Civil War and Secession Vocabulary

Key Terms and Concepts

Popular Sovereignty
- Political authority belongs to the people; a fundamental principle of the U.S. Constitution.
- Viewed as essential to American rights and governance.
Free Soil Party
- A political party (1847-1848) formed to halt the expansion of slavery.
- Influence contributed to the establishment of the Republican Party in 1854.
Secession
- The act of eleven southern states withdrawing from the Union in 1860, leading to the Civil War.
- Key event that intensified the conflict between North and South.
Compromise of 1820 & 1850
- Legislative measures aimed at averting Civil War by enacting the Fugitive Slave Act and abolishing the slave trade in Washington, D.C.
- Allowed California's admission as a free state and implemented popular sovereignty in new territories.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
- Enacted in 1854, permitted Kansas and Nebraska to decide their status on slavery.
- Led to significant conflict as pro-slavery activists attempted to influence the vote.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
- A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1853) that changed public perception of slavery in America and abroad.
- Played a pivotal role in galvanizing anti-slavery sentiments.
John Brown
- An abolitionist executed for leading a failed raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (1800-1858).
- Became a martyr for the anti-slavery movement.
Dredd Scott Decision
- Supreme Court ruling that denied freedom to Dredd Scott, a slave who argued that residency in free territory made him free.
- Increased tensions that contributed to the Civil War.
Confederate States of America
- Republic established in February 1861 by eleven southern states that seceded from the U.S.
- Sought to create a government based on states' rights and slavery.
Jefferson Davis
- President of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865.
- Distinguished political career included roles as Secretary of War and U.S. Senator from Mississippi.
Border States
- States (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri) that were slave-holding but remained with the Union during the conflict.
- Played a crucial role due to their strategic locations.
Robert E. Lee
- Confederate General initially opposed to secession; opposed using force to maintain the Union.
- Commanded the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the Civil War.
U.S. Grant
- Union General who became the first president after the Civil War; defeated Lee at Appomattox Court House.
- Initially hailed as a military hero, faced challenges in political leadership.
Ironclads
- Ships with iron armor used in naval battles during the Civil War.
- Marked a transformation in naval warfare technology, surpassing wooden vessels.
Conscription Laws
- Draft laws enacted during the Civil War requiring enlistment of civilians, including immigrants.
- Led to significant resistance, exemplified by violent draft riots in cities like New York.
Clara Barton
- Nurse and humanitarian who supported the Union during the Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross.
- Recognized for her contributions to battlefield medicine and relief efforts.
Emancipation Proclamation
- Issued by Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, declaring freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states.
- Paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery across the nation.