SS Lessons 20 & 21

Abolitionist

a person who wanted to end, or abolish, slavery

Civil War

the bitter conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the states that remained in the Union and the states that seceded and formed the Confederacy

Underground Railroad

a system in which abolitionists secretly helped people who had escaped slavery reach freedom

Union

the United States as one country; during the Civil War, the government and the armies of the states that chose to remain a part of the United States

secede

to officially withdraw from a government or a country

plantations

were found more in the South than in the North.

free labor

workers in the North could often choose their own jobs.

cotton

was the most important crop in the South by the mid 1800s.

Missouri Compromise

goal was to keep the number of states with and without slavery equal.

Compromise of 1850

California was admitted to the Union as a state without slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

Kansas was called this in the 1850s because of violent fights about slavery.

Southern Enslavers

were the group that were most angry about the election of Abraham Lincoln.

draft

the selection of people to serve in an army whether or not they wish to serve; it is done when more soldiers are needed to fight.

Emancipation Proclamation

President Abraham Lincoln's order to free (emancipate) people enslaved in states that were still fighting the Union and to allow African Americans into the Union army and navy

Gettysburg

the turning point in the Civil War - took place in the North.

technology

the use of scientific or mechanical knowledge to achieve a practical purpose, such as creating machines and weapons for use in war

Uniforms

referred to as "The Blue and the Gray" Blue for Union and Gray for Confederate.

tactics and technology

hot air balloons, trenches and dirt walls, rifles and artillery all helped defenders in battle.

disease

the greatest cause of death for Civil War Soldiers

soldiers

didn't have ready supplies - sometimes they had to search for food and water.

,New York City Riot

workers did not want to be forced to fight.

Appomattox

where Lee surrendered to Grant.