US History (USH) - Unit 5 Terms (LG 1)

Secession

To break free from, to break apart from. (Certain states secede from US)

Compromise of 1850

Made California a free state, and had popular sovereignty in land from Mexico into New Mexico and Utah, slavery then ended in Washington DC. Also included a strict fugitive Slave Act.

Popular sovereignty

People in the area get to vote on whether slavery is legal or not

Fugitive slave act

Part of Compromise of 1850, citizens helped to capture runaways, and people helping them were fined and put in jail. Judges earned 10$ for returning slaves. Forced northerners to participate in return of slaves, “take part” in slavery.

Underground railroad

Helps roughly 30,000 slaves escape from 1850-1860, series of escape routes in the US. Harriet Tubman helps save 300 herself.

Frederick Douglass

Freed black man and abolitionist. Wrote a lot about the need for emancipation and the horrors of slavery.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Depicts the cruelness of slavery, turned slavery into a moral issue, sold 1 mil copies and increased pushes for abolition. Resulted in heightened tensions.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Kansas and Nebraska were to vote to see if they were state or free, became a battle ground between pro and anti slave groups. People moved to vote illegally. (States wanted power in Congress)

Bleeding Kansas

People sent over to fight for sides, heightened tensions (Initially pro-slavery, turned to free state after many illegal votes). Pro-slavery posse burns and destroys much of Lawrence, Kansas (Anti-slavery headquarters).

Political Parties of 1850s (splinter parties)

Whigs (Carry-over from Federalist party, split over slavery), Know-Nothing Party (America Party, fearing outsiders, split over slavery), Free-Soil Party (Split from Democrats, opposed from slavery in new territories, mainly against the unfair competition of free labor), Democrats (Generally pro-slavery, wanted to expand slavery, pro immigration, more in Southern US but also in North. John C Calhoun, President Buchanan), and the Republican Party (Opposed expansion of slavery, became party of “anti-slavery,” began in Wisconsin. Abraham Lincoln)

Dred Scott Decision

A landmark decision by the Supreme Court that ruled black people did not have American citizenship, and could not expect any protection in federal courts.

John Brown

Anti-slavery freedom fighter, “directives” from God to kill pro-slavery population. Also wanted to lead slave revolt, tried to raid a federal arsenal and give guns to slaves. Failed, was hung. (Folk hero in North, terrorist in South), crazy but fighting for good cause.

Election of 1860

Major sectional vote, Lincoln won less than half of the popular vote, but no electoral votes in the South.

Abraham Lincoln

Republican, became a senator in IL in 1851, ran for president in 1860. Had famous debates with Stephan Douglas about spreading slavery, “Honest Abe.”

Jefferson Davis

1st President of Confederate States of America from 1861-1865

Border states

Slave states that fought with the Union

Anaconda Plan

Capture Richmond, blockade Southern ports, and overpower the South by forcing them into submission, split them into two parts (giant snake suffocation, total war/complete destruction of South).

Robert E. Lee / Ulysses S Grant

Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general, determined to push North, very motivated and believed he was capable, eventually promoted to leader of the Southern army. (South fought for preservation of way of life, property, state rights, and slavery). Ulysses was another general that led the Siege of Vicksburg, helped win a decisive battle and also promoted to General-In-Chief (preserve Union/end slavery).

Bull Run

July 1, 1861, The first major battle of the civil war, 35k Union vs 25k Confederates, Stonewall Jackson pushed back and took control, embarrassing defeat for Union.

Antietam

General Lee wanted to go North based on previous successes, brought 55k men, Lee’s plans revealed but Union army waited too long to enact counterplan, around 23k casualties, Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation afterwards.

Vicksburg

May 18-July 4 of 1863, fought for strategic control of Mississippi river, 40 days of bombings so civilians in town hid, Confederates so well fortifies more bombings were called off, forced to cut off food and water supply, Confederates surrendered (one day after Gettysburg), Confederacy split in half General Grants is promoted to General-In-Cheif.

Emancipation Proclamation

Only freed slaves behind confederate lines, didn’t free slaves in border states. Southerners didn’t actually free slaves, but gave North a high moral purpose, freed slaves could join Union army and fight.

54th Massachusetts Regiment

All African American regiment, normally not allowed to fight, fought at the battle of Fort Wagner, lower pay and lack of provisions.

Gettysburg

July 1-3 of 1863, beginning of end for the South, Lee looking for victory, Union and Confederate forces fight on north side, turns from skirmish into large battle, Union pushed back to retreat, surrounded but held out, MN troops charged and held off Confederates to reinforce, one of the largest casualty rates and 215/262 were killed/wounded, Union victory.

Gettysburg Address

November 19 of 1863, Lincoln’s address to the American people after the Battle of Gettysburg, honoring the fallen lives and telling the people to continue to move on in this cause to make America a free nation.

Sherman’s March to the Sea (total war)

North general, believed war was evil/bad but conducted military campaign from November 15-December 21 of 1864, destroyed everything where they went, and stole food/goods to survive, goal was to cripple the Confederate’s ability to wage war (attacked and destroyed Georgia, Atlanta). Wrote letters to warn people ahead of time.