The Civil War Begins - Chapter 14

AMSCO APUSH Chapter 14 "The Civil War"

Civil War

A conflict between the Union and the Confederacy in the United States from 1861 to 1865, primarily over issues related to slavery and states' rights.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order by President Lincoln in January 1863 declaring the freedom of all slaves in states in rebellion against the Union.

Fort Sumter

The site in South Carolina where the first shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861.

Anaconda Plan

Union military strategy to blockade Southern ports and capture the Mississippi River, effectively strangling the Confederacy.

George McClellan

Union general known for his leadership during the Peninsula Campaign and for being overly cautious in battle.

Gettysburg

A pivotal battle fought in July 1863 that marked the turning point of the Civil War with a significant defeat for the Confederacy.

Sherman's March

A military campaign led by General William Tecumseh Sherman from 1864 to 1865 aimed at destroying the Confederacy's will to fight.

13th Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in December 1865, that abolished slavery in the United States.

Thaddeus Stevens

A leading Radical Republican who advocated for the rights of freed slaves and harsh terms for the South after the Civil War.

Henry S. Commager

Historian who argued the Confederacy's defeat was due in part to reliance on slavery, which hindered adaptability and progress.

Copperheads

Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and wanted a negotiated peace with the Confederacy.

Monitor vs. Merrimac

The first battle between ironclad warships in March 1862, marking a significant advancement in naval warfare.

Vicksburg

A critical Confederate stronghold along the Mississippi River, captured by Union forces in July 1863, which split the Confederacy.

Appomattox Court House

The site where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

A speech delivered by President Lincoln emphasizing reconciliation and healing after the Civil War.

Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

Strategically important forts captured by General Ulysses S. Grant in early 1862, opening the way for Union advances in the West.

Draft Riots

Violent disturbances in New York City in July 1863 in response to the Union draft law, reflecting social tensions over military conscription.

William T. Sherman

Union general known for his harsh tactics and total war strategy, particularly during his March to the Sea.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single day in American history, fought on September 17, 1862, resulting in a strategic Union victory.

Confederate States of America

The government established by Southern states that seceded from the Union.

Habeas Corpus

A legal principle that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment; suspended by Lincoln during the Civil War.