The American Civil War: Causes, Strategies, Conflicts, and Politics

Comprehensive practice flashcards detailing key Civil War events, technological innovations, socioeconomic comparisons, major battles, and wartime policy changes from the lecture notes.

What events and dates directly led to the conflict at Fort Sumter in 1861?

In January 1861, a supply ship was turned around. President Abraham Lincoln refused to acknowledge the Confederacy and sent supplies again to Major Anderson, but on April 6, 1861, the supplies were turned around again.

What order did Confederate President Jefferson Davis give General P.G.T. Beauregard on April 10, 1861?

Davis instructed Beauregard to demand the surrender of Fort Sumter or take it by force, an ultimatum that Union Major Anderson refused.

When did the bombardment of Fort Sumter begin, and when did Major Anderson surrender?

General Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and Major Anderson surrendered $24$ hours later on April 13, 1861.

What were the immediate effects of the attack on Fort Sumter?

By firing on a federal fort, the South committed an act of open rebellion. In response, Lincoln asked for volunteers for armed service, and Fort Sumter became a vital symbol for the Union.

How are "casualties" categorized in Civil War military records?

The total number of personnel Killed in Action (KIA), Wounded in Action (WIA), Missing in Action (MIA), and Prisoners of War (POW).

How did the living environments of the North and South differ prior to the Civil War?

The Northern environment was predominantly urban, whereas the Southern environment was rural.

How did the economic outputs of the North and the South compare prior to the Civil War?

The North had an industrial economy producing $\$1.5\text{ billion}$ per year in finished goods (+ coal), whereas the South had an agricultural economy producing $\$155\text{ million}$ per year in raw materials (cotton, etc.).

How did the population and urbanization of the North compare to that of the South?

The North's population was $2.5\times$ bigger than the South's, held $9/10$ of the largest U.S. cities, and had a more diverse immigrant population; the South was $2.5\times$ smaller, with its capital Richmond being roughly $1/10$ the size.

How did transportation and shipping capabilities differ between the North and South?

The North held $70\%$ of all railroad tracks in its territory (shipping heavily through Chicago), while the South relied heavily on water transport along the Mississippi River.

What primary communication methods were utilized by the North and South during the war?

The North utilized telegraph networks (which expanded alongside railroad lines), whereas the South relied on the Pony Express for communication.

What internal governmental and economic problems did the Confederacy face during the war?

The Confederacy suffered from severe inflation, and sovereign state governments frequently refused to cooperate with the central Confederate government.

What major legislative acts and economic systems were enacted by the federal government during the Civil War?

The Pacific Railway Act, the Homestead Act, the implementation of an income tax, and the issuance of national paper currency called greenbacks.

What is the definition of a "draft" in the context of the Civil War?

A mandatory requirement by law to serve in the military.

What is a "writ of habeas corpus," and how did President Lincoln address it during the war?

A legal protection ensuring that an arrested individual must be formally charged with a crime; President Lincoln suspended this right for over $13{,}000$ people.

How was the term "contraband" used during the Civil War?

Enemy property captured during wartime, which applied to enslaved persons escaping to Union lines.

Who were the "Copperheads"?

Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and advocated for immediate peace.

Who were the "Radical Republicans"?

A faction of Republican congressmen who strongly favored immediate emancipation of enslaved people and harsh punishment for the South.

What is a "war of attrition"?

A military strategy where a weaker army inflicts small but continuous losses of soldiers and material that gradually add up to an unbearable burden for the enemy.

What was the "Anaconda Plan"?

A strategic plan formulated by the North to blockade Southern ports and cut off Confederate supplies from foreign countries.

Why did both Union and Confederate armies rush into combat before they were fully prepared?

Impatient Northern and Southern civilians demanded a quick and decisive victory.

How did Ulysses S. Grant effectively use naval power in the Western Theater?

Grant utilized armed gunboats as an effective tool to control and secure western rivers.

What was the date, location, and alternative name of the First Battle of Manassas?

July 21, 1861, at Manassas, Virginia; also known as the First Battle of Bull Run.

How did technology and civilian spectators impact the First Battle of Manassas?

The Confederates used the telegraph and railroads to bring in fresh backup troops; meanwhile, civilian spectators who came to picnic and watch the fight panicked and obstructed Union troops during their retreat.

Which Confederate general earned his famous nickname at the First Battle of Manassas?

General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

What technological advancements in firearms rendered traditional battle tactics obsolete and suicidal?

Rifling (spiral barrel grooves allowing bullets to fly in a straight line) and quicker-reloading rifles.

What were ironclad ships, and what famous ironclads fought during the Civil War?

Steam-driven naval vessels armored with heavy iron plates; famous examples include the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack.

What new artillery ammunition types were introduced during the Civil War?

Cannon shells that exploded in midair over enemy troops, and canister shells filled with lead balls.

When did the Battle of Shiloh occur, and where was it fought?

April 6, 1862 – April 7, 1862, around Shiloh Church in Tennessee.

How did Ulysses S. Grant respond when his officers urged retreat after the first day at Shiloh?

Grant refused to retreat, declaring: "No, I propose to attack at daylight and whip them," relying on reinforcements summoned via railroad.

What were the casualties and strategic significance of the Battle of Shiloh?

It produced $23{,}000$ total casualties ($13{,}000$ Union and $10{,}000$ Confederate), making it the single bloodiest battle on the continent up to that point; it demonstrated the Confederacy would not collapse overnight and stopped the South from regaining western territories.

Why did Confederate General Robert E. Lee decide to invade Northern territory in 1862?

Lee believed that securing a major Confederate victory on Northern soil would force the Union to end the war.

When and where was the Battle of Antietam fought, and who were the commanding generals?

September 17, 1862, in Maryland, between General Robert E. Lee (Confederate) and General George B. McClellan (Union).

What makes the Battle of Antietam historically distinct in terms of casualties?

It was the bloodiest single day of the entire Civil War, producing $6{,}000$ dead, $17{,}000$ wounded, and $23{,}000$ total casualties—surpassing the casualties of any single day at Gettysburg.

How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the fundamental objective of the Civil War?

It widened the scope of the war from solely preserving the Union to explicitly emancipating enslaved people and ending slavery.

Which specific enslaved populations were declared free by the Emancipation Proclamation?

Slaves within any state or designated part of a state that was actively in rebellion against the United States on January 1, 1863 (exempting non-rebelling areas and states with congressional representation).

Under what authority did Abraham Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation?

By virtue of his constitutional power as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy during an actual armed rebellion, enacting it as a "fit and necessary war measure."

What instructions did Paragraph 6 of the Emancipation Proclamation provide to newly freed individuals?

They were enjoined to abstain from all violence, except in necessary self-defense, and were encouraged to labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

What policy did Paragraph 7 of the Emancipation Proclamation establish regarding military enlistment?

It officially declared that Black men would be accepted into the armed services of the United States to garrison forts, positions, and man vessels.

What exemption options were available to drafted Union citizens under federal conscription laws?

A drafted man could avoid service by paying a commutation fee of $$\

What were the New York City Draft Riots of 1863?

Violent riots occurring between July 11 and July 16, 1863, primarily led by working-class and immigrant populations protesting unfair draft conscription laws.