U.S. Constitution, Civil War, and Reconstruction Key Concepts

Federalists

People for the new constitution/branches of government

Constitutional Compromises

Electoral collage, 3/5 Compromise, and Great Compremise

Electoral collage

The senate + house of rep of each state all get a number of votes, those votes go to the electoral college who submit the vote that wins.

⅗ compromise

Only ⅗ slaves contribute to the population of each state in order to get rid of

Great compromise

Determined that America will have House of Representatives (preportional) and Senate (equal)

Slave trade compremise

Decicison on slave trade from Trans-Atlantic that was pushed back 20 years.

Constitutional Principles

Federal government, 3 branches, division of power, checks and balances, republicanism (balanced rights between the federal and state gov)

Missouri Compromise

Compromise that states that Missouri is a slave state and Maine becomes free in order to not tip the balance. No new states above the 36' 30 line (line that stretches across the

Bleeding Kansas

Slave owners in Missouri charged into Lawrence in order to vote for Nebraska to be pro-slavery. This sparks many violent acts from the people who traveled to Lawrence, like the looting and burning of homes, and using a cannon to attack the Free State hotel. Along with this, the senator of Massachusetts getting attacked with a cane by the South Carolina senator for denouncing the violence. This also sparked John Brown, a former priest, to murdur 5 pro slavery settlers who weren't even responsible for the attack.

Fort Sumter

The final fort in South Carolina to be taken by the Confederacy, Lincoln tells soldiers at fort to not abandon the fort and that supplies will be dropped, the supplies don't come the next day and they get paranoid, opens fire and starts war

What was the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and how did it address the balance of free and slave states?

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 stated that Missouri was a slave state and Maine was a free state in order to balance the states out. It addressed the balance of slave states by also introducing the idea of a 36' 30 line, which split which states were free and which states were slave states.

What was the Fugitive Slave Law, and why was it controversial in the North?

The Fugitive Slave Law was Any black person accused of being a runaway slave must stand trial. No judge or jury, and cannot testify. $10 fee if slaves get returned, $5 fee if they are free, determined by the sheriff. All citizens must assist in capturing a runaway slave or they will go to federal prison. This was controversial in the North because many freed slaves were subjected to trial even though they had been freed for years.

What were the human and material costs of the war for both the Union and the Confederacy?

The Union lost 360,000 people from the war and the Confederacy lost 258,000 people. Along with this, the South was in shambles, as homes were burnt down and destroyed and they were in war debt. Many are homeless, and there are thousands of vets permanently disabled.

Anti Federalists

People against the new constitution/branches of government; only ok with the new gov if they can have a bill of rights.

Bill of Rights

the first 10 sections of the constitution that gave the personal rights that are promised by the government.

Compromise of 1850

California becomes a free state, no more 36' 30 line, rest of New Mexico territory open to slavery by popular sovereignty.

Fugitive Slave Law

Any black person accused of being a runaway slave must stand trial. No judge or jury, and cannot testify. $10 fee if slaves get returned, $5 fee if they are free, determined by the sheriff, All citizens must assist in capturing a runaway slave or they will go to federal prison.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

People wanted to make a railroad and in order to make that happen they made Nebraska territory into a state. The South is ok with this as long as it has slavery; they divide the territory into Kansas and Nebraska territories; applied popular sovereignty in both territories.

Election of 1860

An election between Abraham Lincoln (republican, wanted to ban slavery), John Breckenridge (southern democrat, wanted to make slavery protected by law), Stephen Douglas (Northern democrat, soft on slavery but not much change), and John Bell (constitutional unionist, supported constitution). Four candidates is bad because you can't divide that by 50, Lincoln wins, but he is not on the ballot in southern states.

Secession

The Union spitting apart due to the results of the election of 1860; the South are sure there is no way to participate in politics anymore so they leave!

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order that states that the Confederate state slaves are free (but they are too busy with war to initiate this so they aren't actually free) and slave states that are with the Union can keep their slaves because they did not revolt against the United States. The only way for the Confederate states to join the Union is to give up their slaves.

Appomattox

Where Lee and Grant meet to discuss terms of surrendering, where they decide a full and unconditional surrender. This meant that the North could now punish the south in any way possible against them for revolting.

Freedmen's Bureau

A federal agency in major cities that supported freedman that gave out free clothing, medical care, and food.

10% Plan

Lincoln's plan for reconstruction that pardons the Confederates if they swear an oath to support the union. 10% of voters must take the oath of allegiance. The states must also abolish slavery and form a loyal government.

Radical Reconstruction

50% of voters must take the oath; section of it states that they never meant to join the confederacy. It also canceled the act of succession. Lincoln refuses to sign the bill.

Impeachment

A high-level trial debating whether the president should get kicked out of office.

13th Amendment

All slaves are freed from slavery, freedom

14th Amendment

Anyone born in US borders is a us citizen

15th Amendment

The right to vote for African American men

Sharecropping

plantation owners giving away chunks of land for freedman to farm on and the crops were split 3 ways, landowner, seed/equipment supplier, and farmer that left freedmen with debt they pass down to their children

Force and KKK Acts

Act that outlawed force to keep people from voting and allowed Grant to use Federal force to enforce the laws. Kept KKK under control but didn't solve it fully.

Segregation

The separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life, targeted at black people.

Hayes-Tilden Compromise

made Southern Democrats acknowledge that Hayes was president, but only if the Republicans removed all remaining military forces from the former Confederate states 20 votes go to Haynes and they helped construct railroads and control floods.

Why did California's request to join the Union in 1849 cause political tension, and what were the main parts of the Compromise of 1850?

California's request to join the Union caused political tension because they had already had a balanced out number of free and slave states, and then joining as a free state would throw the balance off.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 change the way slavery was decided in new territories?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act changed the way slavery was decided because it applied popular sovereignty in both Kansas, Nebraska and all new territories. The states themselves can vote on whether slavery wanted to occur in their states or not.

What events caused Kansas to be nicknamed "Bleeding Kansas"?

Some of the events that caused Kansas to be nicknamed Bleeding Kansas were when slave owners charged into Nevada to vote for them to allow slavery. This caused major violent acts like the looting and burning of homes, and using a cannon to attack the Free State hotel. Along with this, the senator of Massachusetts getting attacked with a cane by the South Carolina senator for denouncing the violence. This also inspired John Brown, a former priest, to murdur 5 pro slavery settlers who weren't even responsible for the attack.

Who was John Brown, and why were his actions significant?

John Brown was a former priest and abolitionist turned murder who believed the only way to free slaves was only through violence. He murdered 5 pro slavery settlers who were not responsible for the attack in Lawrence. He developed a small army of people and they went around attempting to free slaves and helping them escape. His actions were significant because he was one of the first people to suggest taking action/turning to violence plant the idea of rebellion into people's heads.

Why was Lincoln's victory in the 1860 election seen as a threat by Southern states?

Lincoln's victory was seen as a threat because Lincoln's name wasn't even on the ballot for many southern states, and they thought that the north had too much power.

Who was president during the secession crisis and what was his response to the actions of southern states?

The president during the succession crisis was James Buchanan, who was essentially powerless, so he urged congress to do something. Congress is in shambles due to the secession, and only suggestion is to reinstate the Missouri Compremise.

How did the attack on Fort Sumter start the Civil War?

Fort Sumter's attack started the civil war because the south fired at the north. Lincoln tells soldiers at fort to stay with the Union (they don't listen) and that supplies will be dropped, the supplies don't come the next day and they get paranoid, open fire and start war.

How did the Union and Confederacy raise money for the war, and which side experienced worse inflation?

The Union used sales tax, income tax (first introduced), selling war bonds, National Bank Act (national banks use of paper money, states cannot issue their own currency anymore, centralized banking system), and the draft (pay to get out or find someone else to take your place).

How did the Union's economy benefit from industrialization during the war?

They increased industrialization (more railroads and supplies) switched from cotton to wool (which tripled profits), farmers in the west stepped up production in order to feed the north. Because they needed to supply the soldiers with food, guns, and supplies, they needed to produce more goods. More goods being purchased overall = better economy.

What challenges did the Confederacy face in producing war supplies?

Union naval ships blocked all of the ports in the south, meaning no help from people outside of America, few manufactured goods. all processing factories in the north so only raw materials, few railroads and tracks were often destroyed and couldn't be replaced.

Why was Lincoln initially hesitant to make the war about ending slavery?

Lincoln was initially hesitant to make the war about ending slavery because the states that had slavery that were with the Union would revolt against them which would cause unwanted tension, especially because the capitol borders a state that was with the Union but a slave state.

How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the Union's war aims?

The Emancipation Proclamation changed the Union's war aims because it gave the Union motivation and drive to be helping free slaves. For example, free black people who were encouraged to join the war that didn't because they didn't want to fight for a country that allowed slavery now had a reason to fight because they wanted to help free their families/other black people stuck in the same situation that they were once in.

Why was Ulysses S. Grant ultimately able to defeat Robert E. Lee despite suffering higher casualties?

Grant was able to defeat Lee because Grant had far more soldiers and supplies and would only get harsher on Lee and his military until he stopped. Because Grant's strategy was just to replace soldiers that passed in the war and they had an abundance of people, he could go all day fighting Lee who only had a limited amount of soldiers due to the draft.

What was Lincoln's 10% Plan for Reconstruction?

Lincoln's plan for reconstruction was to pardon Confederates if they swore to an oath to support the Constitution, 10% of all voters had to swear on an oath to the constitution. The state must also abolish slavery and form a loyal government.

How did the Radical Republicans' plan differ from Lincoln's?

The Radical Republicans were much harsher on the Confederacy, saying that they should have 50% of voters need to swear an oath for the Constitution and state that they never wanted to revolt against the union in the first place. They also will refuse to honor Confederate's debts and cancel Acts of Succession. Lincoln refused to sign the bill.

What were the main requirements of the Reconstruction Act of 1867?

The main requirements of the Reconstruction Act of 1867 was that all state constitutions must bar former Confederate officials from office, register African Americans to vote, and adopt the 13th and 14th Amendments.

Why was Johnson impeached, and what was the result?

Johnson was impeached because he violated the Tenure of Office act, when he removed the secretary of war. The result was that congress was one vote short of fully impeaching him. This showed how much power the radical republicans had in the government and that Johnson couldn't control them like Lincoln could.

What was sharecropping, and how did it often keep freedmen in debt?

A type of farming where plantation owners gave away chunks of land for freedmen to farm on and the crops were split 3 ways, landowner, seed/equipment supplier, and farmer that left freedmen with debt they passed down to their children. It kept them in debt because most of the crops were given to the landowner and the seed/equipment supplier.

Who were "carpetbaggers" and "scalawags," and how were they viewed in the South?

Carpetbaggers were northerners who settled in the south after the war to help reconstruct. They supported radical reconstruction. Some of them were bad and some of them were good. The south viewed them as bad due to the bad ones who tainted the reputation of the good ones. They didn't trust them. Scalawags were southerners who supported radical reconstruction and wanted to help rebuild the south. Many of them did it for political/economic gain and some thought its the south's best interest.

Why did Northern interest in Reconstruction decline over time?

The North wanted to forgive and forget about the war and was tired of hearing about it. They wanted to let the south fix themselves, even if freedmen lost their rights. Some argued that the Reconstruction hindered economic rebirth.

What tactics did groups like the Ku Klux Klan use to oppose Reconstruction, and how did the federal government respond?

The KKK burned republican homes and whipped, shot, or hanged black people/white sympathizers. The federal government responded with the Force Act of the KKK Acts, which allowed Grant to use federal force to enforce laws and outlawed using force to keep people from voting.

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