US History Review

Flashcards about US History

Indian Removal Act of 1830

This law authorized the forced relocation of Native tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. Importance: It led to the Trail of Tears and exemplified the U.S. government’s policy of westward expansion at the expense of the natives.

Trail of Tears

An event during Martin Van Buren’s presidency caused by Andrew Jackson, where the Cherokee were forced to give up all of their land and move west.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

Set the boundary between Canada and Maine.

Nullification Act

The Nullification Crisis was a sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by South Carolina's 1832 Ordinance of Nullification. This ordinance declared that the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and therefore null and void within the state of South Carolina. The crisis was a major conflict between the state of South Carolina and the federal government, challenging federal authority and raising questions about states' rights and the balance of power within the Union. It foreshadowed future conflicts that would lead to the Civil War.

Whigs

A political party that emerged in the 1830s in opposition to President Andrew Jackson. Key figures included Henry Clay and Daniel Webster.

Five Civilized Tribes

The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Indians in Oklahoma (former Indian Territory).

Industrialization

A primary focus of the North including transportation (railroads, trains, later on steam powered trains) and technology (telegraph).

What the South focused on

The buying and selling of enslaved people within the borders of the United States. It became a significant economic activity in the South, particularly after the international slave trade was outlawed in 1808. Enslavers profited immensely, while enslaved people faced brutal treatment, family separations, and a complete lack of freedom. This system perpetuated the dehumanization of African Americans

Yeomen Farmers

Farmers who own 50-200 acres of land, provide for local markets and themselves, maybe 1-2 slaves.

Plantation Farmers

Farmers who own 500-10,000 acres of land, 10-20/200 slaves, where majority of problems happened, grew cash crops & cotton, only cared about money.

Slave Codes

Rules to limit rebellions & control slaves, Owners take away large groups -> Church, Slaves always needed a written pass to get off plantation, Anyone who taught a slave how to read or write would be hung

Nat Turner's Rebellion

1831: Nat Turner’s rebellion in Virginia where 55 owners were killed by 200 slaves → scared the Southern plantation owners, enforced more rules

John C. Breckenridge

Southern Democratic Party candidate in the Election of 1860, vowed to uphold slavery

John Bell

Constitutional Union Party candidate in the Election of 1860, took no position on slavery

Abraham Lincoln

Republican party candidate in the Election of 1860, wanted to leave slavery alone where it existed but also ban it in the territories – won election

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America.

Fort Sumter

Confederate Victory that contributed to the start of the Civil War.

Battle of Bull Run

First major battle of the Civil War, Confederate Victory, July 21st, 1861. Union: Gen Irvin McDowell – Confederate: Gen P.G.T Beauregard.

Battle of Shiloh

Union victory near Shiloh Church, heavy casualties for both sides, reinforcements helped win and the navy showed up and helped Grant win.

Battle of Antietam

September 17th, 1862, a one-day battle. A stalemate (tie), but Lincoln twists the fact that Gen. Robert Lee’s troops ran away (to Virginia) to make it seem like the Union won.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued on January 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. It declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory. While it did not free slaves in the Union-controlled areas or border states, it symbolically redefined the war as a struggle for human freedom and paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation also allowed African Americans to enlist in the Union Army, bolstering its forces and contributing to the Union victory.

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and capturing Richmond, Virginia.

The Underground Railroads

A network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in the Northern states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause.

Abolitionists

People that fought to abolish slavery, including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and William Lloyd Garrison

Cause of the Civil War

A complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors, including slavery, states' rights, and tensions between the North and South that ultimately led to the conflict. The primary catalyst was the issue of slavery, with other contributing factors including economic disparities and political power struggles.

The Election of 1860

A pivotal presidential election that resulted in the victory of Abraham Lincoln. His election was a key factor in the secession of Southern states and the onset of the Civil War.

The Anaconda Plan

A Union strategy during the Civil War aimed at suffocating the Southern economy by blockading Southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River, ultimately leading to the defeat of the Confederacy.

The Seceding States

States that left the Union in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, primarily over issues related to slavery and states' rights.

Battle of Gettysburg

A major turning point in the Civil War, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863. It resulted in a significant Union victory, halting the Confederate invasion of the North.

The Gettysburg Address

A speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of November 19, 1863, four and a half months after the Union Army defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is one of the best-known speeches in American history.

Siege of Vicksburg

A decisive Union victory that concluded on July 4, 1863, after a prolonged siege led by General Ulysses S. Grant. The capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, a key strategic objective in the Anaconda Plan, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.

Siege of Petersburg

A series of battles from June 1864 to April 1865, where Union forces under General Grant laid siege to the Confederate capital of Richmond. This protracted conflict ultimately led to the fall of Richmond and the end of the Civil War.

Battle of Atlanta

Took place on July 22, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War. Union forces, led by General William T. Sherman, faced Confederate forces, resulting in a Union victory. Although Confederate forces defended the city, General William T. Sherman was able to capture the city.

Appomattox Court House

The location of the final battle of the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the war.

Generals in the Civil War

Union: Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman. Confederate: Robert E. Lee, P.G.T Beauregard.

Generals in the Civil War

Key Generals during the Civil War: Union: Ulysses S. Grant: Commander of the Union Army and later President

What impact did the Emancipation Proclamation have on the United States?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate-held territory during the Civil War. While it did not immediately free all slaves, its impact was profound:

1. Redefined the War: It transformed the conflict into a struggle for human freedom, adding a moral dimension to the Union cause.
2. Allowed African American Enlistment: It paved the way for African Americans to join

Anaconda Plan - How it helped the Union Win?

Union strategy to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and capturing Richmond, Virginia.

Battle of the Rivers Campaign

a series of Union operations aimed at gaining control of key waterways during the Civil War, significantly impacting supply lines and troop movements.

Series of Strategic Union Military Operations

The Battle of the Rivers Campaign refers to a series of strategic Union military operations primarily conducted in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. These campaigns, which took place mainly in 1862, were crucial for the Union's efforts to gain control over key navigable rivers, thereby undermining the Confederacy's ability to maintain supply lines and move troops efficiently. Key battles and operations included:

1. Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson: Led by General Ulysses S. Grant in February 1862, these battles resulted in the capture of strategic Confederate forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. This opened up these rivers for Union navigation and forced Confederate forces to retreat further south.
2. Battle of Shiloh: Also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, this was a major battle in April 1862. Although the Union forces under Grant initially suffered heavy losses, they were able to secure a victory, further solidifying Union control in the region.
3. Operations Along the Mississippi River: The Union Navy, along with ground forces, conducted operations to capture key points along the Mississippi River, such as Memphis and Vicksburg. These efforts were aimed at splitting the Confederacy and disrupting its supply lines. The capture of New Orleans in April 1862 by Union forces under Admiral David Farragut was a significant blow to the Confederacy.

Impact:

• Control of Waterways: The Union's success in the Rivers Campaign allowed them to control vital transportation routes, facilitating the movement of troops and supplies while hindering the Confederacy.
• Economic Disruption: By controlling key rivers, the Union disrupted Confederate trade and supply lines, weakening the Confederacy's economy and war effort.
• Strategic Advantage: Gaining control of these waterways provided the Union with a

How was the Battle of the Rivers Campaign part of the Anaconda Plan?

The Battle of the Rivers Campaign was a series of strategic Union military operations aimed at gaining control of key waterways, such as the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi Rivers. This campaign was integral to the Anaconda Plan because:

1. Control of Waterways: By securing these rivers, the Union disrupted Confederate trade, supply lines, and troop movements, weakening the Confederacy's economy and war effort.

2. Strategic Advantage: Union control of the rivers allowed for easier transportation of troops and supplies, providing a significant strategic advantage.

3. Economic Disruption: The campaign