American History Test Review #3
Section 1: The Civil War
Terms:
Thomas Jackson
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, known for his skilled military tactics and his steadfastness in battle, especially at the First Battle of Bull Run where he earned his nickname. Died on May 10, 1863.
Robert Lee
Robert E. Lee was the commanding general of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, known for his leadership in major battles like Gettysburg and Antietam. Despite his military skill, he ultimately surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865, effectively ending the war. Died on October 12, 1870.
George McClellan
George McClellan was a Union general during the American Civil War, known for organizing the Army of the Potomac but criticized for being overly cautious in battle. He died on October 29, 1885.
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, in Maryland, was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 22,000 casualties. It ended in a tactical draw but gave the Union a strategic advantage, leading President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation shortly afterward.
Emancipation Proclamation
Was an order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be freed. While it didn't immediately end slavery, it changed the focus of the Civil War to include the fight against slavery and allowed Black men to join the Union Army.
John Brown
John Brown was an abolitionist who believed in using violence to end slavery in the United States. He led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859, hoping to start a slave uprising, but was captured and later executed on December 2, 1859.
Harper’s Ferry
Harpers Ferry was a town where John Brown tried to seize weapons from a government armory in 1859 to help enslaved people fight for their freedom. Although the plan didn’t succeed, it made the conflict over slavery even more intense before the Civil War started.
Ulysses Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the leading Union general who helped win the American Civil War by defeating Confederate forces, especially at Vicksburg and ultimately at Appomattox Court House where Robert E. Lee surrendered. He later became the 18th President of the United States. Died from throat cancer on July 23, 1885.
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, leading the South’s effort to secede from the Union. After the war, he was captured, imprisoned for two years, and remained a symbol of the Confederacy until his death in 1889.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president who led the U.S. through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free enslaved people. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth and died on April 15, 1865.
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, sped up cotton processing and greatly increased the demand for slave labor in the South. This invention helped make cotton the South’s most important crop.
Abolitionist
Abolitionists were people who actively worked to end slavery in the United States. Their efforts helped bring slavery to the center of national political debates.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and risked her life returning to the South many times to lead enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She died on March 10, 1913.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852, this novel exposed the cruelty of slavery and increased Northern opposition to it. It became one of the best-selling books of the 19th century.
Dred Scott Ruling
The 1857 Dred Scott decision ruled that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in new territories. This ruling angered abolitionists and escalated sectional conflicts.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter in South Carolina was where the first shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861. This attack marked the official start of the conflict between North and South.
William Tecumseh Sherman
Sherman was a Union general known for his destructive “March to the Sea,” which aimed to break the South’s will to fight. He died on February 14, 1891.
Richmond
Richmond, Virginia, served as the capital of the Confederate States during the Civil War. It was a major industrial and political center for the South.
Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate cavalry general noted for his aggressive tactics and later became an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan. He died on October 29, 1877.
Free State
A free state was a state in which slavery was illegal before and during the Civil War. These states were mostly in the North.
Slave State
A slave state allowed slavery within its borders before and during the Civil War. These states were primarily located in the South.
Secede
To secede means to formally withdraw from the United States, as Southern states did starting in 1860. This act led directly to the Civil War.
13th Amendment
Ratified in 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. It legally freed all enslaved people.
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was the actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. He was killed on April 26, 1865, while being hunted by Union soldiers.
Appomattox
Appomattox Court House in Virginia was where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865. This surrender effectively ended the Civil War.
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. It was a key part of Reconstruction efforts to expand civil rights.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson became president after Lincoln’s assassination and oversaw the early years of Reconstruction with a lenient approach toward the South. He died on July 31, 1875.
Concepts:
What is Thomas Jackson’s nickname? Why?
Thomas Jackson’s nickname was "Stonewall" because he stood firm like a stone wall during the First Battle of Bull Run, inspiring Confederate troops.
What was Emancipation? When did it take place?
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory to be free.
How does the South try to get Europe to enter the war on their behalf? Why does this fail?
The South tried to get help from Europe by using "cotton diplomacy," thinking countries like Britain and France would support them because they needed Southern cotton. This didn’t work because Europe found other places to get cotton and didn’t want to support a side that allowed slavery.
What were Abraham Lincoln’s two reasons for fighting the Civil War?
Lincoln fought to preserve the Union and later to end slavery.
Describe the Battle at Antietam.
The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862, in Maryland and was the bloodiest single day in American history, with about 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing. It ended in a tactical draw, but the Union claimed it as a victory because it stopped General Lee's invasion of the North. This battle gave President Lincoln the chance to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
How does Harper’s Ferry (John Brown) influence history?
John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859 heightened sectional tensions and made Southerners fear a widespread slave rebellion.
What was Ulysses Grant’s Nickname?
Ulysses S. Grant was nicknamed "Unconditional Surrender Grant” for demanding total surrender from his enemies.
What happens at Shiloh?
The Battle of Shiloh in 1862 was a bloody surprise attack by Confederates but ended with a Union victory, showing the war would be longer and bloodier than expected.
What mistakes did George McClellan make in the Civil War?
McClellan was overly cautious and delayed attacks, missing chances to defeat Confederate forces decisively.
How many Americans fought in the Civil War? How many died?
About 3 million Americans fought, and approximately 620,000 died, making it the deadliest war in U.S. history.
Why must historians understand such events of the Civil War?
Understanding the Civil War helps explain the causes and consequences of slavery, division, and national unity in American history.
What was the difference in economics and population between the North and the South?
The North had a larger population and more industry, while the South’s economy relied on agriculture and enslaved labor.
Why were Senators bringing guns and knives into the chamber?
Tensions over slavery and politics were so high that violence broke out, leading senators to arm themselves for protection.
John Brown: Who was he? What effect did his actions have on the South?
John Brown was an abolitionist who tried to start a slave revolt with his raid on Harper’s Ferry, increasing Southern fears of rebellion.
Who was the first state to leave? When?
South Carolina was the first state to secede on December 20, 1860.
What were the border states? Why did they fight for the north?
Border states like Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri allowed slavery but stayed in the Union due to economic ties and strategic reasons.
Why does Lee fight for the South?
Lee fought for the South out of loyalty to his home state of Virginia and belief in states' rights.
How did Lincoln violate Habeas Corpus laws? What did Lincoln threaten the Chief Justice with?
Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus to detain suspected Confederate sympathizers, and reportedly threatened to imprison Chief Justice Taney if he ruled against him.
What occurs at the First Battle of Bull Run?
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory and shocking both sides with its intensity.
What were the Confederates main advantages in the War? What were the North’s?
The South had skilled military leaders and fought mostly on home ground; the North had a larger population, more industry, and better transportation.
Why did Robert Lee attack Gettysburg? What happened at this battle?
Lee attacked Gettysburg in hopes of defeating Union forces on Northern soil, but the Union won a decisive battle, turning the war’s tide.
Who wins the Election of 1864? Why was this a surprise?
Lincoln won re-election in 1864 despite low public support earlier, largely because Union military successes boosted his popularity.
Describe Sherman’s war is hell philosophy. What happens to the south because of this?
Sherman believed in total war, destroying Southern infrastructure and morale, leaving a path of devastation through Georgia and the Carolinas.
Where does Lee finally surrender? What are Grant’s terms?
Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865; Grant offered generous terms allowing Confederate soldiers to return home peacefully.
How did the Assassination of Lincoln occur? When?
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, and died the next day on April 15.
Explain Lincoln’s following speech:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was a short but powerful speech delivered to honor soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. He reminded listeners that the United States was founded on the idea that all men are created equal and that the war was a test of whether such a nation could survive. Lincoln said that the brave soldiers had already consecrated the battlefield with their sacrifice. He urged the living to dedicate themselves to finishing the work those soldiers died for. The speech ended with a call to ensure that freedom and democracy would live on—“government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Section 2: Reconstruction
What/when was reconstruction?
Reconstruction was the period after the Civil War from 1865 to 1877, when the U.S. government worked to rebuild the South and bring the Southern states back into the Union. It focused on rebuilding the economy, society, and rights of newly freed African Americans.
What was William Sherman’s plan with the land he had captured? Do you agree with this plan? Why or why not?
General William Sherman planned to give freed slaves "40 acres and a mule" from land taken in the South to help them start a new life. Many people agree with this plan because it gave formerly enslaved people a chance at independence, though it was never fully carried out.
What was Andrew Johnson’s plan in readmitting Confederates back into the United States? Do you agree with this plan?
President Andrew Johnson wanted to quickly bring Southern states back into the Union with few punishments. He allowed many former Confederate leaders to regain power, which many people disagree with because it made it harder to protect the rights of freed African Americans.
What were the radical republicans trying to accomplish? Which amendments do they get passed? Which President did they try to impeach?
Radical Republicans wanted to protect the rights of freed slaves and make sure the South changed before being fully readmitted. They helped pass the 13th (ended slavery), 14th (gave citizenship), and 15th (voting rights for African American men) Amendments. They tried to impeach President Andrew Johnson because he opposed their plans.
What do the following terms mean; Freedmen's Bureau, Sharecropper, Tenant Farmer
Freedmen’s Bureau: A government agency that helped former slaves with food, jobs, education, and housing.
Sharecropper: A farmer, often a former slave, who worked land owned by someone else in return for a share of the crops.
Tenant Farmer: A farmer who rented land and paid the owner with money or part of the crops.
How many African American people were elected to Congress after the Civil War ended?
During Reconstruction, over 15 African American men were elected to Congress, including two to the U.S. Senate.
Who was Bedford Forrest? Which group did he start?
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a former Confederate general who became one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a group that used violence and terror to stop African Americans from gaining rights.
Who was elected President in 1877? What happened to reconstruction after this? Why?
Rutherford B. Hayes was elected in 1877. After his election, Reconstruction ended because of the Compromise of 1877, which removed federal troops from the South. This allowed white Southern leaders to take back control and led to the rise of Jim Crow laws and discrimination against African Americans.
Section 3: World War 1
What were the two sides during World War 1? Which countries fought on each side?
Allied Powers: France, Britain, Russia, Italy (joined in 1915), and later the United States.
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
How did the killing of Archduke Ferdinand start World War 1?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in June 1914 by a Serbian nationalist. This led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, and because of alliances between countries, the conflict quickly spread into a world war.
Why did Germany invade Belgium at the start of the war? What did this lead to?
Germany invaded Belgium to quickly attack France through a strategy called the Schlieffen Plan. This caused Britain to enter the war, since it had promised to protect Belgium’s neutrality.
Describe trench warfare.
Trench warfare was a type of fighting where soldiers lived and fought in long, dug-out trenches. It caused long, deadly battles with little movement and horrible living conditions, including mud, disease, and constant danger from enemy fire.
What was decided at the Hague Conference before World War 1?
The Hague Conferences (1899 and 1907) aimed to promote peace and limit the size of armies and weapons. Countries agreed on rules for war, like treating prisoners humanely, but many of these rules were ignored during WWI.
When did Russia drop out of World War 1? Why?
Russia dropped out in 1917 after the Russian Revolution, when the Bolsheviks took over and signed a peace treaty with Germany to focus on building a communist government.
When did the US join WW1? Why did they join?
The U.S. joined the war in 1917, mainly because of Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare (sinking U.S. ships like the Lusitania) and the Zimmermann Telegram, where Germany tried to get Mexico to attack the U.S.
When was the Armistice that ended WW1?
The Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, ending the fighting on the Western Front.
What was decided at the Treaty of Versailles?
Signed in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles officially ended the war. It blamed Germany for the war, made them pay heavy reparations, lose land, and reduce their military. It also created the League of Nations, an international peace organization.
Section 4: Great Depression
What were the Roaring 20’s?
The Roaring 20s were a time of economic growth, new inventions, and cultural change in the 1920s. People were enjoying jazz music, new technology like radios and cars, and women gained more rights, including the right to vote.
Why did people start to invest in the stock market in the 1920’s? Where did they get the money to make these investments?
People invested in the stock market because they thought it was an easy way to get rich quickly as stock prices kept rising. Many borrowed money from banks or bought stocks "on margin," meaning they only paid part of the price and promised to pay the rest later.
What was Black Thursday in 1929?
Black Thursday happened on October 24, 1929, when stock prices suddenly dropped, and many people panicked and sold their stocks. It was the beginning of the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression.
How much money do banks give back to their customers in the Great Depression?
Many banks gave back nothing, because they had lost the money in bad investments or stock market losses. There was no insurance on bank accounts at the time, so people lost all their savings.
What happened to banks during the Great Depression?
Thousands of banks failed and closed because they ran out of money. This caused many people to lose their life savings and trust in the banking system.
How much was unemployment levels in the United States during the Great Depression?
At its worst, unemployment reached about 25% in the early 1930s, meaning 1 in 4 workers couldn't find a job.
Section 5: World War 2
Who did Hitler blame for Germany’s problems? Why did people support this idea?
Hitler blamed Jews, Communists, and the leaders of the Weimar Republic for Germany’s problems, including losing World War I and the economic crisis. People supported this idea because they were angry, desperate, and looking for someone to blame during tough times.
Who are the Axis powers? Who are their leaders?
The Axis Powers were Germany (led by Adolf Hitler), Italy (led by Benito Mussolini), and Japan (led by Emperor Hirohito, with General Tojo as military leader).
What is Fascism?
Fascism is a type of government where one leader has total power, and individual rights are not important. It focuses on extreme nationalism, strong military, and control over all parts of life.
What is Appeasement?
Appeasement is when a country gives in to the demands of an aggressive country to avoid conflict. Britain and France used appeasement with Hitler before World War II by letting him take land, like Austria and part of Czechoslovakia, hoping to keep peace.
Who are the Allied Powers?
The Allied Powers were the United States, Britain, Soviet Union, France, and other countries that fought against the Axis Powers.
On what day did the Americans enter World War II? When did World War II begin?
America entered the war on December 8, 1941, the day after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. World War II began earlier, on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.
What was the Manhattan project?
The Manhattan Project was a secret U.S. program during World War II that developed the atomic bomb.
Why did the United States drop the Atomic Bombs?
The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to force Japan to surrender and quickly end the war, possibly saving more lives than a long invasion.
What was the Marshall Plan?
The Marshall Plan was a U.S. program that gave money to help rebuild European countries after World War II to stop the spread of communism and help them recover economically.