Civil_War_Reading

Fort Sumter

A fort located in Charleston, South Carolina, which was a focal point of the start of the American Civil War when Confederate forces attacked it in April 1861.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States who led the country during the American Civil War and is known for his efforts to preserve the Union, abolish slavery, and strengthen the federal government.

Confederacy

The Confederate States of America, a collection of 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union in 1860-1861, leading to the American Civil War.

P. G. T. Beauregard

A Confederate general who ordered the attack on Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War.

Secession

The act of formally withdrawing from a political union or alliance, as the Southern states did from the United States before the Civil War.

Union

The United States of America, particularly referring to the Northern states during the Civil War that remained loyal to the federal government and opposed secession.

Copperheads

A term used to describe Northern Democrats who sympathized with the South and opposed the Civil War, advocating for peace and compromise instead.

Border States

Slave states located on the border between the Union and the Confederacy, including Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, and Delaware, whose allegiance was crucial during the Civil War.

Jefferson Davis

The President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, leading the Southern states in their secession from the Union.

The Battle of Bull Run

The site of the first major battle of the American Civil War, also known as the First Battle of Manassas.

Richmond

Capital of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln

President of the United States during the Civil War, known for his leadership during the conflict.

Ironclads

Naval ships with ironplate armor, often equipped with rifled bores for more accurate shooting.

George McClellan

Union general during the American Civil War who earned the nickname "Tardy George" due to his cautious approach and reluctance to engage in decisive battles.

Monitor and Merrimac

Ironclad ships that engaged in a historic naval battle during the Civil War, showcasing the advancement in naval warfare technology.

Unconditional Surrender Grant

Nickname given to Ulysses S. Grant after his demand for unconditional surrender at Fort Donelson during the Civil War.

Blockade

A military strategy to cut off supplies, reinforcements, or commercial trade by sea.

David Farragut

A prominent Union naval officer during the American Civil War known for his victories, including the capture of New Orleans and the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Battle of Shiloh

A significant battle during the American Civil War where Union forces, led by Ulysses S. Grant, faced a surprise Confederate assault resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. It was actually decisive despite appearing to be a draw, impacting the Union strategy.

Mississippi River Valley

A crucial region during the American Civil War, control of which was vital for both the Union and the Confederacy.

Peninsula Campaign

A military operation led by General George McClellan during the American Civil War aimed at capturing Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Stonewall Jackson

A Confederate general known for his tactical brilliance and maneuvers during the American Civil War, including the Shenandoah Valley Campaign and the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Battle of Antietam

A major battle of the Civil War fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland, after the Second Battle of Bull Run where Union forces faced Confederate troops led by General Robert E. Lee. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued by President Abraham Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam, it declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free, changing the focus of the war to include the abolition of slavery.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party during the Civil War era that pushed for more extreme changes (the abolition of slavery as the main reason for the war), differing from Lincoln's initial focus on preserving the Union.

Monitor and Merrimac

Ironclad warships that fought in the first battle between ironclad ships during the Civil War, known as the Battle of Hampton Roads. Their engagement marked a new era in naval warfare.

Second Battle of Bull Run

Also known as the Second Battle of Manassas, it was a significant Confederate victory during the Civil War, demonstrating General Robert E. Lee's military prowess and strategic abilities.

Emancipation Proclamation

A declaration issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, that freed slaves in Confederate territories not under Union control and paved the way for the recruitment of black soldiers into the Union army.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States who signed the Emancipation Proclamation and led the country during the Civil War, aiming to preserve the Union.

Conscription

The compulsory enlistment of people into the military, also known as the draft, which both the North and the South resorted to during the Civil War to bolster their armies.

Union Army

The military force of the United States during the Civil War, which saw the recruitment of nearly 300,000 black soldiers following the Emancipation Proclamation.

President Davis

Refers to Jefferson Davis, who was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Tariff

A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.

Homestead Act

An act passed in 1862 to encourage westward expansion that provided 160 acres of public land free to any citizen who was willing to settle on and cultivate the land.

Morrill Land-Grant Act

Passed in 1862, this act granted land to states and territories to support the establishment of colleges teaching agricultural and mechanical skills.

National Banking Act

Enacted in 1863, this act established a system of national banks and created a new national currency.

Women in the Civil War

Describes the significant roles played by women during the American Civil War, including working in factories, serving as nurses, and supporting the war effort in various ways.

Clara Barton

A prominent figure during the Civil War known for her work in caring for wounded soldiers and later founding the American Red Cross.

Dorothea Dix

Known for her efforts in advocating for better treatment of the mentally ill, Dorothea Dix also played a key role in organizing nursing services during the Civil War.

Civil War Prisons

Refers to the harsh conditions and treatment faced by prisoners of war during the American Civil War, including the infamous Andersonville prison camp.

Ambrose E Burnside

Union general who faced defeat at Fredericksburg in 1862 due to ordering an all-out attack on well-dug Confederate troops and was replaced by General Joseph Hooker.

Henry Wirz

Confederate Captain who was the commander of Andersonville prison and was hanged as a war criminal.

Andersonville

Confederate prisoner-of-war camp where Union soldiers faced brutal conditions and many died.

Elmira, New York

Northern prisoner-of-war camp known for its harsh conditions during the Civil War.

Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker

Union general who replaced Burnside and faced challenges during the Civil War.

Morrill Tariff

Legislation passed during the Civil War to raise revenue for the Union through tariffs on imported goods.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad system that spanned the continent, connecting the East and West coasts of the United States.

Morrill Land-Grant Act

Legislation passed in 1862 to support higher education by granting federally controlled land to states.

National Banking Act

Law passed during the Civil War to create a system of national banks and establish a national currency.

Dorothea Dix

Social reformer who worked to improve conditions for the mentally ill and served as the Superintendent of Army Nurses during the Civil War.

General George Meade

Union general who led the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg.

General Robert E Lee

A prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War known for his bold and imaginative military strategies, including the offensive movements against the Union forces.

Cemetery Ridge

A ridge in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the center of the Union line was located during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Seminary Ridge

A ridge in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Confederate infantry and artillery were positioned during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Address

A speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg on November 19, 1863.

Edward Everett

A famous public speaker who spoke for two hours at the dedication ceremonies in Gettysburg, contrasting with Lincoln's shorter speech.

Ulysses S Grant

Union general who was appointed supreme commander of all Union armies in March 1864 during the American Civil War.

Vicksburg

A city in Mississippi that was captured by Grant's army on July 4, 1863, a day after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Sherman's March to the Sea

A military campaign led by General William T. Sherman during the American Civil War, where Union forces marched through Georgia to the Atlantic coast, destroying civilian infrastructure and resources.

Battle of Gettysburg

A significant battle fought during the American Civil War from July 1-3, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, resulting in a Union victory and considered a turning point in the war.

John Wilkes Booth

The actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., as an act of Southern sympathy.

Appomattox Court House

The location where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War.

William Tecumseh Sherman

A Union general known for his "March to the Sea" campaign during the Civil War, where he employed total war tactics by targeting

Greenbacks

Paper currency issued by the Union during the Civil War