Topic 1: Causes, Course, and Consequences of the Civil War

Gettysburg Address

Address given by Abraham Lincoln after the bloodiest battle of the war. Lincoln's "pep talk" to the Union. The main idea was that the Union can't give up because so many have already died for the cause. Redefined war as the Second Revolutionary war.

"Bleeding Kansas"

After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, pro-slavery people from Missouri and many northern abolitionists rushed into the state to vote on the issue of slavery. Lots of violence and death happened as a result between the two groups. John Brown was one of the abolitionists involved.

Republican Party

Also called "Lincoln's Party", new political party created in 1854 by anti-slavery proponents after the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Dred Scott Decision

An African-American slave was taken to several free states while his owner was alive. After his owner died, the African-American sued and said he was free because he had lived in a free state. In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott and said: a) He had no rights as a citizen to petition in court b) the government does not have the right to ban slavery anywhere -- basically making the Missouri Compromise illegal.

Battle of Vicksburg

Another battle in 1863 that was a turning point in the war. The Union gained control of the Mississippi River, cutting off access to the South. Accomplished one of the goals of the Anaconda Plan.

sectionalism

Between 1820 and 1860, as the South's reliance on slavery grew due to the cotton gin and the North experienced the First Industrial Revolution, the North and South grew increasingly different. People identified with their region more than the country as a whole. These differences partly led to the Civil War.

Manifest Destiny

Cultural idea in the mid-19th century that it is the will of God and destiny of the United States to expand to the Pacific Ocean. This idea contributed to western expansion.

slavery

Economic system of the South before the Civil War was based on this type of labor. The invention of the cotton gin led to the South's reliance on slave labor, which in turn led to the growth of the abolition movement in the North. This was one of the main causes of the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass

Former slave, orator, and abolitionist who was a major proponent and speaker about the abolishment of slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

In 1854, these states were admitted as states and given popular sovereignty to decide slavery issue. Disrupted Missouri Compromise. This led to what is known as "Bleeding Kansas" and is one of the causes of the Civil War.

John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry

In 1858, an attack of a federal arsenal in Virginia by an abolitionist who wanted to start slave revolt. The abolitionist was hung for treason, which upset Northerners who were against slavery.

Attack on Fort Sumter

In April 1861, the Confederates attacked this fort, a fort off of the South Carolina coast where Union soldiers remained. This attack is considered the immediate cause and the first battle of the Civil War.

Surrender at Appomattox

In April 1865, General Lee surrendered and ended the Civil War. The Union was saved.

westward expansion

In the mid-1800s, white americans moved west for different reasons -- gold, land, and prosperity. This led to the issue over the expansion of slavery. One of the causes of the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

Issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to weaken the rebel states and boost the spirit of Northerners. Freed slaves in all Confederate, or rebel, states (not border states that fought for the Union). Changed goal of war from preservation of the union to the freedom of slaves.

Fugitive Slave Act

Made stronger in 1850, this said that any black person, on the word of a white person, could be accused of being an escaped slave and be sent to slavery. All non-blacks were made to help capture escaped slaves, and any non-black caught helping a slave escape could be sent to jail. This made abolitionists extremely angry. They fought back through the Underground Railroad and community watch groups.

Battle of Gettysburg

Occurring in 1863, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. One of the turning points of the war, it was a Union victory. The Confederacy never got as far north as Pennsylvania ever again.

Effects of Civil War

Over 600,000 Americans died in the Civil War, more than any other American wars combined. The South was destroyed. The power of the federal government was never again seriously challenged. Slavery was abolished. Set the stage for Reconstruction.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Published in the 1852 and written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, this novel showed how slavery broke up families and made many northerners upset. Gave power to the abolition movement, ultimately leading to war.

abolition movement

Reform movement in the mid-19th century that tried to get rid of slavery. Most members were northerners. This movement grew as westward expansion and the expansion of slavery became an issue. Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison were leaders of this movement.

Underground Railroad

System of different routes and people who helped slaves escape from the south to the North. Harriet Tubman was one of the main helpers.

Advantages of the Union (North)

The advantages were: 1. bigger population 2. more factories 3. more railroads 4. more banking and money 5. more food

Advantages of the Confederacy (South, rebel states)

The advantages were: 1. war on their turf (defensive war) 2. better military generals 3. fighting to preserve their way of life

Missouri Compromise

The balance of free and slave states was threatened by westward expansion. In 1820, this created one slave state and one free state to keep the balance. It also established the 36 30 line of latitude to decide which future states would be free and which would be slave. Events like the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision broke this compromise down -- eventually leading to war.

states' rights

The idea that the federal government's role is limited in the constitution and it should stay out of the affairs of states. Usually cited as the principle of the 10th amendment.

popular sovereignty

The idea that the people should make decisions as to what happens in their state or territory by a majority vote. This principle was used to decide the issue of slavery in the territories of Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska. Disrupted the principle of the Missouri Compromise.

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to "strangle" the South by cutting off their resources -- blocking ports on the East coast and controlling the Mississippi River.

Compromise of 1850

When California tried to enter the union as a free state, this tried to solve many issues between the North and South that had been around for many years. There were five major points of the compromise, but the most important in terms of leading to the Civil War was making the Fugitive Slave Act stronger.

secession

When South Carolina left the Union one month after the election of 1860 and several other states followed to form the Confederate States of America.

Abraham Lincoln

When he was running for the Illinois Senate that the country could not continue "half slave and half free". Not opposed to slavery where it was already, but was opposed to its expansion. When he ran for President in 1860, no southern state voted for him, yet he won. One of the immediate causes of the Civil War.