
- Strong military tradition; skilled officers
- Farms provided food for troops
- Defensive strategy (Home field advantage) (More familiar with the land)
- Greater cotton exports
What were the weaknesses of the Confederacy? (6 things)
- Fewer railroads
- Fewer canals
- Fewer roads
- Less money
- Less industry
- Less population (5.5 million)
What was the Confederate strategy? (3 things)
- Defend the south until the North gets tired of fighting
- Wear down the North and maybe capture Washington, D.C.
- Get help from foreign countries (cotton diplomacy - export more cotton)
