Key Terms – Chapter 15: The Crucible of War (1861–1865)

Fort Sumter

The federal fort in Charleston, South Carolina, where the Civil War began in April 1861 after Confederate forces attacked.

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

The first major battle of the Civil War July 21, 1861, resulting in a Confederate victory and ending hopes for a quick Union win.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single day in American history (September 1862), leading to a strategic Union victory and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Battle of Shiloh

A fierce Union victory in Tennessee (April 1862) that showed the war would be long and bloody.

Union blockade

A Union naval strategy to cut off the Confederacy’s trade and cripple its economy.

King Cotton diplomacy

The Confederate attempt to use cotton exports to persuade Britain and France to support their cause.

Contraband of war

A term for escaped enslaved people who sought refuge with Union forces during the war.

Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln’s 1863 decree that freed slaves in Confederate-held territories.

New York City draft riots

July 1863 violent protests by mainly Irish immigrants against the draft and Black citizens.

Siege of Vicksburg

A major Union victory that captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, and gained control of the Mississippi River. May 18, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg

A turning point battle (July 1863) in Pennsylvania, ending Lee’s invasion of the North.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

1864 Union campaign of destruction from Atlanta to Savannah, breaking Southern morale.

South’s Population

Smaller population with about 9 million people, including 3.5 million enslaved individuals.

North’s Population

Larger population of about 22 million, offering a bigger pool for soldiers and labor.

South’s Industry

Limited industrial capacity, relying mostly on agriculture and few factories.

North’s Industry

Strong industrial power, producing most of the nation's manufactured goods and supplies.

South’s Financial Resources

Weaker financial system, dependent mainly on cotton exports and lacking a strong banking network.

North’s Financial Resources

Robust financial system with established banks and greater access to credit and resources.

South’s Leadership

Superior early military leadership with generals like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

North’s Leadership

Weaker early military leadership but improved as the war progressed with generals like Ulysses S. Grant.

South’s War Strategy

Defensive strategy aimed at outlasting the North’s will to fight and gaining foreign support.

North’s War Strategy

Offensive strategy including blockades, capturing key Confederate territories, and dividing the South.

What event marked the beginning of the Civil War?

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861.

What was Lincoln's position on slavery during his first inauguration?

He intended to protect slavery where it existed and uphold the Fugitive Slave Act.

What states seceded after the attack on Fort Sumter?

Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

What did the First Confiscation Act allow?

The Union could seize Confederate property, including enslaved people.

What was the significance of the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)?

It was the first major battle, ended hopes of a quick war, and boosted Confederate morale.

When was slavery abolished in U.S. territories and D.C.?

March 1862.

What were escaped enslaved people classified as by Union forces in March 1862?

Contraband of war.

What was the result of the Battle of Shiloh?

Union victory with over 20,000 casualties, ending Confederate hopes in the Western theater.

What did the Homestead Act of 1862 offer?

160 acres of free land for five years of farming.

What did the Militia Act of July 1862 do?

Allowed Black men to enlist in segregated Union regiments.

What act created a national currency during the Civil War?

The Legal Tender Act of February 1862.

What battle gave Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation?

The Battle of Antietam.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation declare?

All enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were free.

What did the Siege of Vicksburg accomplish?

Gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

What was significant about the Battle of Gettysburg?

It was the largest battle and marked the last Confederate invasion of the North.

What happened during the NYC Draft Riots?

Violent protests by working-class men against the draft and racial tensions.

Who became commander-in-chief of all Union forces in March 1864?

Ulysses S. Grant.

What was Sherman's military strategy in Georgia?

A 'March to the Sea' using total war.

What did Sherman give Lincoln in December 1864?

The city of Savannah.

When did Lee surrender to Grant?

April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House.

Who assassinated Abraham Lincoln and when?

John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.

How many soldiers died in the Civil War?

Approximately 750,000.

Who was the Union General at the First Battle of Bull Run?

Irvin McDowell.

Who developed the Union's 'Anaconda Plan'?

Winfield Scott.

Who led the Confederate forces at Bull Run?

P.G.T. Beauregard.

Which Union General faced Lee at Antietam?

George McClellan.

Who surrendered to Grant at Appomattox?

Robert E. Lee.

What victories helped Grant rise to power?

Captures of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Battle of Shiloh.

Who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh?

Albert Sidney Johnston.

Who led the Union's March to the Sea?

William Tecumseh Sherman.

Which Union General used a scorched earth policy?

Philip Sheridan.

Who founded the American Red Cross after serving as a nurse in the war?

Clara Barton.

Who was a Black woman nurse during the Civil War?

Susie King Taylor.

Who was the President of the Confederacy?

Jefferson Davis.

Abraham Lincoln

President of the United States during the Civil War. Initially focused on preserving the Union, he later issues the Emancipation Proclamation, shifting the war's goals to include abolition. He is re-elected in 1864 and assassinated shortly after the war's end.

Winfield Scott

Union General who developed the initial 'Anaconda Plan' strategy for the Union, aiming to control the Mississippi River, blockade the Atlantic coast, and invade the Confederate heartland.

Irvin McDowell

Union General who commanded the Union forces at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), where he was defeated by Confederate forces.

P.G.T. Beauregard

Confederate General who commanded the Confederate forces at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), securing a victory for the South.

George McClellan

Union General who commanded the Army of the Potomac. He faced Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Antietam. Despite the battle being a tactical draw, it provided the context for Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. He was replaced frequently as a Union General.

Robert E. Lee

Prominent Confederate General, known for his military leadership. He invaded Maryland leading up to the Battle of Antietam and fought numerous battles against Union forces, including Grant, in Virginia. He ultimately surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union General who achieved significant victories in the Western Theater, including the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson and the victory at the Battle of Shiloh. He later took control of the Mississippi River with the Siege of Vicksburg and was appointed commander-in-chief of all Union forces in 1864, leading the final campaigns against Lee in Virginia.

Albert Sidney Johnston

Confederate General who commanded forces at the Battle of Shiloh, where he was killed.

William Tecumseh Sherman

Union General who replaced Grant as commander of the Western armies. He is known for his devastating 'March to the Sea' through Georgia, employing total war to weaken the Confederacy's resources and morale.

Philip Sheridan

Union General known for using a scorched earth policy in his military campaigns.

Clara Barton

Nurse during the Civil War who later founded the American Red Cross, representing one of the roles women took on during the conflict.

Susie King Taylor

Another example of a woman who took on roles such as nursing during the Civil War.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America. He attempted to create a sense of nationalism in the South, including promoting the idea that the CSA was part of a Divine Plan