Exam Study Guide 2026 MAY Chapters 8 - 13

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering major topics from the Civil War era to World War II, based on the May 2026 Exam Study Guide.

Cotton gin

An invention that made cotton more profitable and changed the daily lives of Americans.

Turner’s rebellion

An uprising by enslaved people that led Southern states to respond with stricter controls.

Compromise of $1850$

A series of legislative measures authored by the "Great Compromiser" to keep peace in the USA, featuring parts that benefited Southern states.

Harriet B. Stowe

The author of a best-selling book that highlighted the evils of slavery, angered slaveowners, and inspired abolitionists.

John Brown

The individual who led the raid on Harper’s Ferry.

Ironclads

Revolutionary warships involved in a significant naval battle during the Civil War.

Copperheads

A group that called for an immediate end to the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

A symbolic document issued by President Lincoln regarding the status of enslaved people.

Gettysburg Address

A famous speech delivered by President Lincoln to proclaim key American ideals during the war.

Appomattox Courthouse

The site where General Lee surrendered to General Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

Union naval blockade

A maritime strategy used by the North to restrict Southern trade and resources.

Freedmen’s Bureau

An organization established to assist freedpeople and poor southerners following the Civil War.

Black Codes

Laws passed by Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

Carpetbaggers

Individuals from the North who traveled to the South during the Reconstruction period.

Scalawags

Southerners who supported Reconstruction efforts and the Republican party.

Enforcement Acts

Legislation passed by President Grant and Congress in the $1870s$ to protect rights and combat violence.

Compromise of $1877$

A political agreement that settled a disputed outcome and marked the end of Reconstruction.

Plessy v Ferguson

The Supreme Court case that established the "separate but equal" doctrine.

$13th$ Amendment

Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

$14th$ Amendment

Constitutional amendment that defined citizenship and guaranteed equal protection under the law.

$15th$ Amendment

Constitutional amendment that protected the right of citizens to vote regardless of race.

War Bonds

Debt securities sold by the U.S. government to fund military operations during World War II.

Higgins Boat

A specific type of landing craft used for amphibious operations during World War II.

Ellis Island

A famous immigration processing center located in New York Harbor.

Muckrakers

Journalists and writers who exposed corruption and social issues in American society.

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process that allowed for the rapid and efficient mass production of goods.

Prohibition

A period in U.S. history characterized by the legal ban on the production and sale of alcohol.

Dust Bowl

An environmental disaster in the Great Plains caused by severe drought and wind erosion.