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Ch. 14: The Civil War, 1861-1865 Flashcards

From the AP US History AMSCO book, chapter 14, 2015 edition

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2219264393border statesStates bordering the North: Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri. They were slave states, but did not secede. This was partly due to Union sentiment in those states and partly the result of shrewd federal policies. Keeping these in the Union was a primary military and political goal for Lincoln.0
2219264394Confederate States of AmericaThe confederation formed in 1861 by the Southern states after their secession from the Union: South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. The Confederate constitution was modeled after the US Constitution, except it provided a 6-year term for the president and gave the president an item veto. Its constitution denied the Confederate Congress the powers to levy a protective tariff and to appropriate funds for internal improvements, but it did prohibit foreign slave trade.1
2219264805Jefferson DavisAn American statesman and politician who served as President of the Confederate States of America for its entire history from 1861 to 1865. He tried to increase his executive powers during the war, but Southern governors resisted centralization.2
2219264806Alexander H. StephensVice President of the Confederate States of America, in defense of states' rights, urged the secession of Georgia in response to the "despotic" actions of the Confederacy3
2219265718Second American RevolutionThe civil war is sometimes called ______ because although it destroyed slavery and devastated the southern economy, and it also acted as a catalyst to transform american into a complex modern industrial society of capital, technology, national organizations, and large corporations; the characteristics of american democracy and its capitalist economy were strengthened4
2219265719greenbacksName given to paper money issued by the government during the Civil War, so called because the back side was printed with green ink. They were not redeemable for gold, but $300 million were issued anyway. Farmers hit by the depression wanted to inflate the notes to cover losses, but Grant vetoed an inflation bill and greenbacks were added to permanent circulation. In 1879 the federal government finally made greenbacks redeemable for gold.5
2219266540Morrill Tariff Act (1861)Raised tariff rates to increase revenue and protect American manufacturers; high protective tarrifs to project industrialists6
2219266969Morrill Land Grant Act (1862)Encouraged states to use the sale of federal land grants to maintain agricultural and technical colleges7
2219267642Pacific Railway Act (1862)Authorized the building of a transcontinental railroad over a northern route in order to link the economies of California and the western territories to the Eastern states8
2219267643Homestead Act (1862)Encouraged westward settlement by allowing heads of families to buy 160 acres of land for a small fee ($10-30); settlers were required to develop and remain on the land for five years. Over 400,000 families got land through this law.9
2219268617Fort SumterSouth Carolina location where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the Civil War in April of 1861, after Union forces attempted to provision the fort.10
2219268618Bull Run1st real battle of Civil War, Confederate victory. Federal troops attacked Confederate forces at Bull Run Creek (VA), then Confederate reinforcements under Gen. Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson counterattacked and sent the troops back to Washington. This battle ended the illusion of a short war.11
2219269192Thomas (Stonewall) JacksonA confederate general who was known for his fearlessness in leading rapid marches bold flanking movements and furious assaults. He earned his nickname at the battle of first Bull Run for standing courageously against union fire. During the battle of Chancellorsville his own men accidentally mortally wounded him.12
2219269193Winfield Scott"Old Fuss and Feathers," veteran of the 1812 and Mexican wars, whose conquest of Mexico City brought U.S. victory in the Mexican War13
2219269494Anaconda PlanUnion war plan by Winfield Scott, called for blockade of southern coast, capture of Richmond, capture Mississippi R, and to take an army through heart of south (Richmond, VA, capitol)14
2219269495George McClellanA major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly (November 1861 to March 1862) as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained (took too long training them...) and organized army for the Union. Chronically underestimated force of confederate army, leading to failure of Peninsula Campaign and was fired.15
2219269496Robert E. LeeConfederate general of South's eastern forces who had opposed secession but did not believe the Union should be held together by force. Brilliant tactician.16
2219270272Antietam(AL), 1862, the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with almost 23,000 casualties. Even though he had Lee's battle plans, McClellan hesitated to attack in this Maryland battle, leading to an unconvincing Union victory. The win was important, however, as it stopped the Confederate invasion of the North and gave Lincoln the victory he was waiting for to act on slavery. Also deprived Confederates of what they so urgently needed -- open recognition and aid from a foreign power (Britain).17
2219270273FredericksburgOn December 13, 1862, General A.E. Burnsides launched a rash frontal attack on Lee's strong position at the city. Not smart. Lots of Northerners died. Burnsides' blunder led to replacement by Hooker, who's ensuing failure led to the appointment of Meade to General. By the end of 1862, the awful magnitude of the war was clear, with no prospect of military victory for either side.18
2219270686Monitor vs. MerrimacFirst Civil War engagement ever between two iron-clad naval vessels. The two ships battled in a portion of the Chesapeake Bay known as Hampton Roads for five hours on March 9, 1862, ending in a draw. Monitor - Union. Merrimac - Confederacy. Historians use the name of the original ship Merrimac on whose hull the Southern ironclad was constructed, even though the official Confederate name for their ship was the CSS Virginia. This battle marked a turning point in naval warfare, with vulnerable ships being replaced by far more formidable ones.19
2219270687Ulysses S. GrantWhen the American Civil War began (1861), he was appointed brigadier general; his 1862 attack on Fort Donelson, Tenn., produced the first major Union victory. He drove off a Confederate attack at Shiloh but was criticized for heavy Union losses. He devised the campaign to take the stronghold of Vicksburg, Miss., in 1863, cutting the Confederacy in half from east to west. Following his victory at the Battle of Chattanooga in 1864, he was appointed commander of the Union army. While Gen. William T. Sherman made his famous march across Georgia, Grant attacked forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee in Virginia, bringing the war to an end in 1865. Grant's administrative ability and innovative strategies were largely responsible for the Union victory.20
2219271491ShilohMajor battle in the American Civil War, fought April 6-7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. Confederate forces under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard launched a surprise attack against the Union Army of Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The Confederates achieved considerable success on the first day but were ultimately defeated on the second day. Terrible losses on both sides.21
2219271492David FarragutFirst U. S. Navy admiral and was responsible for the successful blockade of the South during the Civil War22
2219271878Gettysburg1863-General Lee lead the Confederate troops into Pennsylvania. He surprised the units in Gettysburg and the battle was the most crucial and bloodiest of the war. The victory at Gettysburg belonged to Lincoln and the Union. Turning point; last offensive attack of the South.23
2219271879VicksburgGrant besieged the city from May 18 to July 4, 1863, until it surrendered, yielding command of the Mississippi River to the Union, cutting off Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas from the rest of the Confederacy24
2219271880Sherman's March(1864-1865) Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's destructive March through Georgia. An early instance of "total war", purposely targeting infrastructure and civilian property to diminish moral and undercut the confederate war effort.25
2219272609Appomattox Court HouseSite of the surrender of the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee to Union commander Ulysses S. Grant (April 9, 1865). The Confederate government tried to negotiate for peace, but Lincoln would accept nothing short of restoration of the Union.26
2219272610executive powerLincoln used powers more than any previous president, drawing upon his powers both as chief executive and commander in chief, often without approval on Congress. For example, he called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the "insurrection" of the Confederacy after the Fort Sumter crisis, authorized spending for war, and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.27
2219273049habeas corpusThe right not to be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime; during the Civil War Abraham Lincoln suspended this28
2219273050insurrectionorganized opposition to authority, revolt; what Lincoln called the Confederacy's actions in Fort Sumter.29
2222135603failure of King Cotton diplomacywhen the Confederacy threatened "King Cotton" as a way to gain recognition from Britain, Europe simply found other sources of cotton such as Egypt and India, and other materials for textiles like wool and linen.30
2222145935Lincoln and slaveryLincoln's concerns about taking action against slavery included: 1. keeping the support of border states 2. constitutional protections of slavery 3. racial prejudice of many Northerners 4. fear that premature action could be overturned in next election.31
2219273051Confiscation actsSeries of laws (1861, 1862) passed by federal government designed to liberate slaves in seceded states; authorized Union seizure of rebel property, and stated that all slaves who fought with Confederate military services were freed of further obligations to their masters; virtually emancipation act of all slaves in Confederacy32
2219274215Emancipation ProclaimationIssued at the Battle of Antietam in 1862-Lincoln freed all the slaves in the Confederate states justifying it as a "military necessity", but slaves in Border States loyal to the Union remained enslaved, encouraged to come up with own emancipation plan. It only applied to states in rebellion (Confederate states). It led to slaves rebelling and joining the Union army and increased sympathy from Europe. The proclamation added weight to the Confiscation acts, made Union army fight against slavery not just secession.33
2219274216Thirteenth amendmentThe constitutional amendment ratified after the Civil War that forbade slavery and involuntary servitude (freed ALL slaves).34
2219274833Ex Parte MilliganSupreme Court decided that the suspension of habeas corpus was unconstitutional because civilian courts were still operating, and the Constitution of the United States (according to the Court) only provided for suspension of habeas corpus if these courts are actually forced closed. In essence, the court ruled that military tribunals could not try civilians in areas where civil courts were open, even during wartime.35
2219274834draft riotsConscription Act in 1863 forced men between 20-45 years old to be eligible for conscription but one could avoid it if they paid 300 or got someone in their place; provoked anger from poor workers-- if they returned to civilian life, their jobs would be taken by Afr Ams36
2219274835CopperheadsNorthern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and sympathized with the South37
2219275344election of 1864Many northerners unhappy with war and Lincoln in danger of losing election - Democrats nominate McClellan in an effort to defeat Lincoln and negotiate an end to war (Lincoln's former general) - Sherman's capture of Atlanta 2 months before election signaled to everyone that Union victory is within reach and Lincoln wins; McClellan did take 45% of popular vote though.38
2219275345Trent AffairIn 1861 the Confederacy sent emissaries James Mason to Britain and John Slidell to France and Britain to lobby for recognition on a British steamer, the ____. A Union ship captured both men and took them to Boston as prisoners. The British were angry and Lincoln ordered their release. The South did not get recognition from Britain or France in the end.39
2219275346AlabamaA ship built by the British. Not originally built to be a war ship but in 1862 the confederates gave it a crew and weapons. It captured over 60 union vessels before it was sunk by a Union cruiser in 1864 off the coast of France.40
2219275636Laird ramsThese were two iron-clad ships being constructed in Great Britain for the Confederacy. These ships contained iron rams, large-caliber guns, and were very dangerous to the Union blockade. (US minister to Britain) Charles Adams persuaded British to cancel the sale rather than risk war with the US.41
2219275637John Wilkes BoothAn American stage actor who, as part of a conspiracy plot, assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. On the same night, a co-conspirator wounded Secretary of State William Seward.42
2219276412segregated black troopshundreds of thousands of Southern blacks walked away from slavery to join the Union army and navy, performed courageously under fire and won respect of Union white soldiers.43
2219277073Massachusetts 54th RegimentFirst successful Black regiment (headed mostly by whites). Led by Robert Gould Shaw. Most famous battle was that fought at Ft. Wagner where they lost most of their men--a very celebrated regiment44
2219277074women in the workplacethe absence of millions of men from their normal occupations in fields and factories added to the responsibilities of women in all regions. They stepped into the labor vacuum created by the war, on farms, plantations, factory jobs customarily held by men45
2219277075women in nursingwomen played a critical role as military nurses and as volunteers in soldiers' aid societies46
2219277443war's long term effects1. political: Repub. majorities in both houses, civil liberties - Lincoln focused more on prosecuting war than protecting citizen's rights, dems saw him as tyrant, opposition to draft, political dominance of the north supremacy of fed gov't over states was an est. fact 2. economic: greenbacks paper money, bonds, tariffs, incredible inflation in the South, national bank system, modernization of N. business & industrialization 3. social: women got jobs, slaves freed47
22192774444 million freedmen_____ were the people freed by the 13th amendment. For these people and their descendants, economic hardship and political oppression would continue for generations, but the end of slavery represented a momentous step.48

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