Untitled Flashcards Set

Dred Scott Case

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that African Americans were not citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court.

Roger Taney

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the Dred Scott case, who delivered the ruling that was widely criticized.

House Divided Speech

A speech by Abraham Lincoln in 1858, stating that 'A house divided against itself cannot stand,' referring to the divisions between free and slave states.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas during the Illinois Senate race of 1858, focusing largely on the issue of slavery.

Freeport Doctrine

Stephen Douglas's belief that territories could exclude slavery by not adopting laws to protect it, expressed during the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

John Brown - Harpers Ferry

An abolitionist who led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859, intending to spark a slave uprising.

Crittenden Compromise

A failed proposal in 1860 aimed at preventing the Civil War by extending the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific.

Fort Sumter

The site of the first shots of the Civil War, where Confederate forces attacked the Union garrison in April 1861.

Anaconda Plan

The Union's strategy for defeating the Confederacy by blockading southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River.

War of Attrition

A military strategy where one side seeks to win by wearing down the enemy through continuous losses.

Monitor vs. Merrimac

The first battle between ironclad ships during the Civil War, marking a significant change in naval warfare.

Trent Affair

An incident during the Civil War where a Union warship intercepted a British mail ship and arrested Confederate diplomats, nearly causing a diplomatic crisis.

Suspension of Habeas Corpus

The act of suspending the right to a court appearance in order to detain individuals without trial, utilized during the Civil War.

Martial law

The imposition of military control over normal civilian functions of government, often used during times of war or emergency.

Ex Parte Milligan

A Supreme Court case that ruled it was unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts when civilian courts were available.

Copperheads

A faction of Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and called for an immediate peace settlement with the Confederacy.

Confiscation Acts

Laws passed during the Civil War that allowed the Union to seize enemy property, including enslaved people.

Antietam

The bloodiest single-day battle in American history, fought in September 1862, leading to a tactical draw but a strategic Union victory.

Emancipation Proclamation

The executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, freeing slaves in Confederate-held territory.

54th Massachusetts

The first African American regiment to serve in the Civil War, known for its bravery during the assault on Fort Wagner.

Gettysburg

A major battle fought in July 1863, considered a turning point in the Civil War with significant Union victory.

Vicksburg

A key battle in the Civil War that gave the Union control of the Mississippi River after a lengthy siege.

Gettysburg Address

A speech given by Abraham Lincoln in November 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, emphasizing equality and the purpose of the war.

Pacific Railway Act

Legislation passed in 1862 that promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad to facilitate westward expansion.

Homestead Act

A law enacted in 1862 that gave 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, promoting westward migration.

Morrill Land Grant Act

An act that provided federal land to states to fund the establishment of universities focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts.

Morrill Tariff

A protective tariff enacted in 1861 that increased duties on imported goods to protect Northern industries.

National Banking System

A system established during the Civil War to create a uniform currency and stabilize the banking industry.

Sherman’s March

A military campaign led by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1864 that involved marching through Georgia and South Carolina, destroying infrastructure to weaken the Confederacy.

Appomattox

The site of the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.