History 1301 Final Exam Review - Civil War and Early American History

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering vocabulary terms, critical battles, strategic plans, and major historical concepts for the History 1301 final exam.

What concept expressed the belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

Manifest Destiny

What land did the United States acquire following the Mexican War (1846–1848)?

Land that later became California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other states.

What did the Fugitive Slave Law require?

It required escaped enslaved people to be returned to their enslavers, even if they had escaped to free states.

What occurred during John Brown's Raid in 1859?

John Brown led an attack on a federal weapons storage facility at Harpers Ferry, hoping to start a rebellion against slavery.

Which was the first state to secede from the Union, and when did it leave?

South Carolina, in December 1860 (just before Christmas).

How many Southern states had seceded from the Union before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration?

Seven southern states.

Where was Fort Sumter located, and on what date did Southern forces shell it into submission?

In Charleston harbor, South Carolina; it was shelled into submission on April 12, 1861.

How did President Lincoln react to the attack on Fort Sumter, and what was the reaction of the Upper South?

Lincoln called on loyal states to supply 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion, which caused the states of the Upper South to secede and join the Confederacy.

How did the population and size of the North compare to the South when the Civil War began?

The North had 23 million people, while the South had 11 states and less than 6 million free citizens.

What major industrial and financial disadvantages did the Confederacy face during the war?

Most factories were in the North (leaving the South unable to make weapons or equipment), infrastructure was strained by poor railroads and roads, and the economy lacked banks and gold.

What two primary military advantages did the South hold during the Civil War?

Having better battlefield leaders (such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson) and fighting on the defensive.

Why did military technology give a massive advantage to defenders rather than attackers in the Civil War?

Rifles could kill from a couple of hundred yards away, and cannons could kill huge masses of attackers when they closed within 100 yards.

What happened when spectators came to picnic and watch the Battle of Bull Run (1861)?

They witnessed a bloody nightmare where both sides stood straight and fired volleys, resulting in thousands killed or crippled and a Confederate victory.

Why did Southerners view the aftermath of the Battle of Bull Run as a 'lost opportunity'?

The exhausted Southern army failed to chase the retreating Yankees and potentially end the war on that day.

What was the purpose and strategy of the Union's Anaconda Plan?

To blockade Southern ports, seize control of the major rivers (including the Mississippi River), and starve the South into submission.

What background and foreign policy hope did Confederate President Jefferson Davis possess?

He was a former Mexican War officer and U.S. Secretary of War; he hoped early battlefield victories would make England desperate for Southern cotton and intervene.

When did the Confederacy begin conscription, and what exemption was available to wealthy citizens?

Conscription began in early 1862 (with the draft age eventually reaching 50); wealthy men owning more than 20 slaves could buy their way out by paying a fee.

What military reputation did Union General George McClellan have?

He commanded the Army of the Potomac and was known for being cautious and slow to attack.

What was the significance of the Battle of Shiloh (1862)?

It was a major Union victory in Tennessee that demonstrated how deadly the Civil War would become.

What was the result of the Battle of New Orleans (1862)?

It was a Union victory that gave the North control of the important port city of New Orleans.

What was the outcome of the Seven Days' Battles (1862)?

Confederate forces in Virginia successfully pushed the Union Army away from the Confederate capital of Richmond.

Why was the Battle of Antietam (1862) a critical turning point in the Civil War?

It remains the bloodiest single day in American history, dashed Southern hopes of Maryland seceding and England entering the war, and gave Lincoln the opportunity to announce the Emancipation Proclamation.

Which enslaved individuals were declared free by Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation (1863)?

Enslaved people in areas still under Confederate control and rebelling against the Union (not those under Union control).

What occurred at the Battle of Fredericksburg in late 1862?

The Union army crossed an icy river into the teeth of an entrenched Confederate army and suffered a bloody, senseless slaughter.

What sparked the New York Draft Riots in mid-1863, and how were they halted?

Thousands of poor whites protested conscription by burning the draft office and assaulting free Black residents; soldiers armed with cannons put down the violence.

Who were the Copperheads, and how did President Lincoln respond to their opposition?

Northern Democrats who demanded an immediate end to the war; Lincoln suspended Habeas corpus and jailed many critics.

What took place at the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863)?

Robert E. Lee defeated General 'Fighting Joe' Hooker in Virginia, but Stonewall Jackson was wounded by friendly fire and later died.

What made the Union victory at Vicksburg (1863) strategically vital?

General Grant captured the city, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River and tearing the Confederacy in two.

Why was the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) an important turning point?

Union forces defeated the Confederate invasion in Pennsylvania, stopping Lee's advance into the North.

Who were the candidates in the presidential election of 1864, and what was the outcome?

Abraham Lincoln defeated George McClellan to win a second term as president.

What was General Ulysses S. Grant's strategy after taking command of all Union armies in early 1864?

To act like a sledgehammer by attacking Confederate armies on several fronts and wearing them down with relentless pressure using the North's endless reserves of manpower.

What occurred during General Sherman's March to the Sea (1864)?

Union General Sherman marched through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying supplies, railroads, and transportation to ruin the South's ability to fight.

Where and when did General Robert E. Lee surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant?

At Appomattox, Virginia, on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

What major political and social changes resulted from the Civil War?

Federal power expanded over the states, the national government grew stronger, the Union was preserved, and slavery was abolished.

What city was James Monroe hoping to purchase when he was dispatched to France?

New Orleans

To how many 'pet' state banks did President Andrew Jackson transfer federal monies from the national bank?

23 'pet' state banks

Which tariff angered Southerners and led South Carolina to threaten secession in 1832?

The Tariff of 1828

In what year did Robert Hayne and Daniel Webster hold their famous debate regarding nullification and secession?

1830

What document was produced by the Seneca Falls Convention to advance women's rights?

The Declaration of Sentiments

What was the purpose of the pamphlet 'Common Sense'?

It told American colonists to fight for their rights.

Which conqueror brought down the empire in Peru?

Francisco Pizzaro

How did the initiator of the Protestant Reformation in Europe present his suggestions?

By nailing his suggestions to the door of the local church.

Which famous philosophical motto urging independent thought is cited in the course study materials?

'Dare to know! Have the courage to use your own understanding'

What was the Mexican War (1846–1848), and what territory did the United States acquire as a result?

A war fought between the United States and Mexico in which the United States won land that later became California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other western states.

How do the lecture notes define Manifest Destiny?

The belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

What requirement was imposed by the Fugitive Slave Law?

It required that escaped enslaved people be returned to their enslavers, even if they had escaped into free states.

What took place during John Brown's Raid in 1859?

John Brown led an attack on a federal weapons storage facility at Harpers Ferry, hoping to spark an armed rebellion against slavery.

Which state was the first to secede from the Union, and how many had departed prior to Lincoln's inauguration?

South Carolina was the first state to secede just before Christmas in December 1860; before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration, seven southern states had seceded.

What occurred at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861?

Southern forces shelled the federal fort in Charleston harbor into submission after its defenders refused to abandon it, marking the beginning of the Civil War.

How did President Lincoln react to the fall of Fort Sumter, and what was the immediate result in the upper South?

Lincoln called on loyal states to supply 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion, causing the states of the upper South to secede and join the Confederacy.

What were the comparative population sizes of the North and the South when the Civil War began?

The North had a population of 23 million people, while the South was made up of 11 states with less than 6 million free citizens.

What industrial and economic weaknesses severely strained the Confederacy during the war?

Most factories were in the North, preventing the South from manufacturing its own weapons and equipment; Southern infrastructure was crippled by poor road and railroad networks; and the South lacked banks and gold reserves.

What were the two primary military advantages held by the South at the start of the Civil War?

Possessing superior battlefield leaders (such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson) and fighting on the defensive.

Why did military technology give defenders an overwhelming advantage during the Civil War?

Rifles could kill from a couple of hundred yards away, while cannons could decimate large masses of attacking soldiers within 100 yards, meaning defenders almost always won battles.

What occurred at the first Battle of Bull Run (1861) when civilians gathered to watch?

Civilians who came to picnic witnessed a bloody nightmare where both sides stood in straight volleys, leading to thousands killed or crippled and a Confederate victory.

Why did many Southerners later consider the conclusion of the Battle of Bull Run a "lost opportunity"?

They regretted that their bloody, exhausted army failed to chase the retreating Yankees and potentially end the war that very afternoon.

What was the Union's Anaconda Plan?

A naval and land strategy to blockade southern ports, seize major rivers (including the Mississippi River), and starve the South into submission.

What military background did Jefferson Davis have, and what was his primary diplomatic objective?

He was a former Mexican War officer and U.S. Secretary of War who hoped early Confederate victories would make England so desperate for southern cotton that it would intervene.

When did the South initiate conscription, and how could wealthy men avoid the draft?

The South began conscription in early 1862 (with the maximum draft age eventually reaching 50); wealthy men owning more than 20 slaves could buy their way out by paying a fee.

How was Union General George McClellan characterized during his command of the Army of the Potomac?

He was known for being overly cautious and slow to attack Confederate forces.

What was the significance of the Battle of Shiloh (1862)?

A major Union victory fought in Tennessee that demonstrated to both sides how deadly and prolonged the Civil War would become.

What strategic benefit did the North gain from the Battle of New Orleans (1862)?

It was a Union victory that granted the North control over the crucial southern port city of New Orleans.

What was the result of the Seven Days' Battles (1862)?

A series of battles in Virginia where Confederate forces successfully pushed the Union Army away from the Confederate capital of Richmond.

Why was the Battle of Antietam (1862) a pivotal moment in the Civil War?

Fought in Maryland, it was the single bloodiest day in American history; it crushed Southern hopes of Maryland seceding and England entering the war, giving Lincoln the victory needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) specifically mandate?

It declared free all enslaved people living in areas still under Confederate rebellion, though it did not free slaves in areas already under Union control.

What happened to Union troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg in late 1862?

Union forces crossed an icy river into entrenched Confederate lines in Virginia, resulting in severe slaughter and a Confederate victory that dampened Northern morale.

What caused the New York Draft Riots in the middle of 1863, and how were they halted?

Thousands of poor whites protested the military draft by burning the draft office and assaulting free Black citizens; the violence was only put down by soldiers armed with cannons.

Who were the Copperheads, and how did Lincoln handle domestic critics of the war?

Northern Democrats who opposed the war and demanded immediate peace with the South; Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and imprisoned many of his fiercest critics.

What took place at the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863)?

Robert E. Lee defeated Union General "Fighting Joe" Hooker in Virginia, but Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was accidentally wounded by friendly fire and later died.

What was the strategic outcome of the Battle of Vicksburg (1863)?

General Ulysses S. Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, giving the Union total control of the Mississippi River and cutting the Confederacy in two.

Why is the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) described as a turning point?

Fought in Pennsylvania, the Union army defeated Lee's Confederate invasion of the North, halting Confederate momentum.

What was Ulysses S. Grant's strategy after taking command of all Union armies in early 1864?

He attacked Confederate forces relentlessly on multiple fronts like a sledgehammer, using the North's vast manpower reserves to wear down Southern armies that could not replace casualties.

What was the outcome of the presidential election of 1864?

Abraham Lincoln defeated Democratic challenger George McClellan to secure a second presidential term.

What took place during General Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864?

General Sherman led Union troops through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying supplies, railroads, and transportation to cripple the South's capacity to wage war.

Where and when did the Civil War effectively conclude?

It ended in April 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate army to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865.

How did the balance of power in the nation shift following the Civil War?

The federal government expanded its authority over individual states, national unity was preserved, and slavery was abolished.

According to the exam review, how did the English crown and Parliament govern the American colonies on a daily basis?

They allowed colonists to govern themselves on a day-to-day basis, leaving them largely untaxed and free.

What was the core message of Common Sense, and who authored it according to the study notes?

It was a pamphlet written by a new immigrant that urged American colonists to fight for their rights.

Which conquistador conquered the mighty empire located in Peru?

Francisco Pizarro conquered the empire located in Peru.

What 18th-century philosophical motto is highlighted in the study questions?

"Dare to know! Have the courage to use your own understanding".

What territory was James Monroe originally sent to France to acquire?

He traveled to France hoping to purchase the port of New Orleans.

What actions did Henry Clay and the Senate take after President Jackson moved federal funds into 23 "pet" banks?

Clay and the Senate reprimanded and censured President Jackson for removing federal deposits from the national bank.

What were the primary constitutional arguments in the 1830 Hayne-Webster debate?

Debates centering on state nullification of federal laws and the right to secession versus national union.

What foundational document was produced at the Seneca Falls Convention?

The Declaration of Sentiments.

What was President Andrew Jackson's policy of rewarding loyal political supporters with federal offices called?

The spoils system (replacing federal officials with his own supporters).