Civil War and Reconstruction Lecture Review

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering key figures, events, and concepts from the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

William Tecumseh Sherman

Leader who marched from Tennessee to Georgia burning everything to the ground to scare civilians into surrendering.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union leader who aimed to cause attrition in Lee's army by using his superior number of men and resources in constant attacks.

Habeas corpus/Due process

Your right to a trial; suspended by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

Battle of Gettysburg

A 3-day battle and turning point of the war where the Union (under Meade) defeated the Confederacy (under Lee).

Creation of West Virginia

Established by Abe Lincoln for people in Virginia who did not want to join the Confederacy and wished to stay in the Union.

Reconstruction

The historical period focused on bringing the South back into the U.S. with representation and making African Americans citizens.

Andrew Johnson

A racist leader who was unwilling to help African Americans gain citizenship and hated rich landowning Southern plantation owners.

KKK

A terrorist organization that killed Republicans and African Americans to ensure they could not vote.

Election of 1864

A presidential contest where Republican Abe Lincoln defeated Democrat George McClellon.

Shenandoah Valley

The breadbasket of the Confederacy; destroyed during the Virginia Campaign to starve the Confederate forces.

NYC Draft Riot

A violent event where white immigrants (Irish, Germans) killed 200 people because they feared free African Americans would take their jobs.

Copperheads

A slang term for Democrats in the North who wanted to make peace with the South and let them be a separate country.

Red Cross

An organization created to expand the quality of medical care during conflicts due to previously terrible medical conditions.

Total War

The concept that civilians are part of the war effort and are just as guilty as those fighting the war.

13th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that abolishes and bans the practice of slavery.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that grants citizenship to people born in the U.S.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment stating that the right to vote cannot be denied regardless of race.

Crittenden Compromise

A last-ditch effort intended to stop the Civil War from occurring.

Emancipation Proclamation

A declaration that ended slavery specifically in the Confederate States.

Anaconda Plan

The Northern plan to end the war by taking the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean, then moving into Richmond.

Northern Advantages

Factors including factories for weapons/ammo, a larger population for a bigger army, railroads for transport, and a Navy to block ports.

Southern Advantages

Factors including agricultural resources, cotton to attract allies, experienced hunters/riders, and talented leaders like Robert E. Lee.