Civil War and Reconstruction - Key Concepts

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

Secession Ordinances

Legal declarations by Southern states, such as South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas, stating their intention to depart from the United States. These ordinances were often justified by the states on the grounds of states' rights and grievances against the federal government, particularly in response to issues like slavery and the protection of their economic interests. The ordinances marked the formal beginning of the secession movement that led to the formation of the Confederate States of America in 1861.

Blockade

A military strategy employed during warfare where one side prevents the movement of goods and supplies to the enemy. This strategy aims to weaken the enemy's forces by cutting off their access to essential resources, including food, ammunition, and medical supplies. Blockades can be implemented by sea, land, or air, and often involve the use of naval vessels to intercept ships heading toward enemy ports or the establishment of checkpoints to control overland supply routes. Historical examples include the Union blockade during the American Civil War, which aimed to constrain the Confederacy's ability to trade and resupply.

Anaconda Plan

was a strategic outline proposed by Union General Winfield Scott during the American Civil War. Its main objective was to defeat the Confederacy through a naval blockade of Southern ports and the control of the Mississippi River, effectively suffocating the South's economy and its ability to sustain the war. The blockade aimed to limit the import of goods and supplies, while seizing control of the Mississippi River would split the Confederacy in two, disrupting communication and transport between the eastern and western Confederate states.

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, after the Union's strategic victory at the Battle of Antietam, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves in the Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order transformed the nature of the Civil War from a battle for the Union into a struggle for freedom, explicitly linking the Union war effort to the abolition of slavery. While it did not immediately free a single slave, as the federal government had no power to enforce it in the rebellious states, it laid the groundwork for the eventual liberation of enslaved individuals and allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, bolstering their ranks. The Proclamation also aimed to weaken the Confederacy's economy and undermine their social order

Freedmen’s Bureau

An agency established to assist freed slaves by providing education, healthcare, and economic support.

Jim Crow Laws

were state and local statutes enacted in the Southern United States from the late 19th century until the 1960s, enforcing racial segregation. These laws mandated the separation of African Americans from whites in public spaces, schools, and transportation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which resulted in significant social and economic inequalities. They were designed to maintain white supremacy and disenfranchise black voters through literacy tests and poll taxes. The laws were ultimately challenged and invalidated by the Civil Rights Movement and key legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

KKK (Ku Klux Klan)

A secret society formed after the Civil War that used violence and intimidation against African Americans to maintain white supremacy.

13th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and ensured equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race or previous condition of servitude.

Radical Republicans

Factions within the Republican party who pushed for strict measures against the South and full rights for freed slaves during Reconstruction.

Black Codes

were laws enacted in the South after the Civil War to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans, limiting their ability to own property, conduct business, and vote. These laws aimed to maintain the social hierarchy and included provisions like vagrancy laws, which allowed for the arrest of those without employment.

Petersburg

A significant battle that weakened the Confederate army and led to the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

Appomattox Court House

The site where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, marking the end of the Civil War.

Compromise of 1877

Agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election and effectively ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Sharecropping

An agricultural system in which landowners allowed tenants to use their land in exchange for a share of the crops produced, often leading to cycles of debt.