Civil War & Reconstruction Study Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the Civil War and Reconstruction, based on the student's notes.

Specialization

The focus of an economy on the production of specific goods, which leads to increased efficiency.

Tariffs

Taxes imposed on imported goods, used to protect domestic industries.

King Cotton

The term used to describe the dominance of cotton as a cash crop in the Southern economy.

Secede

To withdraw formally from membership in a federation or body, especially a political one.

Fort Sumter

The site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, marking the start of the conflict.

Anaconda Plan

The Union strategy during the Civil War to blockade the Southern coast and control the Mississippi River to isolate the Confederacy.

Battle of Gettysburg

A pivotal battle in the Civil War that marked a turning point in favor of the Union.

Total War

A military strategy where all resources and civilian infrastructure are targeted to weaken the enemy's capacity to fight.

Appomattox Court House

The location where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

13th Amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

Amendment that granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born in the U.S.

15th Amendment

Amendment that prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race.

Freedmen’s Bureau

A government agency established after the Civil War to aid freed slaves and impoverished whites in the South.

Electoral Votes

Votes cast by electors in the electoral college, which ultimately determine the winner of a presidential election.

Compromise

An agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims or principles.

Divided by Region

The division of the United States into the North and South based on differing economic interests and political beliefs.