American History: Causes of the Civil War, Civil War Era, and Reconstruction

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the causes of the American Civil War, major battles and figures, and the Reconstruction Era.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise that allowed slaves to be counted as part of the south’s population.

Missouri Compromise

A legislation where Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was created and made a free state.

Amistad

A slave ship that experienced a rebellion, which resulted in the slaves being arrested and eventually freed.

Denmark Vessey and Nat Turner

Two individuals who both famously tried to lead slave revolts.

Fugitive Slave Law

A law that required escaped slaves to be returned to the south.

Compromise of 1850

An agreement where California was admitted as a free state, a strict fugitive slave law was established, and slavery was banned in Washington D.C.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A book that influenced the North to change their minds and fight for anti-slavery.

Frederick Douglass

An escaped slave who started a newspaper and spoke out against slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

An event where John Brown and his sons killed slavery supporters in Kansas following fraud in the voting polls.

John Brown

A white abolitionist who killed people in Kansas and attempted a revolution in Virginia before being hanged.

Dred Scott Decision

A Supreme Court ruling stating that Scott was not a person but a slave, and therefore had no rights to freedoms.

Election of 1860 results

The presidential election where Abraham Lincoln beat Stephen Douglas.

Confederate States

Southern States that left to start their own country, beginning with South Carolina.

Union States

Northern states that stayed as the United States.

Border States

Slave states that stayed part of the Union but were allowed to keep slavery.

Advantages of the North

Possession of factories, railroads, and search a strong navy.

Advantages of the South

Home field advantage, better military leaders, and the reason/drive to succeed.

Disadvantages of the North

Weaker military leaders, fighting away from home, and mixed support for the war.

Disadvantages of the South

Low transportation routes, dependence on cotton growing, and having fewer factories.

The Anaconda Plan

The Northern strategy to surround the Southern states.

Southern Strategy

A plan to bring the fight to their home turf in the south and gain alliances.

Emancipation Proclamation

An announcement by Abraham Lincoln that slaves in Confederate states shall be free.

Confederate Victories

The winners of the Battles of Fort Sumter, both Battles of Bull Run, Seven Days Battle, and Battle of Chancellorsville.

Union Victories

The winners of the Battles of Antietam, Shiloh, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg.

Battle of Gettysburg

The bloodiest battle of the war and a Union Victory.

Gettysburg Address

A motivational speech by Lincoln dedicating Gettysburg as a cemetery and vowing to finish the mission in honor of the dead.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

A campaign where a Union leader burned everything from Atlanta to Savannah, leading to Confederate surrender.

Jefferson Davis

The President of the Confederate states in the South.

Original goal of the North

To preserve the Union.

Battle of Fort Sumter

The first battle of the war, occurring in South Carolina.

Ironclad ships

A type of technology developed during the Civil War.

Lincoln’s Goal for Reconstruction

The objective to reunite the country.

10% Readmission Requirement

The rule that once 10% of voters pledged allegiance back to the Union, a Confederate state could readmit to the country.

John Wilkes Booth

The individual who killed Abraham Lincoln.

Andrew Jackson

The President who took office after Abraham Lincoln.

Jim Crow Voting Restrictions

Ways African Americans were restricted from voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses.

Freedman’s Bureau

An organization that achieved success by building schools and providing clothing and food for African Americans.

13th Amendment

The amendment that made slavery illegal.

14th Amendment

The amendment that defined slaves as citizens and applies to everyone except Native Americans.

15th Amendment

The amendment that expanded voting rights to African American men.

Ku Klux Klan

A white supremacist hate group formed to fight against African American advancement.