Civil War and Reconstruction Quiz

The process by which the national government helped rebuild the South after the Civil War.

A legal process where the House of Representatives formally charges a government official with wrongdoing.

This amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery in the United States.

This amendment granted full citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of race.

Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often seen as opportunistic.

A white supremacist group that used violence and intimidation against African Americans and their allies.

A system of farming in which landless farmers worked the land of a landowner in exchange for a share of the crop.

This agreement effectively ended Reconstruction and led to the removal of Union troops from the South.

The Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794) demonstrated the strength and authority of the newly formed national government in enforcing federal laws, especially when met with resistance from citizens.

Jeffersonian Republicanism refers to the political ideas and policies associated with the administrations of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. It emphasized agrarianism, limited government, and individual liberties.

The War of 1812 (1812-1815) was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain, primarily over trade disputes and American claims to neutral rights. Despite initial British advantages, the war ended in a stalemate with important implications for American nationalism and independence.

The Monroe Doctrine (1823) was a statement of US foreign policy delivered by President James Monroe, declaring that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to further European colonization or intervention. It signified the growing influence of the United States in the region.

Eli Whitney (1765-1825) was an American inventor best known for his invention of the cotton gin, which transformed the Southern agricultural landscape. He is also credited with introducing the concept of interchangeable parts, which revolutionized manufacturing practices.

Robert Fulton (1765-1815) was an American inventor who played a key role in the development of the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont. His invention transformed transportation and trade, particularly on rivers and waterways.

Manifest Destiny was a widely held belief in the 19th century that the United States had a divine right and duty to expand its territory westward across the North American continent. It fueled westward expansion and territorial acquisitions such as the Mexican Cession.

Popular sovereignty was a political doctrine, particularly popular during the period of westward expansion and territorial acquisitions, asserting that the residents of a territory should have the right to decide on the status of slavery within their territory. It became a contentious issue in the lead-up to the Civil War.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852), was a powerful anti-slavery novel that vividly depicted the horrors of slavery and its impact on individuals and families. This novel is widely credited with contributing to the growing abolitionist movement.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) proposed to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska as states. It reopened the question of slavery in these territories by allowing residents to decide on the status of slavery through popular sovereignty. This act sparked violence and political divisions, ultimately contributing to the formation of the Republican Party.

A period of extreme hardship in Jamestown during the winter of 1609-1610, marked by severe food shortages and high mortality rates.

The first permanent English settlement in the New World, established in 1607 in Virginia.

A major religious movement that swept through Europe and America in the 16th and 17th centuries, promoting religious reform and challenging the authority of the Catholic Church.

An English explorer who is credited with being the first European to circumnavigate the globe, a feat that earned him knighthood and fame.

A document signed by the Pilgrims in 1620, outlining their commitment to self-governance and forming a civil body politic.

The first legislative body in Virginia, established in 1619, representing the colonists and marking the beginning of representative government in America.

A famous sermon delivered by Jonathan Edwards during the Great Awakening, known for its vivid imagery and warnings about God's wrath.

The first book published in America in 1640, a translation of the Psalms into English, reflecting early Puritan religious devotion.

The first Baptist church in America, established in 1638 by Roger Williams, a prominent advocate for religious freedom.

A crucial turning point of the Revolutionary War, where American forces under General Horatio Gates defeated British General John Burgoyne, significantly boosting American morale and securing French support.