Civil War Chapter 2 Quiz

The Immediate Cause of the Civil War

• Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, won the 1860 election with 39% of the popular vote; no Southern state voted for him.
• Following Lincoln's election, South Carolina seceded from the Union, soon followed by six additional Southern states, including Florida.
• The Southern states formed the Confederate States of America, adopting their own Constitution and electing Jefferson Davis as President.
• Lincoln assured Southern whites that he would not interfere with slavery where it existed but aimed to preserve the Union, ready to fight if needed.
• Hostilities began when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, igniting the Civil War.
• Virginia and three additional states chose to secede while West Virginia remained loyal to the Union.
• Key border states included Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware, important for both sides due to their strategic locations and divided loyalties.
• Lincoln sought support from the border states, notably Maryland, which had a mixed population of free and enslaved African Americans and surrounded Washington, D.C.

Economic Changes and Outcomes

• The federal government enhanced the economy by developing a national railroad system connecting different regions.
• Implementation of the National Bank Act established a new banking framework, boosting the Northern economy while Southern economic structures collapsed.
• The Civil War led to approximately 600,000 soldier casualties.
• The year 1865 marked the passing of the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the U.S.

Limitations on Civil Liberties

• The North considered secession a rebellion, treating Southern fighters as rebels rather than soldiers with rights as prisoners of war.
• Civilian opinions varied, with Northern "Copperheads" opposing the war and some Southerners supporting the Union.
• The South enacted conscription in April 1862 to compensate for its smaller population, mandating military service for white men aged 18-35 but providing exemptions.
• In the North, the Enrollment Act of 1863 also included conscription with exemptions, leading to riots due to job security fears among white workers.
• Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in 1861 to curb dissent, which contributed to inflation and disruptions in transportation, leading to shortages.

Political Structures in the North and South

• Southern politics lacked formal parties; the first elected Congress broadly supported Davis's administration.
• In the North, political dynamics were robust with Republicans, Democrats, and smaller party candidates vying for control.
• Important legislative acts during the North's Senate included the Morrill Tariff, the Homestead Act, and the Transcontinental Railroad Act, which aimed to enhance Republican interests.
• The National Union Party was formed in 1864 to support Lincoln's presidency by uniting various political factions.

Amendments and Their Impact

• The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and was ratified by 1865, crucial for preventing states from enacting their own laws.
• The 14th Amendment granted equality under the law to black individuals and aimed to counter discriminatory Black Codes.
• It increased representation in Congress for Southern states by counting freed slaves as whole persons.
• The 15th Amendment established voting rights for all male citizens regardless of race but left room for Southern states to impose restrictions through literacy tests and poll taxes.

Reconstruction and Its Challenges

• Ex-slaves faced immediate economic challenges following the Civil War.
• The Colfax Massacre in 1873 was a pivotal violent confrontation during Reconstruction, reflecting the racial tensions and struggles for power in Louisiana.
• Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1875 aiming to eliminate segregation, enforcement was weak, and Grant's administration did little to uphold it.
• The Redeemers emerged as Southern leaders attempting to reclaim and redefine Southern identity post-Reconstruction, often undermining the gains made by African Americans.
• The political landscape shifted during the 1872 elections, showing fractures in Republican unity and rising Democratic influence.
• Distracted by western expansion and economic panics, the North gradually lost interest in pursuing Reconstruction efforts, signaling an end to radical reforms.

Test your knowledge of the immediate causes of the Civil War, focusing on the pivotal events surrounding the Election of 1860 and the subsequent secession of Southern states. Explore the rivalry between Abraham Lincoln and the divided Democrats, and understand the implications of this election on the nation's history.