Unit 3 - Civil War Flashcards
Cotton Gin
When: before
Where: south
What: used to produce cotton
- 1 man can do the job of 50
Who: ELI WHITNEY
Why Significant: slavery was on a downfall before the Cotton Gin, no one was buying slaves off the market and so Eli Whitney decided to do something to help the slave numbers. He created the Cotton Gin because it could go the work of 50 men by one man, thinking that the other 49 could be released, but that didn’t happen. Slave rates picked up again once plantation owners realized they could mass produce cotton by 50x. Even though he had good intentions, it turned out horribly for slaves across the south, leading to angered northerners and a factor for a debate on slavery.
Union
When: formed right before war, and during
Where: north
What: northern states United together
Who: Abraham Lincoln (union pres.)
- north army
- generals like McClellan + Sumner
Why Significant: The union was half the war. They started out fighting to unify south and north because Lincoln claimed that so he could get more soldiers to support and fight with the union, but towards the middle of the war, he officially declared that they were fighting this war to end slavery all across America. The Union won the war, freeing slaves over America and uniting the nation once again.
Confederacy
When: unified and pulled away before, fought during
Where: south
What: confederacy pulled away from USA (CSA)
- fought against union because they wanted to be separate and keep slavery and lost
- joined back after losing and slaves were freed
Who: Jefferson Davis (confederate pres.)
- Gen. Robert E. Lee
Why Significant: the south’s loss led to all slaves in America being freed but many slaves had no where to go. Their secession from the USA in the beginning was such a shock to many and then when they lost these battles on their home turf, those cities were getting destroyed and the people were dying.
Bull Run
When: during -1st battle
Where: south territory
What:
- gentleman’s warfare
- wagons set up to watch
- confederate reinforcements mid-battle - led to victory
Who:
- Gen. Thomas Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) (confederate)
- McDowell (Union)
Why Significant: Bull run made people realize that this war was going to be a lot bloodier than expected. The battle was back and forth between who would win and the confederate coming out on top gave everyone a bit of a boost on the southern side. There were also people watching the battle, but they soon realized this wasn’t going to be gentleman’s warfare anymore. Bull run also made both sides realize that the Civil War was going to be a long and hard fight.
Antietam
When: during - 2nd battle
Where: south territory
What:
- union found confederate plans and attacked
- bloodiest day in American history
Who:
- Robert E. Lee (confederate)
- George McClellan (union) - got fired after for not finishing the job
Why Significant: if confederate won, england would have supported them –> war was over if england help confederacy
- union win evened out the playing field again - long war was coming
Vicksburg
When: during - 3rd battle
Where: south territory
What:
- second attack after taking over Mississippi’s capital
- over 6 weeks, union boats bomb Vicksburg - ruining the village
- union victory
Who:
- Gen. Grant (union)
- Jon Pamperton (confederate)
Why Significant: Union win cut off Texas, arkansas, and louisianna from south, This also gave the union full control of Mississippi river. The battle made the civilians almost prairie dogs, because they were in hiding underground for so long during the battle
Gettysburg
When: during - one of last battles
Where: north - Mississippi river
What: union occupied gettysburg and had high ground
- total war declared
- confederacy lost 1/3 of army
- one last hill- union got it
- confederate tried to fight –> lost terribly
Who:
- Gen. Robert E. Lee (confederate)
- Gen. George Mead (union)
Why Significant:the Confederacy realized they’d never become a separate entity.
Emancipation Proclamation
When: during
Where: north - union
What: Lincoln declared that all slaves in the south are now free
Who: Abraham lincoln
Why Significant:
- south didn’t listen to him
- “he isn’t our president - cant make
rules for us” mindset
- made possible union soldiers hesitant to fight
Gettysburg Address
When: during - after gettysburg battle
Where: north
What:
- ending slavery
- graveyard of all soldiers
- union + confederate buried together
Who: Abraham Lincoln
Why Significant: it signified that everyone was American, whether they stood with the Confederates or Union.
Fort Sumner
When: during (beginning)
Where: south
What:
- Lincoln made secession illegal –> sc seceded + south claimed fort sumter
- confederate soldier “secession fever” starved
- Lincoln sent food not weapons
- Confederate tried to kick out Union + fight days later they surrendered
Who:
- Robert Anderson - incharge of Fort Sumter
- Abraham Lincoln
Why Significant: This fight stirred Union into action
- war had begun - not to end slavery but to bring nation back together
Missouri Compromise
When: before
Where: both
What:
- 11 free and 11 slave states
- even number of free and slave
- missouri compromise line
- each free state had
Who:
- Henry Clay - great compromiser and from retirement
- Stephen Douglas
Why Significant: This was a balanced system of states and was working until California unbalanced it.
** this led to divide in North and South
Dred Scott
When: before
Where: enslaved in missouri (north and south though)
What:
- owner took dred Scott to north and died in north
- files lawsuit (Dred Scott v. Sanford)
- first slavery case –> goes further up in
authority
- decision shows that slaves were
considered property
- congress didn’t have the power to outlaw slavery in any territory –> MO Compromise is unconstitutional now
Who:
- honest man
- slave
- wasnt a citizen which was used against him in court
Why Significant: Sparked feelings about MO compromise and changed the law –> upset and America needed to figure out what to do next
Fugitive Slave Act
When: brfore
Where: south
What:
- everyone was responsible for runaways
- $1000 fine or jail if guilty
- courts established for Fugitive Slave Act
- “my word against yours” arguments
- judges got payed 2x if they found people guilty
Who:
- written by southerners
Why Significant: This act gave the south so much power just so the north could gain cali. got many people in trouble in the north with unfair courts and slaves were always captured
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
When: before
Where: north
What:
- story about slaves where they were actually HUMANIZED
- never been done before
- appealed to white women of the north
- everyone was so engaged
Who: Hariet Beecher Stowe - writer
Why Significant: this changed people’s views on slavery because her story showed that slaves were humans too and that what people were doing to them was cruel
“Popular Sovereignty”
When: before
Where: both Kansas and nebraska
What: allowing cities with over 60,00 people to vote on slavery
Who: Stephen A. Douglas
Why Significant: showed aggression between north and south that needed a better solution
