Civil War Key Terms and People

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary consequence of the Dred Scott court case?

It allowed states to decide on slavery without federal intervention.

Black people, free or enslaved, were deemed not citizens. (correct)

The case established the legality of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Enslaved people could sue for their freedom.

Which event is often referred to as the beginning of the Civil War?

The attack on Fort Sumter. (correct)

The election of Abraham Lincoln.

The Battle of Gettysburg.

The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln?

To establish military rule in border states.

To give states the option to remain neutral.

To free all slaves in the United States immediately.

To free slaves in rebelling states after a period. (correct)

What significant outcome resulted from the Battle of Gettysburg?

It ended all Confederate advances into the North. Signup and view all the answers

Which state's secession was the first following Lincoln's election?

South Carolina Signup and view all the answers

Why did John Brown raid Harpers Ferry?

To initiate an armed revolt against slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage did the North have over the South during the Civil War?

A more extensive network of railroads. Signup and view all the answers

What was a characteristic of Bleeding Kansas?

It involved violent conflicts over the state's status on slavery. Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary goal of Sherman's March to the Sea?

To demoralize the Confederacy Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

13th Amendment Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Lincoln's main conditions in his 10% plan for Reconstruction?

10% of a state's eligible voters must swear allegiance to the Union Signup and view all the answers

Which group strongly opposed President Johnson's approach to Reconstruction?

Radical Republicans Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the Compromise of 1877?

Withdrawal of Union troops from the South Signup and view all the answers

What did the Freedmen's Bureau primarily provide for formerly enslaved people?

Education and family reunification services Signup and view all the answers

What kind of system did sharecropping represent for formerly enslaved people?

A cycle of debt and dependency Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the end of the Civil War?

Surrender at Appomattox Court House Signup and view all the answers

What did the Black Codes aim to achieve in the post-Civil War South?

Restrict the civil rights of black Americans Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable difference between Johnson's and Radical Republicans' Reconstruction plans?

Radical Republicans sought to punish the South more harshly than Johnson. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Civil War Key Terms and People

Compromise of 1850: California admitted as a free state; stronger Fugitive Slave Act; slave trade abolished in Washington D.C.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: Divided Nebraska territory into Kansas and Nebraska; popular sovereignty to decide on slavery; led to "Bleeding Kansas."
Dred Scott Decision: Enslaved people are not citizens and cannot sue; their status as free or enslaved depends on their location.
Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln's victory triggered Southern secession.
John Brown: Radical abolitionist; led raid on Harpers Ferry to arm enslaved people; became a symbol of abolitionist fervor.
Border States: Neutral states during the Civil War (Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland).
Advantages of the North: Industry, larger population, telegraph, railroads, and Lincoln's leadership.
Advantages of the South: Agricultural production base, home-field advantage, better initial generals, strong personal motivation/cause.
Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln's declaration freeing enslaved people in Confederate-held territory after 100 days if the South didn't rejoin the Union. Did not apply to border states.
Gettysburg Address: Dedication speech (2 minutes) emphasizing freedom, equality, and the need to end slavery. Connected to the Declaration of Independence.
Important Union Generals: Ulysses S. Grant.
Important Confederate Generals: Robert E. Lee.
13th Amendment: Abolished slavery.

Civil War Battles and Significance

Fort Sumter: Opening shots of the Civil War; Confederate victory.
First Bull Run: First major battle; Confederate victory; Union unprepared.
Antietam: Bloodiest single-day battle; Union strategic victory; prompted Emancipation Proclamation.
Gettysburg: Turning point; Union victory that halted Lee's invasion of the North.
Sherman's March to the Sea: Devastated Southern infrastructure; Total war campaign led by General Sherman; utilized Black refugees along the way.
Appomattox Court House: Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant; marked end of the Civil War.

Civil War: Big Ideas

Short-term causes: Election of 1860; secession of Southern states; conflict over the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Long-term causes: Economic differences between North and South; disputes over slavery in new territories; conflicting state's rights versus federal authority.
Black Americans in the war: Contributed significantly; joined Union forces, acted as spies and more.

Reconstruction Era Goals

Rebuild the South.
Integrate formerly enslaved people into society.
Reunite the Union politically and socially.

Reconstruction Plans (5.1)

Lincoln's Plan: 10% of state's eligible voters swear allegiance to the Union; Confederate generals request pardon; desired civil rights and education for formerly enslaved people but left to states.
Johnson's Plan: 10% of state's eligible voters swear allegiance; confederates must ask for pardon, wealthy required personal appearances; resisted Black Americans voting.
Radical Republicans/Congress: Punish the South; confederates lose voting rights for 5 years; enfranchisement for Black Americans; 50% allegiance.

Sharecropping

System where formerly enslaved people rented land, tools, and housing from white landowners, with most profit going back to the landowner (a cycle of debt).

Black Codes

Laws restricting the civil rights of Black Americans, preventing them from entering towns, owning property, etc.

Johnson's Impeachment

Impeached by Congress for vetoing Reconstruction plans, firing Cabinet members; not removed by Senate.

Freedmen's Bureau (5.2)

Government agency providing education, family reunification, and assistance to formerly enslaved people and poor whites. Facilitated political power.

Lincoln's Assassination

John Wilkes Booth (actor and supporter of the Confederacy).

Post-Civil War Amendments

13th: Abolished slavery.
14th: Birthright citizenship, equal protection under the law.
15th: Voting rights granted to Black men.

End of Reconstruction

Compromise of 1877: Withdrawal of Union troops from the South in exchange for Republican candidate Hayes becoming President.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key terms and influential figures from the American Civil War. This quiz covers pivotal moments such as the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott Decision. Explore how these events shaped the conflict and the people who played crucial roles in this historical period.