Civil war and Reconstruction

Slavery: The main cause of the Civil War was the disagreement over the institution of slavery, particularly its expansion into newly acquired territories.
States’ Rights: Southern states argued for the right to govern themselves, particularly on issues like slavery and tariffs.
Economic and Social Differences: The North had a more industrial economy, while the South had an agricultural economy reliant on slavery.
The Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860): Lincoln's election was seen as a threat to slavery, causing southern states to secede from the Union.
Secession: South Carolina was the first state to secede in December 1860, followed by other southern states, eventually forming the Confederacy.

Fort Sumter (1861): The first battle of the Civil War when Confederate forces attacked a U.S. military garrison in Charleston, South Carolina.
Fort Wagner: unsuccessful Battle/ assault led by Massachusetts 54th regiment
Antietam (1862): The bloodiest single day in American military history, leading to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.
Appomattox Court House (1865): The location where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln: President of the United States during the Civil War; issued the Emancipation Proclamation and gave the Gettysburg Address.
Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States of America.
Ulysses S. Grant: Union general who led the Army to victory.
Robert E. Lee: Confederate general who led the Southern Army.
Frederick Douglass: Former slave and abolitionist who advocated for the rights of African Americans during and after the war.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Issued by Abraham Lincoln, it declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free.
Confederacy: The group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union.
Union: The Northern states that remained loyal to the United States government.
Succession: to withdraw (leave) from a membership in a group or an organization
Sharecropping:
(Dis)enfranchisement: The right/privilege to vote

Destruction of the South: The South was left devastated, both physically and economically, with cities and infrastructure in ruins. Had to readmit to union unwillingly
Freedmen: The formerly enslaved people who were freed after the war.
Freedmen's Bureau: provided aid to freedmen and white refugees like food, shelter, medical supplies, interpreting legal docs.

Andrew Johnson’s Plan (1865): Johnson’s plan was similar to Lincoln’s but offered pardons to most Confederatesif they asked, which allowed former Confederate leaders to regain power.
Radical Republican Plan: Congress took control of Reconstruction, pushing for stricter terms and more protections for freedmen, such as the 14th and 15th Amendments.

13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery in the United States.
14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves.
15th Amendment (1870): Gave African American men the right to vote.

Black Codes: Laws passed by Southern states to restrict the freedom of African Americans and force them into labor contracts.
Freedmen’s Bureau (1865): A government agency that provided food, housing, education, and legal aid to freedmen.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1868): Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives for violating the Tenure of Office Act but was acquitted by the Senate.
Ku Klux Klan (1865): A white supremacist group that used violence and intimidation to prevent African Americans from voting and exercising their civil rights.
The Compromise of 1877: Ended Reconstruction in exchange for Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president. Federal troops were withdrawn from the South, leading to the end of Reconstruction.

Sharecropping: A system where freedmen and poor white farmers rented land from landowners in exchange for a portion of their crop. This often led to debt and exploitation.
Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests: Methods used by Southern states to disenfranchise African Americans and prevent them from voting.
Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the South.

Abraham Lincoln: His assassination in 1865 left Reconstruction in the hands of his successor, Andrew Johnson.
Andrew Johnson: 17th president, who clashed with Congress over how to handle Reconstruction.

The Role of the Federal Government: Understand the conflict between the federal government and Southern states over issues like states' rights and federal intervention in social issues.
The Legacy of Slavery: Recognize how slavery affected both the South's economy and society, and how its abolition had lasting social and political consequences.
The Struggles of Reconstruction: The challenges of rebuilding the South, integrating freedmen into society, and dealing with the resistance from white Southerners.

Debate

Readmission: Southern states ratify 13th, Southern military leaders swear oath to union. Federal money is given to rebuild
Black Citizenship: All rights under Bill of Rights - no right to vote
Federal Protection: Provide physical protection (Military presence) + economic aid
Land redistribution: no land redistribution
Disfranchisement: Temporary loss of vote for poli/military confederate leaders. - oath to u.s. To regain rights.
War Guilt : Confederate poli/mili leaders should ask for presidential pardon.