Civil War Study Guide - US History 1 Honors - Kunnapas

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that territories should decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, leading to conflicts like Bleeding Kansas.

Sectionalism

Loyalty to one's region (North vs. South) over the nation as a whole, dividing the country economically, socially, and politically.

Louisiana Purchase

Expanded U.S. territory westward, increasing debates over whether new states would allow slavery.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Allowed Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining balance in the Senate; banned slavery north of 36°30'.

Compromise of 1850

Admitted California as a free state, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and allowed popular sovereignty in new territories.

Kansas~Nebraska Act

This act Repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska. This led to violence in Bleeding Kansas.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel that exposed the horrors of slavery, intensifying abolitionist sentiment in the North.

Dred Scott Decision

The Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were property and had no rights; Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

Nat Turner

Led a slave rebellion in 1831, increasing Southern fears of uprisings and leading to harsher slave laws.

John Brown

Radical abolitionist who led violent actions, including the raid on Harper's Ferry, to incite a slave rebellion.

Bleeding Kansas

Violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas over the issue of slavery.

Harper's Ferry

John Brown's raid on a federal arsenal in 1859 to arm enslaved people; it failed but escalated tensions.

Election of Lincoln (1860)

Lincoln's election caused Southern states, starting with South Carolina, to secede from the Union.

Main views of Abraham Lincoln

Opposed the expansion of slavery into territories but did not call for immediate abolition.

Main views of Stephen A. Douglas

Supported popular sovereignty, allowing states to choose whether to permit slavery.

Who won the Senate election?

Stephen A. Douglas won, but Lincoln gained national recognition.

Union States

Northern states loyal to the U.S., opposed to slavery expansion.

Confederate States

Southern states that seceded to preserve slavery and states' rights.

Border States

Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri (important for their strategic locations and resources).

Union Advantages

Larger population, industrial base, extensive railroads, strong navy.

Union Disadvantages

Fought an offensive war, initially lacked experienced military leadership.

Union Goals

Preserve the Union and later abolish slavery.

Union Strategies

Anaconda Plan (blockade Southern ports, control the Mississippi River, and split the Confederacy).

Confederate Advantages

Strong military leadership, fighting a defensive war, home-field advantage.

Confederate Disadvantages

Smaller population, fewer resources, weak navy.

Confederate Goals

Gain independence, protect slavery, and secure foreign support.

Confederate Strategies

Defensive war, hope to wear down the North and gain foreign recognition.

First Inaugural Address

Lincoln emphasized preserving the Union and assured the South he wouldn't interfere with slavery where it already existed.

Emancipation Proclamation

Freed enslaved people in Confederate states and redefined the war as a fight for freedom.

Gettysburg Address

Honored fallen soldiers and reinforced the principle of equality and a unified nation.

Second Inaugural Address

Stressed healing the nation and ending slavery as a moral and divine obligation.

Fort Sumter

First shots of the war, leading to full-scale conflict.Guarded Charleston harbor. Confederate forces move to take Fort. Union had to surrender.

Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

First major land battle. 35,000 Union troops vs. 20,000 Confederate troops. Confederate troops win. This leads to a surge of confidence for the South. Demoralized and shocked North.

Antietam

Bloodiest single-day battle; led to the Emancipation Proclamation. Confederate attempt to invade the North. General McClennan (Union) defeats Lee(Confederate). 23.000 killed. Foreign powers are no longer interested.

Gettysburg

The turning point of the war. General Robert E. Lee decides to invade the North hoping to end war with victory. The Union army had controlled the hills around Gettysburg. The battle lasted for 3 days with 50,000 casualties.

Vicksburg

Gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy. Last Confederate stronghold. Siege for 6 weeks w/ horrible conditions: Disease, starvation, & infections. Won by the North- Ulysses S. Grant (Union) takes control of the Mississippi River and splits the Confederacy into two.

Appomattox Court House

General Lee surrenders to General Grant, ending the war. Grant offered gracious terms to help heal the nation and offers to pardon all officers/men in Lee's army.

Turning point of the War

The North wins and the Confederates no longer had the resources/strength to invade the North.

Outcome of Battles

Union victories led to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy.

Soldier Life

Harsh conditions, lack of food, disease, and low morale.

New Technologies

Rifles, ironclad ships, railroads, and the telegraph changed warfare.

Advancements in Medicine

Improved surgical techniques, field hospitals, and sanitation practices, though still primitive.

Lincoln's Election in 1864

Lincoln won reelection, ensuring the continuation of his war policies and abolitionist stance.

Outcome

Union victory; slavery abolished with the 13th Amendment.

Lincoln's Assassination

Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C.

The Civil War ended with the Union reuniting. More than 600,000 Americans lost their lives, and countless others were severely wounded. This led to the passage of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The federal government assumed supreme national authority. The Northern economy boomed, while the Southern economy was left devastated.

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