The Civil War Flashcards
Know the 11 states that formed the Confederate States of America
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina
What were explanations for the order in which the confederate states seceded?
The percentages of their populations who were enslaved
Know the four slave states that remained in the Union
Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware
What were the major advantages that the South had in the war (including psychological)?
- Fighting a defensive war: familiar with terrain, local population was supportive
- Their cotton supply could lead to support from Britain and French
- They had better generals, and confidence in them
- They had the economic and lifestyle of Slavery to lose
What were the major advantages that the North had (including psychological)?
- Higher population: 21 million
- More stable economy: manufactured weaponry
- Larger navy
- Abraham Lincoln and well established political institutions
- Confidence in their ultimate victory: faith in political institutions
Facts regarding armies during the war
- Both sides called for volunteers at first
- both have to draft 2 years after
- North:1863, South:1862
- conflicts with drafts
What was true of Lincoln and Jefferson Davis as leaders?
Lincoln- social intelligence, experience in congress,
Davis- lots of military experience, secretary of defense, reluctant to be president
What was Lee trying to accomplish in the Battle of Antietam?
What was the outcome?
What did it allow Lincoln to do?
recognition from Europe
23,000 casualties, no grounds gained, Union victory
Emancipation proclamation
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
What did it do and what didn’t it do?
What was its significance?
issued by Lincoln January 1, 1863.
slavery ended in areas on rebellion, opens military service for african americans
there was a new motive of what the war was for; if Union wins, no more slavery
What did General George McClellan accomplish?
Why was Lincoln so frustrated with him?
he was very good at training troops
He didn’t have a plan after training
What was the evolution in the role of African Americans in the war?
after the Emancipation they were allowed to fight for the Union
What was Lee’s purpose in taking his troops to the North this time?
How many casualties were there?
To take control of Gettysburg and eventually Washington DC
51,000 casualties on both sides
Why was Vicksburg, Mississippi so important?
A battle, The Union controlled all of Mississippi River, expect Vicksburg and winning would mean splitting the Confederacy
How did the election of 1864 develop (who was running)? What saved it for Lincoln (battle)?
Lincoln vs McClellan
Looks like lincoln will lose but then the Battle of Atlanta happened
What event ended any doubt about which side would win the war?
The battle of Atlanta
Union destroyed a big manufacturing site for the south
What happened at Appomattox and why were the ‘theatrics’ important?
Lee surrendered his entire army
Theatrics were important because it marked the end of the war and unification of the country
How did Lincoln evolve during the war and how did the war’s purpose evolve along with him?
He turned the war more and more against slavery, after it started for just unification.
What happened during Pickett’s charge?
Why significant?
Lee ordered Pickett’s charge on the third day (it was hopeless), March across open field to Union forces- clear shot for Union shooters, Lost almost all of his troops.
The confederates lost almost all their troops,
And all hope of invading the north
What happened at the Battle of Gettysburg?
the union was on cemetery ridge
The confederates wanted to take it
And go into maryland and pennsylvania.
Lee failed and never re entered the north
What role did General Ulysses S. Grant play during the Civil War? What were his strengths?
General selected by lincoln because he understood the “grisly arithmetic”
He was responsible for vicksburg
His men liked him
Good at encouraging troops
What role did General Robert E. Lee’s play during the war? His strengths? Biggest mistake?
Confederate general
Strengths:
Very well respected and aggressive in war
Greatest mistake:
The charge on gettysburg (Ordering Pickett’s charge?)
What happened in the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas in July, 1861?
Union was trying to move to richmond but the confederates flanked them
Union dismantled in the afternoon and each side took 5000 casualties
When and how did the war begin?
1861 april 12. confederates in fort sumter fired on union from charleston bay. sumter surrendered and there were 0 casualties
