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The Gathering Storm
A period before the Civil War marked by tensions over slavery and national expansion.
John C. Calhoun
A southern politician from South Carolina who warned that the Mexican War would lead to a political disaster for the Union.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Massachusetts philosopher who argued that conquering Mexico would be harmful to the U.S.
Wilmot Proviso
A proposal by Congressman David Wilmot to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico.
Compromise of 1850
A series of legislative measures aimed at resolving tensions over slavery in newly acquired territories.
Popular Sovereignty
The principle that the settlers of a territory should decide whether slavery would be allowed.
Free-Soil Party
Political party formed in 1848 to oppose the expansion of slavery into the western territories.
California Gold Rush
A mass migration to California in 1849 following the discovery of gold.
Fugitive Slave Act
A law that provided for the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners.
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent political confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
An 1854 act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to decide on slavery.
Lincoln-Douglas debates
A series of debates in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas focused on the issue of slavery.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
An 1857 Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans could not be American citizens.
Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln freeing all slaves in Confederate-held territory.
Thirteenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.
Fort Sumter
The site of the first battle of the Civil War, where Confederate forces fired on April 12, 1861.
Anaconda Plan
Union strategy to defeat the Confederacy by blockading southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River.
Robert E. Lee
Confederate general who led the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War.
Ulysses S. Grant
Union general who led the North to victory in the Civil War and later became the 18th president.
Chancellorsville
A major Confederate victory in 1863, but at the cost of General Stonewall Jackson's life.
Gettysburg
A turning point battle in July 1863 that ended Lee's invasion of the North.
Sherman's March to the Sea
Union General Shermanâs destructive campaign across Georgia aimed at undermining the Confederate war effort.
Petersburg
A city in Virginia that was the site of a long siege, resulting in the final defeat of the Confederacy.
Appomattox Court House
The site where General Lee surrendered to General Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.
Copperheads
A faction of Democrats in the North who opposed the Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement.
Contrabands
Slaves who escaped to Union lines during the Civil War.
Border States
Slave states that remained in the Union during the Civil War, including Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware.
Draft Riots
Violent protests in 1863 against the conscription law in New York City that highlighted discontent with the draft.
Confederate States of America
The government formed by the southern states that seceded from the Union.
Radical Republicans
A faction of the Republican Party that advocated for the immediate emancipation of slaves and civil rights for African Americans.
Black Codes
Laws passed in the South after the Civil War to restrict the freedom and rights of African Americans.
Freedmen's Bureau
An agency established by Congress to provide assistance to former slaves and poor whites in the South.
Civil War Reconstruction
The period after the Civil War focused on rebuilding the country and integrating formerly enslaved people into society.
The Lost Cause
A narrative that romanticizes the Confederate cause and emphasizes Southern valor and honor.
Humanitarian Efforts
Movements aimed at improving the welfare of individuals, especially the freed slaves during and after the Civil War.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
A speech delivered by President Lincoln emphasizing reconciliation and healing after the Civil War.
The Underground Railroad
A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states.
Missouri Compromise
An agreement in 1820 that allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state.
Habeas Corpus
A legal principle that protects individuals from unlawful detention.
Election of 1860
A presidential election that resulted in Abraham Lincoln's victory and prompted several southern states to secede.
Andrew Johnson
The 17th president who succeeded Lincoln and oversaw the early years of Reconstruction.
Fort Donelson
A fort in Tennessee that was the site of a major Union victory, opening the way into the South.
The Trent Affair
A diplomatic incident during the Civil War involving the capture of Confederate diplomats by the Union.
Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the Civil War fought in July 1861, resulting in a Confederate victory.
Civilian Deaths
Civilian casualties that occurred during the Civil War due to battles, sieges, and resulting violence.
Sherman's Total War Strategy
A military strategy that involved breaking the Confederate will to fight by targeting civilian resources.
Antietam,
The bloodiest single day in American history, fought on September 17, 1862.
Chickamauga,
A significant battle in September 1863 which was a Confederate victory.
Vicksburg,
A pivotal battle in 1863 that gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.
Fort Wagner
The site of a major assault by the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-black regiment in the Civil War.
Thaddeus Stevens
A prominent Radical Republican who advocated for civil rights and the emancipation of slaves.
Union army
The ground force of the United States federal government during the Civil War.
Confederate army
The military organization formed by the eleven southern states seceding from the Union.
Total War
A strategy of warfare that involves hitting civilian infrastructure and morale along with combatant forces.
Black Soldiers
African Americans who served in the Union army during the Civil War, fighting for their own freedom.
Fort Monroe
The site that served as a refuge for escaped slaves and a staging ground for the Union army.
Blockade Runner
A term used for vessels attempting to evade a naval blockade, especially the Unionâs blockade of Southern ports.
American Red Cross
An organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States, founded by Clara Barton.
Clement L. Vallandigham
A prominent Copperhead Democrat who was arrested for his anti-war sentiments during the Civil War.
Appomattox Court House
The site of Lee's surrender to Grant, marking the end of the Civil War.
Union Strengths,
The industrial capacity, transportation networks, and manpower advantages that the North possessed during the war.
Confederate Weaknesses,
The lack of industrial capacity, financial resources, and population that limited the South's ability to sustain the war effort.
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans were not U.S. citizens and could not sue in federal court.
Compromise of 1850
Legislation that attempted to resolve conflicts regarding slavery and territorial expansion.
Political Parties
The divisions between Democrats and Republicans during the Civil War, often reflecting sectional interests.
Women in the War
The significant roles women played as nurses, factory workers, and even soldiers during the Civil War.
Religion and the War
The pervasive influence of religious beliefs that shaped the motivations and actions of both Union and Confederate fighters.
Economic Strain
The financial pressures each side faced during the war due to military spending and blockades.
Fort Donelson
The site of a significant Union victory that opened up Tennessee for further military operations.
The Battle of Fredericksburg
A Union defeat in December 1862 that highlighted issues in Union leadership.
Pottawatomie Massacre
John Brown's retaliatory attack against pro-slavery forces in Kansas.
The Thirteenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.
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