American Revolution and Civil War Lecture Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards keying in on major events, documents, figures, and concepts of the American Revolution and the American Civil War.

Popular Sovereignty

An idea included in the Declaration of Independence stating that the power of the government comes from the governed.

Battle of Yorktown

The battle where American and French forces trapped the last British stronghold in Yorktown, Virginia, causing British General Lord Cornwallis to surrender.

Articles of Confederation

Document drafted by the Second Continental Congress to govern independent American states after the war with the express intent of keeping each state's sovereignty.

Shay's Rebellion

An armed uprising of Continental Army veterans rebelling against the government as a result of taxes and civil unrest.

Federalists

A group that favored a strong central government and helped ratify the Constitution with the help of the Federalist Papers.

Anti-Federalists

A group that hoped to keep government weak and similar to the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison

Individual from Virginia whose efforts helped reach a compromise at the Constitutional Convention by including a Bill of Rights.

Northwest Ordinance

An act ratified by the Convention allowing land won from England to be purchased by settlers from the government, establishing the Ohio River as a boundary line for slavery.

Judicial Branch

Branch of government with justices appointed by the President that acts as the supreme law of the land.

Legislative Branch

Branch of government that includes the House of Representatives and Senate, responsible for drafting laws.

Executive Branch

Branch of government that includes the President, who can veto bills issued by the Legislative Branch and serves as Supreme Commander and Chief of the US armed forces.

Abraham Lincoln

The sixteenth President of the United States, elected on Nov. 6, 1860, whose Republican Party stood for a strong centralized government and opposed slavery.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America who previously served as an officer in the US Army during the Mexican War and as US Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce.

Fort Sumpter

The location where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

The first actual conflict between Union and Confederate forces fighting in an open field, where General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson held line until reinforcements arrived.

Emancipation Proclamation

Two-part proclamation issued by President Lincoln starting September 22, 1862, guaranteeing freedom to slaves in Confederate states that had not rejoined the Union.

Gettysburg Address

A famous two hundred seventy-two word speech delivered by President Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Military campaign where Union General William T. Sherman marched his army to the Atlantic Ocean through Savannah, Georgia, burning buildings and infrastructure along the way.

Appomattox Court House

Location in Virginia where General Lee surrendered his Confederate army to Union General Grant on April 9, 1865.

John Wilkes Booth

Individual who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre during a performance of 'Our American Cousin'.

Thirteenth Amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution that outlawed slavery.

Fourteenth Amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution that granted African Americans United States citizenship.

Fifteenth Amendment

Amendment to the United States Constitution that granted African-American males the right to vote.