The Civil War: Causes and Consequences

These flashcards cover key events, concepts, and figures from the Civil War, focusing on its causes, major turning points, and societal impacts.

What was a key transformation in the Civil War's purpose over time?

The war transformed from preserving the Union to eradicating slavery.

Who was the Republican candidate that rose from relative obscurity to win the presidential election of 1860?

Abraham Lincoln.

What event triggered the start of the Civil War?

The attack on Fort Sumter by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861.

What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?

It was the bloodiest single day in American history and led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

It declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate-controlled areas but did not apply to border states.

What was Lincoln's Anaconda Plan?

A strategy to suffocate the Confederacy economically by blockading ports and controlling the Mississippi River.

What were 'contraband camps'?

Camps where escaped enslaved people were housed, often under poor conditions, but offered a path to freedom.

What major battle marked a turning point in the Civil War in favor of the Union?

The Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.

What did the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?

It abolished slavery in the United States.

How did women contribute to the war effort during the Civil War?

Women served as nurses, spied, and organized sanitary fairs to support soldiers.

What was the outcome of the 1864 presidential election?

Abraham Lincoln won re-election, securing a significant majority of both the popular and electoral votes.