American Civil War Review

Flashcards to review key battles and figures of the American Civil War, covering major events, leaders, and turning points in the conflict.

David Farragut

Union commander who seized control of New Orleans.

Fort Sumter

Catalyst for the North to fight in the Civil War.

First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas Junction

First major battle of the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory and shattering the myth of Southern invincibility.

Stonewall Jackson

Nickname earned by a Confederate general at the First Battle of Bull Run.

Disaster for the Union

Union General John Pope's performance in the Second Battle of Bull Run.

The Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack

Naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, marking the end of wooden vessels.

USS Monitor

Union ironclad involved in the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack.

CSS Virginia

Confederate ironclad involved in the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack.

Lincoln blockades Hampton Roads

Union strategy implemented at Hampton Roads.

Vital for South, exports cotton, big port

Significance of New Orleans to the Confederacy.

Matthew Brady

Photographer who changed the way Americans saw the war by documenting its horrors.

Ambrose Burnside

Union general who replaced McClellan and adopted a reckless approach.

Crippling to the South’s economy

Impact of the loss of New Orleans on the Confederate economy.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general introduced in the Battle of Shiloh.

More fell than in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War combined

Significance of the Battle of Shiloh in terms of casualties.

Maryland

State where the Battle of Antietam took place.

Lee

The general who lost his orders, giving the Union an advantage at Antietam.

Battle of Antietam

Bloodiest single day in US history.

Confeds got no international recognition and GB did not enter war

Long-term consequence of the Battle of Antietam for the Confederacy.

Emancipation Proclamation

Document issued by Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Battle where Burnside ordered troops to cross water and go uphill against recommendations.

Burnside’s Slaughter Pen

Battle referenced in Killer Angels where Chamberlain used dead bodies as a shield.

Stonewall Jackson

Confederate general who outflanked Union forces at Chancellorsville.

Huge loss for Lee

Consequence of Stonewall Jackson being hit by friendly fire.

capture Union troops or city

Lee's goal for the Battle of Gettysburg.

Reynolds/Buford

Union commanders who held the crossroads until reinforcements came at Gettysburg.

throw confeds back

Significance of Chamberlain's bayonet charge at Little Round Top.

attacking instead of going right

Lee's lapse of judgment at Gettysburg

Pickett’s Charge

Charge that symbolized the failure at Gettysburg and broke the heart of the South.

Lost the south the civil war

The impact of the Battle of Gettysburg

This is when the union closed that gap and seized the whole thing

Significance of the Battle of Vicksburg in relation to the Anaconda Plan.

Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas cut off to confeds

The impact of Vicksburg's fall on the Confederacy.

Britain was making ironclad ships after Gettysburg and Vicksburg but doesn’t send to south, which is a huge blow

Consequence of Britain making ironclad ships after Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

meat grinder warfare

Grant's strategy recognizing the Confederacy's inability to replace men.