Civil War Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who was Stephen Douglass?

President of the Confederacy

Leader of the Union Army

IL senator who ran against Lincoln (correct)

Great Compromiser

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act establish?

It created Nebraska and Kansas as states with the right to choose between free or slave status through popular sovereignty.

What was Abraham Lincoln's role during the Civil War?

He saved the Union and emancipated the slaves.

Who was known as the 'Great Compromiser'?

Henry Clay Signup and view all the answers

Who was the President of the Confederacy?

Jefferson Davis Signup and view all the answers

Who was Robert E. Lee?

Commander of the Confederate Army. Signup and view all the answers

What was Ulysses S. Grant known for?

He fought a 'total-war' strategy and defeated Lee to end the Civil War. Signup and view all the answers

What was William T. Sherman's contribution to the Civil War?

He led a total war campaign that destroyed the South's supply lines. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Frederick Douglass?

An escaped slave and abolitionist who advocated for emancipation. Signup and view all the answers

What was John Brown's action at Harper's Ferry?

He attempted to seize a federal armory to start a slave uprising. Signup and view all the answers

What did William Lloyd Garrison write?

'The Liberator' Signup and view all the answers

What was the 'Problem of Labor' in the North?

Whites were worried that freed slaves would create competition for jobs. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Mexican War relate to the Civil War?

It increased tensions over the expansion of slavery into new territories. Signup and view all the answers

What was the ruling in Dred Scott v. Sanford?

The case ruled that slaves were property and could not sue. Signup and view all the answers

What invention did Eli Whitney create?

The cotton gin. Signup and view all the answers

What did slave narratives achieve?

They created more sympathy for the abolitionist cause. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized northern racism?

Minstrel shows and racist imagery in literature. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

It freed all slaves in the Confederate states. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Underground Railroad?

A network to transport slaves to freedom in Canada. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did Uncle Tom's Cabin have?

It heightened Northern sympathy for slaves and angered the South. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Nullification Crisis aim to protect?

Northern industry from British imports. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Missouri Compromise of 1850?

It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Signup and view all the answers

What is popular sovereignty?

The principle that states can vote on being free or slave states. Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the election of 1860?

It set the stage for the Civil War by emphasizing the divide over slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Republicans during this period?

Anti-slavery Northerners. Signup and view all the answers

What event marked the start of the Civil War?

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. Signup and view all the answers

What happened at the Battle of Antietam?

It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Gettysburg?

It was a turning point in the Civil War, marking a major Union victory. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherman's march to the sea achieve?

It caused destruction to the South's supply chains and morale. Signup and view all the answers

What happened at Appomattox?

Lee surrendered to Grant, ending the Civil War. Signup and view all the answers

What was Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus?

He suspended civil liberties for Confederate prisoners of war. Signup and view all the answers

What were the pre-war differences between the North and South?

The North was industrial and urban, while the South was agrarian. Signup and view all the answers

What were conscription and the draft riots?

Unrest among poor white workers who felt unfairly targeted by the draft. Signup and view all the answers

How did the North benefit from slavery?

It provided economic advantages, but also led to political opposition. Signup and view all the answers

Was John Brown a martyr or a murderer?

He is considered a martyr for his fight against slavery. Signup and view all the answers

How did Lincoln's views on race change throughout his life?

His views evolved, leading to support for black voting rights near the end of the war. Signup and view all the answers

Was the Civil War inevitable?

Yes, due to growing tensions and inability to compromise over slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the North win the Civil War?

Superior resources, faster troop replacement, and better industry. Signup and view all the answers

How did the differing economies of the North and South influence slavery?

The North became urban and industrial, while the South relied on agriculture and slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What was Bleeding Kansas?

A series of violent clashes over the issue of slavery in Kansas. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Figures in the Civil War

Stephen Douglas: Illinois senator known for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, promoting popular sovereignty to decide on slavery, aimed at securing a railroad route through Chicago.
Abraham Lincoln: President during the Civil War who aimed to preserve the Union and issued the Emancipation Proclamation; assassinated in 1865.
Henry Clay: Known as the "Great Compromiser," he played a key role in the Missouri Compromise and worked to ease sectional tensions.
Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States during the Civil War.
Robert E. Lee: Commander of the Confederate Army, known for leading forces at battles like Antietam.
Ulysses S. Grant: Union general who advocated for total war strategy and ultimately defeated Lee at Appomattox, ending the Civil War.
William T. Sherman: Noted for his destructive "March to the Sea," targeting Southern infrastructure to diminish morale.
Frederick Douglass: Former slave and abolitionist who became a leading voice for emancipation and equality.
John Brown: Militant abolitionist who attempted to incite a slave rebellion by raiding Harper’s Ferry.

Major Legislation and Events

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): Established Kansas and Nebraska with the right for territorial residents to vote on slavery, heightening tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
Missouri Compromise (1820): Allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, prohibiting slavery above 36°30' latitude in the Louisiana Territory.
Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by Lincoln during the Civil War, freeing slaves in Confederate-held territories but not in Border States loyal to the Union; intended as a strategic war measure.

Key Battles and Military Strategies

Antietam: 1862 battle that was the bloodiest single day in American history, with 23,000 casualties; a strategic Northern victory that prompted the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Gettysburg: 1863 battle marked as a turning point in the war; Union victory that halted Lee's invasion of the North, resulting in approximately 51,000 casualties.
Appomattox Courthouse: Site of Lee's surrender to Grant on April 9, 1865, signaling the end of the Civil War with a focus on reconciliation.

Cotton Gin: Invented by Eli Whitney, it greatly increased cotton production and worsened slavery conditions, particularly in the Deep South.
Slave Narratives: Played a crucial role in advocating for abolition and building sympathies for the abolitionist cause among Northerners.
Northern Racism: Maintained through minstrel shows and literature; Northerners often justified opposition to slavery due to economic fears rather than moral objections.
Problem of Labor: After the Civil War, concerns arose among Northern whites that freed slaves would compete for jobs and reduce wages.

Tensions and Conflicts

Bleeding Kansas: Series of violent events in Kansas resulting from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, illustrating the intense conflict over the expansion of slavery.
Dred Scott v. Sanford: Supreme Court decision declaring that slaves were property, thereby denying them rights to sue in court and invalidating the Missouri Compromise.
Nullification Crisis: South Carolina attempted to nullify federal tariffs, showcasing state versus federal tensions that would later contribute to secession.

Societal Impact and Legacy

Underground Railroad: A network assisting enslaved persons to escape to Canada, with figures such as Harriet Tubman instrumental in the efforts.
Conscription and Draft Riots: Resistance to military drafts revealed socio-economic divides and racial tensions, particularly among poorer citizens uncomfortable with fighting for the freedom of slaves.
Lincoln's Evolving Views on Race: Transitioned from supporting colonization to advocating for limited rights for African Americans, especially towards the war's end.

Crosscutting Themes

Cultural and Economic Divide: The North's industrialized economy contrasted sharply with the South's agrarian, slave-dependent system, leading to fundamental political and social rifts.
Inevitability of Civil War: The unyielding divisions over slavery and states' rights, exacerbated by violent incidents and political failures, made conflict seemingly unavoidable.

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Test your knowledge of key figures and events from the Civil War era with these flashcards. Focus on important topics such as Stephen Douglass and the Kansas-Nebraska Act to enhance your understanding of this critical period in American history.