Civil War and Reconstruction Quiz 1

Border States

Slave states that did not secede from the Union during the Civil War.

West Virginia

A state that was formed from the northern counties of Virginia that chose to remain loyal to the Union.

Laird Rams

Ironclad warships built by the British for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A legal order requiring that a prisoner be brought before the court to determine if the detention is lawful.

New York Draft Riots

Violent disturbances in New York City in 1863 triggered by the implementation of the draft during the Civil War.

Morrill Tariff Act

An act passed in 1861 that raised tariffs to protect American industry and generate revenue for the Civil War.

Greenbacks

Paper currency issued by the United States during the Civil War that was not backed by gold or silver.

Jefferson Davis

The President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Elizabeth Blackwell

The first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, she advocated for women in medicine.

Clara Barton

A pioneering nurse during the Civil War who founded the American Red Cross.

Sally Tompkins

A Confederate nurse who ran a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and was commissioned as a captain by Jefferson Davis.

Battle of Bull Run

The first major battle of the Civil War fought on July 21, 1861, resulting in a Confederate victory.

Peninsula Campaign

An unsuccessful Union military operation led by General George McClellan in 1862 aimed at capturing Richmond.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single-day battle in American history, fought on September 17, 1862, resulting in a strategic Union victory.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order by President Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, freeing all slaves in Confederate-held territory.

Thirteenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1865 that abolished slavery in the United States.

Battle of Gettysburg

A turning point battle fought July 1-3, 1863, resulting in a significant Union victory and a major loss for the Confederacy.

Gettysburg Address

A famous speech delivered by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery on November 19, 1863.

Battle of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson

Union victories in 1862 that opened the Tennessee River for Union advances into the Southern heartland.

Siege of Vicksburg

A key Union victory in 1863 that split the Confederacy in two and gave control of the Mississippi River to the Union.

Sherman’s March

General William Tecumseh Sherman’s destructive military campaign through Georgia in 1864 aimed at crippling the Southern war effort.

Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War

A committee established by Congress to oversee the conduct of the Civil War and question military strategies.

Copperheads

Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and advocated for an immediate peace settlement with the Confederacy.

Union Party

A political coalition during the Civil War that comprised Republicans and War Democrats supporting the Union war effort.

Appomattox Courthouse

The site of General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson

A Confederate general known for his fearless tactics and commanding presence, prominent in the early battles of the Civil War.

George McClellan

A Union general who led the Army of the Potomac and later ran for president against Lincoln in 1864.

Robert E. Lee

The commanding general of the Confederate Army who led numerous battles in the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant

The final commander of the Union Army who achieved victory over the Confederacy and later became the 18th President of the United States.

William Tecumseh Sherman

A Union general known for his 'March to the Sea' and his tactics of total war against the Confederate infrastructure.