Civil War: North vs. South Overview

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson
Download our mobile app to listen on the go
Get App

Questions and Answers

What was the main strategy of the North to win the Civil War?

  • Securing alliances with European nations
  • Defensive play to hold territory
  • Building a strong cavalry force
  • Total War approach by destroying Southern resources (correct)

Which of the following was a significant outcome of the Battle of Bull Run?

  • It illustrated the war's length and difficulty (correct)
  • It forced a quick end to the war
  • It led to the Union's capture of Richmond
  • It resulted in the first use of tanks in battle

What was a major weakness of the Confederacy during the Civil War?

  • Larger population than the North
  • Control over key railways
  • Superior military leadership
  • Limited access to resources (correct)

Which battle is considered the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War?

<p>Battle of Antietam (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of the Siege of Vicksburg for the Union?

<p>Gain control of the Mississippi River (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factor significantly motivated Southern troops during the Civil War?

<p>Desire to preserve independence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which plan did the Confederacy primarily utilize during the Civil War?

<p>Defensive tactics to preserve territory (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Union forces fare during the Peninsula Campaign?

<p>Forced to retreat after strong counterattacks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg?

<p>It ended Confederate hopes of invading the North. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a direct consequence of Sherman's march to the sea?

<p>It devastated the southern economy and morale. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Emancipation Proclamation affect European sympathies during the Civil War?

<p>It shifted European support towards the North by redefining the war's purpose. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did women play during the Civil War?

<p>They managed farms and factories due to men going to war. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one result of the Union naval blockade?

<p>It led to shortages of goods in the South. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Dred Scott Case?

<p>It declared that African Americans could not be citizens. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main causes leading to the Civil War?

<p>The issues surrounding slavery and states' rights. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What event marked the official beginning of the Civil War?

<p>The Bombardment of Fort Sumter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the 13th Amendment?

<p>To abolish slavery in the United States. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributed to the economic collapse in the South during the Civil War?

<p>Excessive reliance on cotton and slavery. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Union

The Union consisted of the Northern states (abolitionist) and Border States (slavery) that remained loyal to the United States during the Civil War.

Confederacy

The Confederacy was formed by the Southern states (pro-slavery) that seceded from the United States to preserve slavery and their way of life.

Anaconda Plan

The North's plan to win the Civil War was based on a strategy called the Anaconda Plan. Blockades, land control, and controlling the Mississippi River were key to starving the South.

Battle of Bull Run

The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle in the Civil War. The Union forces were defeated, showing both sides the war would be long and difficult.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Peninsula Campaign

The Peninsula Campaign was a Union attempt to capture Richmond, Virginia. General McClellan's advance was repelled by Confederate General Lee, extending the war.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. Union General McClellan stopped Lee's first invasion of the North.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Siege of Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg was a major Union victory that resulted in the capture of Vicksburg, securing control of the Mississippi River and splitting the Confederacy.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Sherman's March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea was a military campaign that destroyed Confederate infrastructure and resources. It inflicted heavy damage on the South, weakening its ability to fight.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Battle of Gettysburg

A major turning point in the Civil War where Union forces under General Meade defeated Confederate forces under General Lee in Pennsylvania, ending Confederate hopes of invading the North and weakening their forces.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Naval Blockade

The practice of using a naval blockade to prevent enemy ships from entering or leaving a port. The Union used this strategy during the Civil War to cripple the Confederate economy by preventing the export of cotton.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Draft

The forced enlistment of people into military service. In the Civil War, both the North and the South used drafts to replenish their armies as casualties mounted.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Bleeding Kansas

A series of events in Kansas (1854-1859) where pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups clashed over whether Kansas should be admitted to the Union as a slave state or a free state. It escalated tensions and showed the deep divide over slavery.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Dred Scott Case

An 1857 Supreme Court case ruling that African Americans could not be citizens and therefore couldn't sue in federal court. This decision angered the North and further inflamed the conflict over slavery.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Fugitive Slave Act

A law passed in 1850 that required runaway slaves in the North to be returned to their owners in the South. This angered many people in the North and fueled the abolitionist movement.

Signup and view all the flashcards

South Carolina's Secession

The secession of South Carolina from the Union in 1860 after Abraham Lincoln, a Republican opposed to the expansion of slavery, was elected president. It sparked a chain reaction of other Southern states leaving the Union.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Bombardment of Fort Sumter

The event that marked the beginning of the Civil War. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a US military base in South Carolina, in April 1861.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

The surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia in April 1865. This marked a major turning point in the war and ultimately led to the Confederacy's defeat.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

Civil War: North vs. South

  • Two Sides: Union (Northern states and Border States) vs. Confederacy (Southern states).
  • Union States: Northern states, some border states (Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware).
  • Confederate States: Southern states that seceded (left).
  • Slavery vs. Abolition: Union (primarily anti-slavery) and Confederate states (pro-slavery).
  • Union Advantages: Larger population, more industry, stronger navy, more railroads.
  • Union Disadvantages: Had to invade the South rather than just defend.
  • Confederacy Advantages: Skilled military leaders, fighting on their home territory, stronger motivation to defend their way of life.
  • Confederacy Disadvantages: Smaller population, fewer resources.
  • Union Plan (Anaconda Plan): Blockade Southern ports, control the Mississippi River, and crush the South through superior resources and numbers.
  • Confederacy Plan: Defend their territory and wait for the Union to tire of the war.

Civil War Battles

  • Battle of Bull Run (First Bull Run): Union forces were defeated, showing the war would be long and difficult.
  • Peninsula Campaign: Union General McClellan's failed attempt to capture Richmond, further demonstrating the war's protracted nature and highlighting Lee's military ability.
  • Battle of Antietam: Bloodiest single-day battle. Union victory prevented Confederate invasion of the North, paving the way for the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Siege of Vicksburg: Union forces controlled the Mississippi River, dividing the Confederacy.
  • Battle of Gettysburg: Union victory critically weakened the Confederacy and marked a turning point for the war, ending Confederate hopes of invading the North.

Civil War Life and European Impact

  • Civil War Life: Shortages, deaths from disease, and harsh conditions for both civilians and soldiers. Women took on the roles of men in the workforce and on farms.
  • European Impact: Cotton shortage hurt European economies, especially Britain and France, initially causing some European sympathy for the Confederacy. However, the Emancipation Proclamation shifted sympathy to the Union. The Union naval blockade impacted global trade.
  • How War Ended: Union victories weakened Confederacy, Sherman's march to the sea devastated the South, Union forces captured Richmond, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, and further Confederate surrenders followed. The 13th Amendment's ratification ended slavery legally. The assassination of President Lincoln followed the war.

Civil War Causes

  • Bleeding Kansas: Territorial struggle over slavery, heightened tensions.
  • Dred Scott Case: Supreme Court ruling that inflamed Northern abolitionists by asserting African Americans couldn't be citizens. This ruled that Congress couldn't ban slavery in new territories.
  • Gold Rush: Debates over slavery in newly acquired territories, further fueling the division.
  • Fugitive Slave Act: Compelled Northerners to return runaway slaves.
  • Election of 1860: Lincoln's victory triggered Southern secession as Southern states feared for the future of slavery.
  • Compromises of 1820 and 1850: Failed attempts to balance free and slave states, deepening societal rifts.
  • Bombardment of Fort Sumter: Confederate attack marked the start of the Civil War, officially initiating the armed conflict.
  • South Carolina Secession: Initiated the chain reaction, causing other Southern states to secede.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser