Chapter 15 Civil War

Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln elected president; Southern leaders viewed him as a threat due to Republican opposition to slavery expansion.

Secession

Eleven Southern states seceded from the Union to protect slavery, forming the Confederate States of America.

Crittenden Compromise

A failed attempt to prevent secession by extending the Missouri Compromise line and protecting slavery.

Abolitionist Movement

Social movement to end slavery, highlighted by figures like William Lloyd Garrison and John Brown.

Fort Sumter

Location of the first battle of the Civil War, where Confederate forces attacked on April 12, 1861.

First Battle of Bull Run

July 21, 1861; Confederate victory that shattered hopes for a quick Union win.

Union Strengths

Population over 20 million, extensive industry, vast railroads, and a food supply.

Confederate Strengths

Familiarity with territory, strong civilian support, and a defensive war strategy.

Military Stalemate (1861-1862)

Period where neither side made decisive progress; focused on capturing enemy capitals.

Seven Days Battles

Series of battles in June and July 1862 near Richmond, resulting in Confederate victories.

Battle of Antietam

September 17, 1862; bloodiest single day of the Civil War.

Total War Concept

Warfare strategy that attacks civilian and military resources.

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued on January 1, 1863; declared all enslaved people in Confederate states free.

African American Soldiers

Over 190,000 African Americans served in the Union army by 1865, many formerly enslaved.

Gettysburg

Largest battle in North America (July 1-3, 1863); marked a turning point in the Civil War.

Vicksburg

Union victory on July 4, 1863; gave control of the Mississippi River.

Sherman's March to the Sea

A military campaign led by General Sherman to destroy Southern infrastructure.

Appomattox Court House

Location where Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Habeas Corpus

Legal protection against unlawful imprisonment; suspended during the Civil War.

Women in the Civil War

Women contributed by managing farms, serving as nurses, and forming organizations like the U.S. Sanitary Commission.

Crisis of Lincoln's Presidency

Lincoln balanced the need to preserve the Union with the pressures of abolition and the rights of enslaved people.

Grant vs. Lee

Major confrontations between Union General Grant and Confederate General Lee in Virginia.

Lincoln's Assassination

Killed on April 14, 1865; Englishman John Wilkes Booth carried out the act as a final desperate move against the Union.

Reconstruction Era

Period following the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves.

Border States

Slave states that did not secede from the Union: Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky.

Confederate States of America

Government formed by Southern states that seceded from the Union.

Civil War Casualties

Estimated over 600,000 soldiers killed and significant destruction across the South.

Political Parties Opposing Slavery

Liberty Party, Free-Soil Party, and Republican Party emerged to address slavery expansion.

Ironclads

Warships covered with iron plates used in naval battles during the Civil War.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

1854 act that allowed settlers to decide on slavery, leading to violent conflicts known as Bleeding Kansas.

William Tecumseh Sherman

Union general known for his destructive March to the Sea and total war strategy.

George B. McClellan

Union general known for his cautious leadership and failed opportunities.

Shiloh

April 6-7, 1862 battle in Tennessee; marked as a significant Union victory.

Chancellorsville

April 1863 battle noted for Lee's risky but successful tactics.

New York City Draft Riots

Violent protests in July 1863 against the draft, resulting in conflict and deaths.

Memorial Day

Established to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War.

King Cotton Diplomacy

Confederate strategy to gain foreign support from Britain and France through cotton exports.

Fort Pillow Massacre

April 1864 incident where Confederate troops killed Black Union soldiers after surrender.

Gettysburg Address

November 19, 1863 speech by Lincoln redefining the war's purpose as a fight for equality.

War Goals of the Union

Primary goal was to restore the Union and later included abolition of slavery.

War Goals of the Confederacy

Goal was independence from the United States and preservation of slavery.

Contraband

Term used for escaped enslaved people who were protected by the Union army.

Lincoln's Reelection

Achieved in November 1864 amid opposition, driven by victories in the war.

Richmond Bread Riot

Food riots that occurred in April 1863 as people protested shortages.

Civil War Outcomes

The war resulted in the end of slavery and immense changes in American society.

Fort Sumter Significance

Site of the first conflict of the Civil War, initiating armed hostilities.

Major Battles of 1864

Key battles included the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor.

Surgeon General William Hammond

Reformed medical care in the Union army during the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant

Leading Union general known for his aggressive tactics and siege warfare.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate general leading the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War.

William Lloyd Garrison

Prominent abolitionist and editor of The Liberator.

John Brown

Radical abolitionist who believed in using violence to end slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

Violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas Territory.

P.G.T. Beauregard

Confederate general who commanded forces at the Battle of Fort Sumter.

Legal Tender Act

Allowed the issuance of paper money (greenbacks) during the Civil War for financing.

Pacific Railway Act

Legislation promoting the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

Homestead Act

Provided land to settlers who farmed it for five years, boosting westward expansion.

National Bank Acts

Set up a system of national banks, establishing a federal currency.

African American Enlistment

Increased significantly after the Emancipation Proclamation with over 190,000 by war's end.

Confederate Constitution

Document explicitly protecting slavery and promoting states’ rights.

John Crittenden

Senator who proposed the Crittenden Compromise to avert civil war.

Missouri Compromise

1820 agreement that aimed to maintain the balance of free and slave states.

Andrew Johnson

Lincoln's vice president who assumed presidency after Lincoln's assassination.

Appomattox Courthouse

Site where Lee surrendered to Grant, signaling the end of the Civil War.

Total War Tactics

Military strategy that involves destroying the enemy's entire supportive system.

African American Contributions

Played significant roles as soldiers, laborers, and in supporting wartime efforts.

Civil War Innovations

Technological advances, including railroads and telegraphs, influenced military strategy.

Grant's Overland Campaign

Series of battles aimed at capturing Richmond and defeating Lee in 1864.

Military Command Changes

Frequent replacements of Union commanders reflected struggles for successful leadership.

Civil War Technology

Use of railroads, telegraphs, and ironclad ships changed the nature of warfare.

Reflections of the War

Controversial debates over methods and outcomes shaped the American public's perception.

Division of the Democratic Party

Created factions that influenced the political landscape during and after the war.

Preservation of the Union

Lincoln's primary focus before emancipation became a central war goal.

End of Slavery

Result of the war and 13th Amendment, leading to legal abolishment of slavery.

Reconstruction Challenges

Efforts to reintegrate the Southern states posed numerous political and social issues.

Northern Support for the War

Economic interests and moral arguments propelled public and political support.

Emancipation as a War Goal

Shifted the Union's strategy, integrating liberation of enslaved people into wartime objectives.

Legacy of the Civil War

Set the stage for subsequent civil rights movements and socio-political changes in America.

John Wilkes Booth

Assassinated President Lincoln, viewing the act as a protest against Union victories.

Union Draft Challenges

Controversial draft laws sparked protests and resistance in Northern states.

Civilian Life During War

Significantly impacted by resource shortages, regulations, and mobilization efforts.

Impact of the War Westward Expansion

Post-war economic conditions influenced migrations and settlement patterns.

Civil War Literature

Emergence of narratives and memorials reflecting personal and collective experiences of the war.

War's Social Impact

Shifts in gender roles, racial dynamics, and social justice aspirations followed the conflict.

Abolition's Evolution

Evolved from moral and political arguments to a legal framework of rights post-war.

Southern Economy After War

Sustained economic devastation and shifts in labor hierarchy following emancipation.

Public Memory of the War

Contested narratives emerged regarding heroism, trauma, and loss in the aftermath.

Lincoln's Legal Justifications

Rationale for emancipation used military necessity as a constitutional framework.