Unit 10: Civil War & Reconstruction Vocabulary Quizlet

1861-1865

The years of the Civil War between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) over slavery, states' rights, and union preservation.

Abraham Lincoln

The president during the war sought to who preserved the Union, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, delivered the Gettysburg Address and his inaugural address.

Andrew Johnson

He became president after Lincoln's assassination and oversaw Reconstruction, offering lenient policies toward the South, which led to clashes with Congress over civil rights and impeachment.

Appomattox Court House

The location where the Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, marking the end of the Civil War.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

A patriotic song written during the Civil War, featuring lyrics that emphasize the fight against slavery and the preservation of the Union, with religious imagery and a call for justice.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with heavy casualties on both sides. The Union's tactical victory led to President Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

Battle of Gettysburg

This was a turning point in the Civil War. The Union Army defeated the Confederate Army, halting their invasion of the North and marking the beginning of Confederate decline.

Black Codes

Laws passed in Southern states after the Civil War to restrict the freedoms of African Americans, limiting their rights to own property, work, and move freely, and enforcing segregation.

Carpetbaggers

Northern individuals who moved to the South after the Civil War, often perceived as opportunists seeking to exploit the region's economic and political instability during Reconstruction.

Civil War Era

A period of intense conflict in the United States over slavery, states' rights, and national unity, marked by major battles, high casualties, and societal upheaval.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued that declared the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territory, redefining the purpose of the Civil War to include abolition.

Fifteenth Amendment

A change in the Constitution that granted voting rights to all male citizens, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Fourteenth Amendment

A change in the Constitution granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

Freedmen's Bureau

A federal agency established to assist former slaves and impoverished Southerners by providing food, shelter, education, and legal support during Reconstruction.

Gettysburg Address

A speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln, dedicating a cemetery at Gettysburg, emphasizing equality, liberty, and the preservation of the Union during the Civil War.