Unit 5.2 Vocab Words

Second American Revolution

Most important, the Civil War freed 4 million enslaved African Americans, giving the nation what President Lincoln called a “new birth of freedom.” The war also transformed American society by accelerating industrialization and modernization in the North and destroying much of the South. These changes were so fundamental and profound that some historians refer to the Civil War as the Second American Revolution

Jefferson Davis

President of the Southern Confederate States from 1860 to 1865 after their secession from the Union

Alexander H. Stephens

Recognized as the Vice President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, most notably known for his "Cornerstone Speech" where he explicitly defended slavery as the "cornerstone" of the Confederate government, highlighting the South's justification for secession from the Union

Anaconda Plan

Use the U.S. Navy to blockade Southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River, cutting off essential supplies from reaching the Confederacy

General Stonewall Jackson

He was a confederate general who was known for his fearlessness in leading rapid marches bold flanking movements and furious assaults. he earned his nickname at the battle of first bull run for standing courageously against union fire

George B. McClellan

The new commander of the Union army in the East; general for northern command of the Army of the Potomac in 1861; nicknamed "Tardy George" because of his failure to move troops to Richmond; lost battle vs. General Lee near the Chesapeake Bay; Lincoln fired him twice.

Robert E. Lee

A prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War, widely considered one of the most skilled military commanders of the Confederacy, known for his leadership in major battles like Gettysburg and ultimately surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, marking the end of the war

Ulysses S. Grant

A prominent Union general during the American Civil War, most notably known for his leadership in key battles like Vicksburg and Appomattox, which significantly contributed to the defeat of the Confederacy, eventually leading him to become the 18th President of the United States, playing a crucial role in the Reconstruction era following the war

Trent Affair

A diplomatic crisis during the American Civil War where a Union naval officer, Captain Charles Wilkes, illegally stopped a British mail ship, the Trent, and arrested two Confederate diplomats (James Mason and John Slidell) who were traveling to Europe to seek support for the Confederacy, causing major tension between the United States and Great Britain that was ultimately resolved peacefully with the release of the diplomats; this incident highlighted the potential for foreign intervention in the Civil War

Cotton Diplomacy

The Confederate strategy during the American Civil War, where they believed that by withholding cotton exports from Great Britain, a major cotton consumer, they could pressure the British government to support the Confederacy due to the vital role cotton played in their textile industry, essentially using cotton as a political weapon to gain foreign alliances

Battle of Gettysburg

The Confederate army surprised Union units at Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania. What followed was the most crucial battle of the war and the bloodiest, with more than 50,000 casualties. Lee’s assault on Union lines on the second and third days, including a famous but unsuccessful charge led by George Pickett, proved futile and destroyed part of the Confederate army. Lee’s forces retreated to Virginia, never to regain the offensive

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Refers to a military campaign during the American Civil War led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, where his troops marched from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah, Georgia, destroying Confederate infrastructure and civilian property along the way, aiming to cripple the South's ability to continue fighting and demoralize the civilian population; this campaign is considered a significant turning point in the war due to its devastating impact on the South

Appomattox

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant; forced to totally surrender at this court house in 1865; Union treated enemy with respect and allowed Lee's men to return home to their families with their horses

Suspension of Habeas corpus

A controversial action taken by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, where he temporarily suspended the constitutional right that allows individuals to challenge the legality of their detention in court, essentially allowing the government to detain people without formal charges, Lincoln argued that suspending habeas corpus was necessary to suppress Confederate sympathizers and maintain order in the border states during the Civil War though it raised concerns about the infringement of civil liberties

Confiscation Acts

Two laws passed by the U.S. Congress during the Civil War that authorized Union forces to seize property, including slaves, belonging to Confederate supporters, essentially freeing slaves owned by those actively fighting against the Union as a way to weaken the Confederacy ; The law also empowered the president to use those freed in the Union army in any capacity, including battle

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, which declared that all enslaved people within the Confederate states still in rebellion against the Union were to be freed, effectively turning the Civil War into a fight to end slavery as well as preserve the Union; it did not apply to slaves in border states that remained loyal to the Union

Massachusetts 54th Regiment

Was one of the first African American units in the United States during the Civil War, formed in 1863. This regiment played a crucial role in demonstrating the bravery and effectiveness of Black soldiers in combat, particularly during the assault on Fort Wagner in July 1863, which became a symbol of courage and sacrifice for African Americans fighting for their freedom

Copperheads

Group of Northern Democrats during the American Civil War who strongly opposed the war effort, advocating for a negotiated peace with the Confederacy, and were often seen as undermining the Union cause, earning them the derogatory nickname due to the poisonous snake's association with stealthy betrayal; essentially, they were "Peace Democrats" who actively criticized the Lincoln administration's war policies

Ex Parte Milligan (SC case)

After the war, the Supreme Court ruled in _____ (1866) that the government had improperly subjected civilians to military trials. The Court declared that such procedures could be used only when regular civilian courts were unavailable

NYC draft riots

July 1863, north, just after the Battle at Gettysburg. Mobs of Irish working-class men and women roamed the streets for four days until federal troops suppressed them. They loathed the idea of being drafted to fight a war on behalf of slaves who, once freed, would compete with them for jobs. The riot lynched several African Americans and burned down black homes, businesses, and even an orphanage. It was the bloodiest riot in American history. Only the arrival of the federal troops halted the violence

Election of 1864

The Democrats’ nominee for president was the popular General George McClellan, whose platform calling for peace had wide appeal among millions of war-weary voters. The Republicans renamed their party the Unionist Party as a way of attracting the votes of “War Democrats” (those who disagreed with the Democratic platform). A brief “ditch Lincoln” movement fizzled out, and the Republican (Unionist) convention again chose Lincoln as its presidential candidate and a loyal War Democrat from Tennessee, Senator Andrew Johnson, as his running mate. The Lincoln-Johnson ticket won 212 electoral votes to the Democrats’ 21. The popular vote was much closer as McClellan took 45 percent of the total votes cast

Gettysburg Address

A famous speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where he redefined the Civil War as a fight to uphold the ideals of liberty and equality for all, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, essentially elevating the war beyond just preserving the Union

Greenbacks

Paper currency issued by the United States government during the Civil War, named so because the backs of the bills were printed in green ink; they were essentially a form of fiat money, not fully redeemable for gold, and their value fluctuated throughout the war; used as a way to quickly raise large sums of money to fund the war effort

Morrill Tariff Act-1861

Raised tariff rates to increase revenue and protect American manufacturers. Its passage initiated a Republican program of high protective tariffs to help industrialists

Homestead Act-1862

Promoted settlement of the Great Plains by offering parcels of 160 acres of public land free to any person or family that farmed that land for at least five years. Like the headright system in colonial Virginia and the sale of land in the Northwest Territory, this act helped many White settlers, but very few African Americans

Morrill Land Grant Act-1862

Made it possible for states to establish public colleges funded by the development or sale of associated federal land grants — encouraged states to use the sale of federal land grants to found and maintain agricultural and technical colleges. These schools not only educated farmers, engineers, and scientists, but they also became centers of research and innovation

Pacific Railway Act-1862

Authorized the building of a transcontinental railroad over a northern route in order to link the economies of California and the Western territories with the Eastern states

Andrew Johnson

Refers to the 17th President of the United States who took office after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, and is primarily associated with his controversial "Presidential Reconstruction" policies following the Civil War, which were seen as too lenient towards the South and ultimately led to his impeachment by Congress

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863)

Full presidential pardons would be granted to most Confederates who (1) took an oath of allegiance to the Union and the U.S. Constitution, and (2) accepted the emancipation of slaves. issued by Lincoln: offered full pardon to Southerners who would take oath of allegiance to the Union and acknowledge emancipation

Wade-Davis Bill

A piece of legislation proposed during the Civil War by Senator Benjamin Wade and Representative Henry Winter Davis, which outlined a stricter plan for Reconstruction than President Lincoln's, requiring a majority of white males in Confederate states to take a loyalty oath before their state could be readmitted to the Union, and also mandated the abolition of slavery and disqualification of Confederate officials from holding office

Freedmen’s Bureau

Federal agency established by Congress after the Civil War to assist formerly enslaved people (freedmen) in the South by providing food, shelter, medical care, education, and legal aid, helping them transition to freedom and find employment, essentially aiming to facilitate their integration into society following emancipation

Radical Republicans

During the Civil War and Reconstruction era who advocated for strong measures to dismantle slavery, ensure civil rights for formerly enslaved people, and severely punish the Confederate states, demanded immediate abolition of slavery

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Pronounced that all African Americans were U.S. citizens (thereby nullifying the decision in the Dred Scott case) and attempted to provide a legal shield against the operation of the Southern states’ Black Codes

14th Amendment

A post-Civil War constitutional amendment that granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, and guaranteed "equal protection of the laws" to all citizens, essentially establishing a legal basis for racial equality across the nation

Reconstruction Acts of 1867

The acts divided the former Confederate states into five military districts, each under the control of the Union army. In addition, the acts increased the requirements for gaining readmission to the Union: an ex-Confederate state had to ratify the 14th Amendment and place guarantees in its constitution to grant the franchise (right to vote) to all adult males, regardless of race

Tenure of Office Act

A law passed by Congress in 1867 aimed at restricting the president's power to remove certain officeholders without the Senate's approval. This act was primarily created during the Reconstruction era to protect members of President Andrew Johnson's cabinet, particularly those sympathetic to the goals of Reconstruction; The law became a significant point of contention between Congress and the presidency, ultimately leading to Johnson's impeachment

15th Amendment

Prohibited any state from denying a citizen’s right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” It was ratified in 1870. While it banned open racial discrimination in voting laws, it did not prevent states from passing other restrictions on voting rights that disproportionately affected African Americans

Civil Rights Act of 1875

A federal law passed during Reconstruction that aimed to guarantee equal access to public accommodations like transportation, hotels, theaters, and other public facilities to all citizens regardless of race, essentially prohibiting racial discrimination in public spaces, although it was later deemed largely ineffective due to a Supreme Court ruling declaring it unconstitutional

Scalawags

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction after the Civil War, often collaborating with Northern Republicans. They were seen as traitors by many in the South, as they aligned with the policies aimed at rebuilding the South and ensuring civil rights for newly freed African Americans

Carpetbaggers

A northerner who moved to the south during the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877) for economic, social, and sometimes political opportunities

Grant’s corruption

The widespread scandals and instances of unethical behavior that plagued the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, particularly during his second term, where several of his close associates and cabinet members were involved in schemes like the "Whiskey Ring" and "Crédit Mobilier," despite Grant himself not being directly implicated in most of these corrupt activities; this tarnished his reputation despite his personal integrity being generally considered high

Panic of 1873

Grant’s second term began with an economic disaster that rendered thousands of Northern laborers both jobless and homeless; a financial crisis that triggered a severe economic depression in the United States and Europe, beginning with the collapse of Jay Cooke & Company, a major bank heavily invested in railroads. This crisis exposed the fragility of the post-Civil War economy and led to widespread bank failures, unemployment, and social unrest