Unit 11 - Civil War

Brus - History

Confederate

Naming battles/armies after nearest town/state, seceded due to reliance on slavery, formed Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as President

Union

Naming battles/armies after nearest body of water, opposed secession, led by Abraham Lincoln, focused on preserving the Union during the Civil War

Secession Crisis

Triggered by SC secession due to Lincoln's election, other states in Cotton Belt/Deep South seceded, forming Confederacy based on white supremacy and slavery defense

Crittenden Compromise

Proposed to protect slavery in existing states, extend Missouri Compromise line to California, and guarantee slavery in Latin American territories

Border States

Delaware, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia, crucial for strategic reasons during the Civil War, faced secession dilemmas

Anaconda Plan

Union war strategy to blockade southern ports, split Confederacy by capturing Mississippi River, and seize Confederate capital Richmond, VA

Legal Tender Act of 1862

Passed to issue paper money for making weapons during the Civil War, could be exchanged for specie, aimed to finance war efforts

Peninsula Campaign

McClellan's cautious Union operation in the Eastern Theatre, moved slowly towards Richmond, faced Confederate counterattacks led by Lee and Jackson

Naval War

Union blockade to restrict Confederate supplies, use of ironclads like CSS Virginia, capture of major port cities like New Orleans, and technological advancements in naval warfare

Belligerent

A group engaged in war, recognized as such, even if not a nation

Battle of Hampton Roads

Naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, marking the end of the age of sail

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued by Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam, freed slaves in rebelling states and allowed them to join the Union army

Conscription

Enlistment of individuals into the military, seen in both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War

Lee's Invasion of Maryland

Lee's offensive move after the Peninsula Campaign, aiming to influence the midterm elections and potentially gain European recognition

Turning Point

Vicksburg + Gettysburg:Signifying a shift in the war, with Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg altering the course of the conflict

Grant Takes Command

Grant's promotion to General-in-Chief, implementing total war strategies to hasten the end of the war

Sherman's March to The Sea

Sherman's campaign through Georgia, practicing total war by targeting civilian infrastructure and resources

End of the Confederacy

Culminated by Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, leading to the dissolution of the Confederate States of America

Election of 1864

Lincoln's reelection against McClellan, influenced by key events like the Scorched Earth Campaign and Sherman's capture of Atlanta

Grant made general-in-chief

In March, Ulysses S. Grant was appointed as the general-in-chief of the Union Army during the Civil War, giving him overall command of Union forces.

Overland Campaign

The military campaign conducted by Union General Ulysses S. Grant in May and June of the Civil War, characterized by intense fighting and high casualties.

Siege of Petersburg

A prolonged Union siege of Petersburg, Virginia, which lasted from June 1864 to April 1865 and played a crucial role in the eventual defeat of the Confederacy.

Early and Sheridan’s Scorched Earth campaign

In July, Confederate General Jubal Early and Union General Philip Sheridan engaged in a series of brutal battles and destructive tactics in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Lincoln wins

In November, Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as President of the United States for a second term, signaling continued support for the Union cause.

Sherman starts his burning

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman initiated his destructive "March to the Sea" campaign in November, employing scorched earth tactics to devastate the South.

13th Amendment Signed

In January 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was signed, officially abolishing slavery in the country.

Sherman stops burning

In March, General Sherman concluded his destructive campaign and ceased the burning of Confederate resources and infrastructure.

Lee surrenders

In April, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War in Virginia.

Confederacy dissolved, Davis captured

In May, the Confederate States of America dissolved following the surrender of its armies, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Union forces.