U.S. History I (M) Unit 8B Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions covering the causes, major events, and social experiences of the U.S. Civil War.

Civil War Timeline

The deadliest war in U.S. history, occurring between $1861-1865$ between the Southern Confederate States of America and the Northern Union.

"Lost Cause" myth

A racist belief system in the South characterized by extreme sensitivity regarding the history of the Civil War.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

An agreement where Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance in Congress.

Nat Turner Rebellion (1830)

A violent rebellion led by a slave and about $60$ others that killed more than $50$ Virginians, resulting in new restrictions on slaves.

Compromise of 1850

Legislation that admitted California as a free state and allowed territories like New Mexico and Utah to decide on slavery, while including the Fugitive Slave Act.

Fugitive Slave Act

A law denying captured Black people the power to prove freedom and paying judges $10$ if they ruled a defendant enslaved, but only $5$ if they ruled them free.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854-1856)

Law that repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed settlers to vote on slavery, leading to the violence known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

U.S. Supreme Court ruling that no slave or descendant of a slave could be a U.S. citizen and that enslaved people were legally property.

John Brown’s Raid

An $1859$ raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, intended to arm slaves for a revolt; Brown was later hanged for treason.

Republican Party

A party originating from the "Free Soil Party" that sought to stop the spread of slavery and admit new states as free.

Election of 1860

The victory of Abraham Lincoln, who won zero southern states, which immediately led Southern government to secede, beginning with South Carolina.

Gradualism

Abraham Lincoln's initial belief in ending slavery slowly, combined with the idea of "colonization."

"Contraband of war"

A term declared by General Benjamin Butler in May $1861$ for slaves who escaped to Union lines.

Antietam

The bloodiest day in U.S. history with $22,727$ dead, wounded, or missing; the Union "victory" led to the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Emancipation Proclamation

Official in January $1863$, it ended slavery in Confederate areas and shifted the war's aim toward abolition.

Gettysburg

A three-day battle from July $1-3$, $1863$, that remains the bloodiest battle of the war and American history with $51,000$ casualties.

Vicksburg

A victory by General Grant on July $4$, $1863$, which gave the Union control of the Mississippi and split the Confederacy in two.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

A destructive path led by General William Tecumseh Sherman, reaching $60$ miles wide, intended to "make Georgia howl."

"Sherman neckties"

Railroad tracks that were torn up and bent by the Union army during the March to the Sea.

Hard War

A military strategy involving the destruction of civilian property, cities, food, and resources to starve out and split Confederate forces.

Cathay Williams

A woman who worked as a cook and laundress before disguising herself as a Union soldier.

Contraband camps

Places where escaped slaves lived in poor conditions, often performing non-combat roles for the Union.

Black Soldier Challenges

Experiences characterized by racism, discrimination, segregated units, inadequate pay, and greater risk if captured.