US History - Chapter 7 Short Answer

How did the early battles of the Civil War surprise both sides?

Both sides expected the war to resolve quickly. The Union was surprised by the military leadership and resilience of the South. The Confederacy was surprised by the strength and the tenacity of the North. The first year of war dragged into another, with no end in sight. More surprisingly, the scope, the ferocity of fighting, and the number of casualties, particularly at Shiloh, shocked people throughout the nation.

t were the provisions of the Compromise of 1850?

California joined the Union as a free state, and popular sovereignty was applied to territory acquired from Mexico. Slavery remained legal in Washington, D.C., but the slave trade was prohibited there. The Fugitive Slave Act strengthened an earlier fugitive slave law, adding a requirement that private citizens must help apprehend runaway slaves. The law made it illegal for citizens to help fugitive slaves.

What military strategy did Grant use at Vicksburg?

Grant won at Vicksburg by laying siege to the city and its military fort.

Why did violence break out in Kansas?

In 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a bill to admit the Nebraska Territory as a state based on the principle of popular sovereignty, but the Kansas-Nebraska Act divided the territory in two, presuming that Nebraska would organize as a free state and Kansas would organize as a slave state. However, political conflict resulted in violence between pro- and antislavery settlers of Kansas.

How did the Civil War end?

In April 1865, the siege at Petersburg had severely weakened Confederate forces. Lee's armies tried to break the siege, but they failed and were forced to retreat. Union forces pursued, and trapped Lee and his soldiers at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. There, on April 9, Lee surrendered to Grant.

hat geographic significance did the Battle of Gettysburg have?

It took place on Union soil.

Why did Lincoln consider emancipation, and why did he wait to announce his plan?

Lincoln knew that slavery was a pivotal issue of the Civil War and that the fate of enslaved and escaped African Americans had to be addressed. He also hoped to secure the good will and support of European nations that opposed slavery. He devised a plan for emancipation, but he waited to announce his plan until after the Union secured a victory.

Why did the Union advance into Confederate territory in the summer of 1862? What was the result of this campaign?

Lincoln ordered McClellan to attack the Confederate capital of Richmond, and McClellan responded by launching the Peninsular Campaign. Even though McClellan had superior forces, he remained cautious. Confederate General Lee skillfully led his forces and withstood the Union attack during the Seven Days (June 26-July 2). At a subsequent battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, Lee crushed Union forces under their new leadership. The Union again retreated.

Why did northerners oppose the Fugitive Slave Act, and how did they respond to the law?

Many northerners, even those who had not been abolitionists, opposed the Fugitive Slave Act because the law required them to support slavery. In response, many simply refused to comply with the law. Others continued to help shelter and transport escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. Authors such as Stowe and Delaney wrote novels to expose what life was like under slavery. A few northern states passed personal liberty laws.

How did northerners respond to John Brown's raid and execution?

Most northerners condemned the violence of the raid. Many abolitionists refused to join Brown or sent only money and arms. However, many northerners agreed with his abolitionist principles, and some viewed Brown as a martyr for being willing to sacrifice himself in order to end slavery.

How did northerners and southerners view slavery?

Northerners held mixed views on slavery. Some, called abolitionists, opposed slavery and its expansion. Others only sought to limit slavery to the South. Some workers in the North, who feared that freed slaves might move north to claim their jobs, also supported the continuation of slavery. Many northern business leaders also favored slavery because they profited from it. Many white southerners supported not only the continuation but also the expansion of slavery. The southern economy and way of life largely depended on enslaved labor.

How did the election of 1860 reflect the break between the North and the South?

Republican Abraham Lincoln won the election without a single electoral vote from the South. He and Douglas competed for the votes of the North and West. In the South, Bell and Breckinridge split the vote. None of the four candidates was able to bridge the gap between the two regions.

How did deepening sectional differences impact national politics?

Sectional differences reshaped national politics along sectional, or regional, lines. The Whig Party, splintered by debate over slavery and popular sovereignty, fell apart. The Democratic Party became entrenched in the South, as the party of proslavery southern forces. New parties emerged to fill the vacuum left by the Whigs, including the Know-Nothings and the Republican Party. The Republican Party came to represent antislavery and northern interests.

What dangers did soldiers face during the war?

Soldiers on both sides faced dangers on and off the battlefield. Technology produced new, more dangerous weapons that resulted in loss of life unseen in previous wars. Others died of infection and disease. Many soldiers suffered from wounds that resulted in amputations, often without anesthesia. Soldiers also suffered and died in prison camps, especially in the South.

What impact did the Emancipation Proclamation have?

The Emancipation Proclamation freed all enslaved persons in states and territories still in rebellion against the Union on January 1, 1863. The proclamation inspired many African Americans, enslaved and free, to join the fight and also renewed the Confederates' determination. It also redefined the purpose of the war for northerners as being about slavery. Abroad, the proclamation secured the support of Britain and France for the Union, dashing Confederate hopes for an alliance.

How did the Free-Soil Party affect the issues and the outcome of the presidential election of 1848?

The Free-Soil Party nominated Martin Van Buren, who called for limits to the expansion of slavery. This made the expansion of slavery a national issue during the election. The Democratic and Whig parties avoided the issue by supporting popular sovereignty. The Free-Soil Party won enough votes to cost the Democratic candidate, Lewis Cass, the election. As a result, the Whig candidate, Zachary Taylor, a slaveholder from the South, became the next president.

Why did the North win the Civil War?

The North had more resources than the South. The Union had more people, established industries, more money and supplies, and better technology. The South failed to win the support of European nations like Britain and France. Without help, the Confederacy's resources, including its soldiers, slowly ran out.

Why did the South face more severe economic challenges than the North?

The South lacked the resources and the wealth of the North. Largely dependent on its agriculture, the South was hit hard by northern blockades that cut off trade. The Confederacy had to rely on what it could produce within its borders, leading to hardship and scarcity. Though the Confederacy printed paper currency, the currency was backed only by promises, and doubt about its value led to skyrocketing inflation. Goods became increasingly expensive.

What were the main findings in the Dred Scott case?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that slaves and their descendants were not citizens and that the U.S. Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

How did the Union and the Confederacy compare in strengths and weaknesses?

The Union's strengths were its organized government and military, its president's leadership and skill, and its vast population and resources. The Confederacy's strengths were its citizens' motivation, as well as their position on home territory, and their military leaders. The Union's major military weakness was attacking entrenched southern troops in their home states. The South's major weaknesses were its relatively small population (a third of which comprised enslaved workers), its dependence on plantation farming, and its reliance on trade.

What events led to the onset of the Civil War?

The election of Abraham Lincoln moved several southern states to secede from the Union. Attempts at compromise and Lincoln's conciliatory words failed. Seven southern states formed the Confederate States of America and seized federal arsenals and forts on their lands. President Lincoln took the attack on Fort Sumter as an act of rebellion and called for troops to fight against the Confederacy. This action was seen as an official declaration of war. Four more southern states joined the Confederacy, and the war began.

Compare and Contrast What economic effects did the Civil War have on the North and the South?

The war left both the North and the South with the challenge of coping with tremendous loss of life and wounded soldiers, and rebuilding the South and the economy. The North's industries continued to benefit from expansion and trade. By contrast, the South, which had suffered most of the damage in lost property, resources, and trade, struggled to rebuild. The South remained largely agricultural and suffered from debt and devastation, making it difficult to stabilize economically.

What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on African American soldiers?

Union armies actively recruited more African Americans to join the fight, and more than 180,000 African Americans volunteered to serve in the Union military. About 70,000 lost their lives in the war. However, it took time for African Americans to overcome prejudices. Eventually, African American soldiers did win equal pay, and some were afforded high honors. Despite their brave and excellent service, however, most African American soldiers were still treated poorly.

What economic impact did the Civil War have on the North?

To fund the war effort, the North needed money. The government responded by imposing and then raising income taxes, increasing tariffs on trade, and selling government war bonds. The war also required northern industries to adapt as the demand for weapons, clothing, food, and other goods increased. Railroads benefited as the North invested in railroad expansion to the West.

What were the respective objectives of General Grant's and General Sherman's campaigns in 1864?

Richmond and Savannah

What was one achievement of Clara Barton?

She helped organize relief and support services for soldiers during the Civil War.

What were Lincoln's views on slavery and popular sovereignty?

He opposed both slavery and popular sovereignty.