American Civil War Overview

These flashcards contain key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the American Civil War, covering important concepts, events, and figures discussed in the lecture.

American Civil War (ACW)

A conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) primarily over the issues of slavery and states' rights.

Secede

The action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.

Battle of Bull Run

The first major battle of the American Civil War, known as Bull Run in the North and Manassas in the South, exemplifying the difference in naming conventions between the two sides.

Casualties

The total number of killed, wounded, and missing soldiers in a war; the Civil War had the highest casualty rate of all American wars, with approximately 646,000.

Dred Scott Decision

An 1857 Supreme Court decision that declared African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, which heightened tensions leading to the Civil War.

States' Rights

The rights and powers held by individual US states rather than by the federal government; a key argument used by the Confederacy to justify secession.

Fort Sumter

The site of the first battle of the American Civil War in April 1861, where Confederate forces fired the first shots against Union troops.

Gettysburg

A pivotal battle during the Civil War fought in July 1863, known for its high casualties and as a turning point in favor of the Union.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that freed slaves in Confederate-held territory.

Confederate States of America

A group of Southern states that seceded from the Union during the Civil War, forming their own government.

Interior Lines

A military advantage where a defending force can move troops more quickly within its territory than an invading force can from outside.

Martial Law

The imposition of military control over normal civilian functions of government, often in response to emergencies such as rebellion or invasion.

Union

The term used for the Northern states during the Civil War, which opposed the Confederacy.

Confederate Flag

Various flags used by the Confederate states, notably the battle flag which became a symbol of the south.

War of Northern Aggression

A term used by some Southerners to describe the American Civil War, portraying the conflict as being started by the North.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single-day battle in American history, fought on September 17, 1862, resulting in significant casualties.

Fugitive Slave Act

A law that required the return of runaway slaves to their owners, heightening tensions between the North and South.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent political confrontations in Kansas between 1854 and 1861 over the legality of slavery in the proposed state.

Total War

A strategy of warfare that involves all aspects of society, including civilians, rather than only armies on the battlefield.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War during which the United States attempted to reintegrate the Southern states and address the status of the freed slaves.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States who led the country during the Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Jefferson Davis

The President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.