Modern American History Midterm 1 Review Guide

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to Modern American History focusing on the Civil War, Reconstruction, and associated social and political changes.

Civil War

A conflict from 1861 to 1865 during which the Northern states fought against the Southern states to preserve the Union and end slavery.

Reconstruction Amendments

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights for African Americans.

Redeemers

A political coalition in the South after the Civil War that sought to regain control from the Reconstruction governments and restore white supremacy.

Compromise of 1820

An agreement that regulated the extension of slavery in the western territories, establishing the Missouri compromise line.

Fugitive Slave Law

A law that mandated the return of escaped slaves to their owners, contributing to sectional tensions.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent political confrontations involving anti-slavery and pro-slavery elements in Kansas between 1854 and 1861.

Freedman’s Bureau

A U.S. federal government agency established in 1865 to help former slaves and poor whites in the South after the Civil War.

Colfax Massacre

A racially motivated attack in 1873 between white supremacists and black militia forces in Colfax, Louisiana, resulting in numerous deaths.

Sharecropping Contract

A labor system where farmers, mostly African American, would work a portion of land in exchange for a share of the crops, often leading to cycles of debt.

Mississippi Black Code

Laws passed in Mississippi in 1865 to restrict the rights of newly freed African Americans and maintain a labor force.

Decoration Days

Early observances in the U.S. for commemorating those who died in military service, which evolved into Memorial Day.

“Lost Cause”

A perspective that portrays the Confederate cause as noble and justified and minimizes the role of slavery in the Civil War.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.

Abraham Lincoln, 'Emancipation Proclamation'

A presidential proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that declared the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territory.

Alexandra Stephens, 'Cornerstone Speech'

A speech delivered by Alexander Stephens in 1861, asserting that the Confederacy was founded on the belief that African Americans were inferior to whites.