History vocab- civil war Flashcards
Antietam
The battle was on September 17, 1862 along Antietam Creek near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Union forces, led by General George B. McClellan, faced off against Confederate forces, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a tactical stalemate, with neither side achieving a decisive victory. Dissuaded foreign powers from recognizing the Confederacy and allowed the Union to maintain the political and moral high ground, and Lincoln created the Emancipation Proclamation shortly after.
Total War
Refers to a concept in which the entire population and all available resources of a nation are mobilized for war, not just its military forces.
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American actor who was a Confederate sympathizer and strongly opposed the Union cause. On April 14, 1865, he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Robert E. Lee
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Lee was offered command of Union forces but chose to resign his U.S. Army commission and instead accepted a leadership role in the Confederate Army. He took charge of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in 1862. He led it in numerous battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson
General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was known for his brilliant battlefield tactics and audacity. He played a pivotal role in Confederate successes at the First Battle of Bull Run, the Valley Campaign, and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
General James Longstreet
General James Longstreet was one of Lee’s most trusted subordinates.
He played a prominent role in many battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg, where he advocated for a more defensive strategy. after the war he woked with the union and worked for reconstruction.
William Tecumseh Sherman
General William T. Sherman is best known for his “March to the Sea” from Nov 15, 1864 – Dec 21, 1864, during which he led Union forces through Georgia and the Carolinas, practicing total war by destroying resources and infrastructure. This campaign significantly weakened the Confederacy and contributed to its eventual collapse.
Robert Gould Shaw
Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first African-American regiments in the Union Army. His leadership and the valor of the 54th Massachusetts at the assault on Fort Wagner symbolized African-American service and sacrifice during the war.
Ulysses S. Grant
General Ulysses S. Grant was a prominent Union military leader who played a crucial role in the Union victory.
He became the overall commander of Union forces and implemented a strategy of attrition against the Confederacy.
His tenacity and willingness to fight became key to Union’s success.
Fort Wagner
Fort Wagner was a Confederate fort on Morris Island, South Carolina, that guarded Charleston Harbor.
It is known for the heroic assault by the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, an African American unit, on July 18, 1863.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, was where the Civil War began with the Confederate bombardment and capture of the fort on April 12-13th 1861.
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America throughout the Civil War.
Sherman’s Field Order #15
Sherman’s Field Order #15 was issued during his March to the Sea and promised the redistribution of land to freed slaves, including “40 acres and a mule.”
The Confederate Policy for captured black troops
The Confederate policy toward captured black troops was often harsh, with captured African American soldiers at risk of re-enslavement, mistreatment, or even execution.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and played a central role in leading the Union through the Civil War.
He issued the Emancipation Proclamation and worked to preserve the Union.
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Lincoln on january 1st 1863, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free.
Sherman’s March
Sherman’s March to the Sea was a military campaign led by General William T. Sherman, during which Union forces conducted a devastating march through Georgia and the Carolinas, using total war tactics to destroy Confederate resources and infrastructure.
Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought on July 1st-3rd 1863 in Pennsylvania, was a pivotal battle in the Civil War, resulting in a Union victory and a significant turning point in the conflict. Goerge Herbert Mee
Appomattox Courthouse
Appomattox Courthouse was the site of General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant in April 9th 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War
Fort Pillow massacre
April 12, 1864, was a genocidal act against West black soldiers, under attack by the Confederates. They attacked, led by Nathan Bedford Forest, known for this attack, and he was the founder of the KKK about a year or so later.
