Civil War Study Guide

Slavery

What dominates the political landscape?

Wilmot Proviso

No slavery in territory acquired from Mexico

North Argument

Slave territory adds slave states; no jobs for free workers.

South Argument

Slaves are property under Constitution; fear more free states.

The Gold Rush

Caused California's population to explode

Secession

Withdrawal of state from Union

Reasons the south is angry

California possibly being admitted as a free state, Texas's border, the calls to abolish slavery in D.C., North not enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.

Popular Sovereignty

The right of residents of a territory to vote for or against slavery.

Daniel Webster

Senator from MA, argued with the northern Whigs that slavery shouldn't be extended into the territories, agrees with the Compromise in order to preserve the Union.

John C Calhoun

Senator from SC
Former VP, Secretary of state, secretary of war
Believed strongly in states' rights over the federal power and held the interests of the slave-holding south as his highest priority.

Stephen Douglass

Senator from Illinois
Takes lead in getting the Compromise Passed after Clay leaves Washington
Skilled politician who has his eyes set on the presidency
Future political rival of Abraham Lincoln

Terms of Clays Compromise

California admitted as a free state
Utah and New Mexico territories to decide about slavery
Texas-New mExico boundary dispute resolved; Texas paid $10 million by federal government
Sale of slaves banned in the District of Columbia, but slavery itself may continue there

Fugitive Slave Act

Part of the Compromise of 1850, has very harsh terms
Alleged fugitives denied jury trial, right to testify on their own behalf
Federal commissioners paid more for returning than freeing accused
People convicted of helping a fugitive fined, imprisioned, or both.

Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved person who becomes a leading voice in the abolitionist movement, giving speeches and writing books about the horrors of slavery.

Underground Railroad

Secret network of people who help slaves escape

Harriet Tubman

Escaped slavery
A conductor on 19 trips

Lincoln's victory...

Caused southerners to feel they have lost their political voice.

Reasons why SC secedes from Union

Want to complete independence from federal control
Fear end to their way of life
Want to preserve labor system

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy

Fort Sumter

Area where the first shots are fired

Union War Strategy

Anaconda Plan

Anaconda Plan

Developed by Winfield Scott
Blockade southern ports
Divide confederacy in two in west
Capture Richmond, confederate capital

Confederate Strategy:

Defense
Invade North if opportunity arises

Union Avantages:

Number of soldiers
Factories
Food
Railroads

Confederacy Advantages

Cotton profits
Motivation

Stonewall Jackson

Led the Confederate army in the Battle of Bull Run

George McClellan

Leader of the Union Army in the beginning of the war

General Ulysses S. Grant

Union general in the western theater

Battle of Antietam

Bloodiest single-day battle

Battle of Gettysburg

Turning point in the war

George Meade

Union General who leads the army in thr Battle of Gettysburg

The Gettysburg Address...

Honors dead U.S. soldiers
Calls for living to dedicate selves to preserve Union, freedom

William Sherman's war strategy

Total, leave nothing behind.

Abraham Lincoln

Wins election of 1864

Robert E. Lee surrenders...

At the Appomattox Court House

Civil War death toll

620,000

13th Amendment

Abolishes slavery in all states

Ford's Theater

Where Lincoln was assasinated

John Wilkes Booth

Killed Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Johnson

Sworn in as president after Lincoln's assasination