Civil War Overview and Lincoln's Speech

The Union's economic policy of the Civil War, which benefitted Northern manufacturing by using tariffs to protect domestic goods and industries from foreign competition.

A period of significant economic hardship experienced by the Confederate states due to the Union blockade, which disrupted trade and supply lines, leading to shortages and rising prices.

A military strategy employed by the Union during the Civil War that involved targeting not only Confederate forces but also civilian infrastructure and resources, aiming to weaken the South's capability to wage war.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln in 1863, declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states. This action freed millions of enslaved people and changed the purpose of the war from preserving the Union to fighting for freedom and equality.

A government agency established during Reconstruction to assist freed slaves in the South with education, employment, and legal support.

A key part of Reconstruction efforts, aimed at integrating freed slaves into society by granting them legal rights, citizenship, and the right to vote.

The period after the Civil War (1865-1877) focused on rebuilding the South and restoring its economy, reintegrating the Confederate states into the Union, and addressing the challenges of integrating former slaves into society.

The period of Reconstruction was marked by political debates and challenges, including the debate on how to govern the South and the issue of African American civil rights.

A political agreement made in 1877 that ended Reconstruction and removed federal troops from the South. It resulted in the election of Rutherford B. Hayes as president, effectively allowing the South to return to self-governance and effectively abandoning the protection of freed slaves.

A system of sharecropping that emerged after the Civil War, where Black farmers worked the land and received a share of the profits, but often ended up in debt to the landowner, effectively trapping them in a cycle of poverty and dependence.

Laws enacted in the Southern states after the Civil War designed to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans. They resemble the oppressive slave codes of the antebellum period.

A group of white supremacists who terrorized, intimidated, and murdered Black people in the South after the Civil War. They used violence and intimidation to suppress African American rights.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln in 1863, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be freed. It transformed the Civil War into a fight for freedom and strengthened the Union's moral standing.

This crucial battle in 1862 saw a Confederate advance into Maryland, resulting in a bloody stalemate. While the Union ultimately won, General McClellan's failure to pursue the retreating Confederates led to his replacement by Ulysses S. Grant.

The 1863 victory at Vicksburg, Mississippi, granted the Union control over the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.

This three-day battle in 1863, considered a turning point in the Civil War, saw heavy casualties on both sides (over 50,000 died). It marked the Confederacy's last major invasion into Northern territory.

Sherman's 1864 campaign involved capturing Atlanta, a major Confederate city, and then marching through Georgia, destroying infrastructure and resources. This campaign, known as the 'March to the Sea', aimed to cripple the Confederacy's war effort and weaken its morale.

This powerful speech, delivered by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, eloquently re-emphasized the principles of equality and freedom upon which the nation was founded. It served as a call to action for the preservation of those principles.

The Union Army's acceptance of black soldiers as soldiers in the Union Army and Navy was a significant turning point in the war. Almost 200,000 black soldiers fought for the Union cause.

By accepting black men into the military, the Union reinforced the connection between the Civil War and the fight for freedom, further solidifying the Union's moral stance against slavery.

Lincoln's plan for reintegrating the Southern states into the Union, requiring only 10% of voters to take an oath of allegiance and acknowledge emancipation.

Proposed by the Radical Republicans, this plan demanded a stricter approach to Reconstruction, including a 50% voter oath requirement and strong protections for freedmen's rights.

This federal law divided the South into five military districts and demanded states ratify the 14th Amendment and grant voting rights to all black men as a condition for readmission into the Union.

This amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

This amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including freedmen, and secured their equal protection under the law.

This amendment guaranteed the right to vote to all male citizens regardless of race, paving the way for black political participation.

A network of political clubs that emerged during Reconstruction to educate, organize, and empower African Americans, particularly in securing their political rights and improving their social conditions.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." This famous quote highlights the belief that a nation divided on major issues like slavery cannot remain united. It emphasizes the inevitability of conflict when there are irresolvable differences.

The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican candidate against slavery, triggered the secession of South Carolina, the first state to leave the Union. This event marked the beginning of a major turning point in American history, leading to the Civil War.

Fort Sumter was the site of the first engagement of the Civil War, where the Confederate forces attacked the Union garrison. While Lincoln aimed to preserve the Union, his decision to send provisions to Fort Sumter was interpreted as an act of aggression by the South, leading to the surrender of the Union garrison.

The Civil War pitted the Union (North) against the Confederacy (South). Both sides had their strengths and weaknesses which determined their strategies and eventual outcome.

Union strategies during the Civil War aimed at defeating the Confederacy. Two prominent plans included Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan", which focused on blockading Confederate ports and seizing control of the Mississippi River, and William T. Sherman's "March to the Sea", which aimed to cripple the South by targeting key infrastructure and resources.

The Emancipation Proclamation was transformative, not just for its impact on enslaved people, but also for the war's character. It transformed the fight into a moral crusade against slavery, attracting support from abolitionists and international communities, further solidifying the Union's cause.