Chapter 15: The War of the Union 1861-1865

Appomattox Court House

Involved the surrender of the Confederacy and the end of the war

Gettysburg

Was a turning point in which Union forces countered a second invasion of the North

So many men were away fighting the war in the South that the home front became largely the domain of women, children, and slaves.

True

While the Civil War did not begin as a war to end slavery, the ending of that institution with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment was its most important result.

True

The conquest of Atlanta

Turned the tide of the presidential election of 1864 between Lincoln and McClellan

What was President Lincoln's primary motivation for directly attacking the institution of slavery?

Because the Confederacy relied on slave labor in the war effort, Lincoln believed disrupting slavery would strike a major blow at the Confederacy's ability to win.

A nineteenth-century journalist commented, "No conflict in history was such a woman's war as the Civil War." Indeed, the Civil War not only weakened the traditional hierarchy of slave owner over slave but also challenged restrictions placed on women. Which of the following statements accurately describe roles taken on by women during the Civil War?

Clara Barton and Dorothea Lynde Dix were among the thousands of women who served during the Civil War as nurses and health-related volunteers, and Sarah Rosetta Wakeman- also known as Lyons Wakeman- disguised herself as a young man to enlist as a soldier in the Union army.

Identify how the Emancipation Proclamation affected the Militia Act and the composition of the Union's armed forces.

More than 180,000 black troops enlisted in the Union army, approximately 80 percent of whom were from the South, and Freed blacks became eligible for the first time to serve in the Union army and were aggressively recruited after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the scope and scale of the Civil War?

Most families remained unaffected by the war, and the war was so devastating that, after the war, most Americans gave up their guns as a symbol of peace.

Morrill Land Grant Act

Supported the teaching of agriculture and "mechanic acts" by providing federal aid to state-supported colleges and universities.

What are NOT reasons the Civil War considered the first "modern" war?

The "modern woman" emerged and was completely dedicated to maintaining the home for her husband's return, and civilians could keep track of the dead and wounded through weekly memos that were released to local governments.

Six generals and 1,750 soldiers were lost in Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. What impact did this "grand charge" NOT have on the Confederate cause?

The Union army successfully took the opportunity to chase the Confederates back to Virginia, and the charge was the first assault by the Confederate army that sparked the ensuing Battle of Gettysburg.

Confederate conscription laws included loophole provisions. Under what circumstances was a southern male citizen within the conscription age range exempt from military service?

A draftee could pay $500 in cash toward the government, instead of serving in the military, elected officials, key civilian officials, and planters with over twenty slaves were exempt from service, or a draftee could provide an able-bodied substitute who was not of draft age.

Identify some of the Union initiatives passed in Congress as a result of the power shift from the South to the North, as well as how these initiatives affected the nation's economy.

A higher tariff bill was intended to raise government revenue and protect and encourage the growth of American industry, a new federal banking system to create paper money put a national currency into place, and the construction of a transcontinental railroad connected goods and markets across the country.

Why was the Civil War considered the first "modern" war?

A variety of new weapons were used in battle that could kill more accurately and at greater distances, civilians could follow the status of the war through newspapers and photo exhibits, and innovations in communications such as the telegraph were developed for military use.

Identify how the necessities of the Union army did NOT change the way the nation approached food.

After the war, the nation was able to transform its food preservation industry from canned to plastic storage.

Militia Act

Allowed formerly enslaved African Americans to work as laborers or soldiers in the Union.

Identify what were NOT Union initiatives passed in Congress as a result of the power shift from the South to the North, as well as how these initiatives affected the nation's economy.

An act gave 160 acres of land for five years to individuals interested in learning agricultural skills.

How might the different choices slaveholding states made following Abraham Lincoln's presidential election in 1860 NOT influence the content of the eventual Emancipation Proclamation?

Because all of the slaveholding states had seceded from the Union at the same time, Lincoln was quick to use the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery across the North and South, and because all of the states in the North had small slave populations, Lincoln might have been eager to issue the Emancipation Proclamation there first to bolster the Union army.

How might the different choices slaveholding states made following Abraham Lincoln's presidential election in 1860 have influenced the content of the eventual Emancipation Proclamation?

Because some southern states had already seceded from the Union, Lincoln might have been more likely to take actions that would have angered these states, and Because some slaveholding states remained loyal to the Union, Lincoln might have been wary of disrupting slavery there for fear that they would turn against the Union.

Which of the following statements do NOT accurately describe the role and prevalence of immigrant soldiers during the Civil War?

Because the majority of soldiers in the Confederate army were white planters, there was little space for immigrant soldiers, and the Confederacy attracted the majority of the war's immigrant soldiers because slavery was even more prevalent throughout Europe.

What were some of the ways the Civil War impacted social and economic life in the North and South?

Both the North and the South experienced a new level of economic vitality, at least temporarily, as a result of the war, Whereas the North benefited from a greater degree of economic output in an already booming industrial sector, the South came to experience shortages in supplies and food, the scope and scale of the war meant that both the Union and the Confederacy had to increase the size and power of their respective federal governments.

The image on the left gives the "Union view of the Emancipation Proclamation," while the image on the right gives the "Confederate view of the Emancipation Proclamation." The large book featured in the Confederate view has the title "U.S. Constitution" displayed on its spine. What does comparing these two images suggest about the outlooks the Union and Confederacy tended to have toward the Emancipation Proclamation?

Both the Union and Confederacy saw Abraham Lincoln as the central figure of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Union tended to be more likely to sympathize with Lincoln's decision regarding the Emancipation as a difficult one to make.

The image on the left gives the "Union view of the Emancipation Proclamation," while the image on the right gives the "Confederate view of the Emancipation Proclamation." The large book featured in the Confederate view has the title "U.S. Constitution" displayed on its spine. What does comparing these two images NOT suggest about the outlooks the Union and Confederacy tended to have toward the Emancipation Proclamation?

Both the Union and the Confederacy had entirely negative responses to Lincoln's decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Confederacy believed that the Constitution of the United States was compatible with and the foundation of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Identify the reasons that the Battle of Vicksburg was NOT so crucial to the Union cause.

Capturing Vicksburg needed to be the final step in the Union's strategy, as it was the capital city for the Confederate cause, and it was a rail-only junction that forbade any river crossing between Memphis and New Orleans.

Identify how the necessities of the Union army changed the way the nation approached food.

Chicago was transformed into the meatpacking capital of the world, the homestead act encouraged settlers to claim acres of federal lands in exchange for working the land for five years, and the canning industry was created in response to the Union army's requirement of massive amounts of food.

Confederate conscription laws included loophole provisions. Under what circumstances was a southern male citizen NOT within the conscription age range exempt from military service?

Conscientious objectors were permitted to abstain from fighting if it clashed with their religious beliefs.

Department of Agriculture

Created a federal agency to aid farmers and ensure the food supply.

The March to the Sea

Demoralized southern civilians and was used by Southerners as an example of northern tyranny.

Abraham Lincoln worked with General George B. McClellan—"Little Napoleon"—who was a military strategist, to plan the successful capture of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

False

After the fall of Fort Sumter and the outbreak of the Civil War, civilian supporters of the Union and the Confederacy alike wanted their respective forces to advance slowly and cautiously to avoid an early defeat and to spare as many American lives as possible.

False

President Lincoln was equally dedicated to ending both the abomination of slavery and the Confederate secessionist rebellion.

False

The Confederate soldiers at Vicksburg were determined to face horror and hardship rather than consider surrender to the Union.

False

The fighting in the Civil War was deeply personal and battles took place in extremely close quarters.

False

While some Southerners supported the Confederate cause, most Southerners fought as Union soldiers during the Civil War.

False

At the ______ the first large-scale military engagement between Union and Confederate armies- hundreds of civilians rode to the site of the battle to watch the spectacle. Both sides fought hard and at first, the ____ troops thought they had won the entire war with this single victory, but when reinforcements arrived, General "Stonewall" Jackson directed his forces to charge the other side's lines, yelling "like furies" and causing a panic in the ______ troops who then retreated. The ______ victory gave this side the early advantage in the war and crushed the belief that this would be a short war.

First Battle of Bull Run, Union, Union, and Confederate.

Identify the reasons that the Battle of Vicksburg was so crucial to the Union cause.

Gaining control of this Confederate stronghold would prevent Confederate armies from receiving vital resources, and gaining control of this Confederate stronghold would give the Union control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two.

Identify what were NOT the main advantages the North had during the Civil War.

Geography and knowledge of the terrain, and the ability to fight a defensive war.

Homestead Act

Granted 160 acres of public land to settlers who would work the land for five years

Union

Had greater human resources with a population of 22 million (400,000 of whom were enslaved blacks), possessed greater industrial development, railroads, and ships, and drew slaves seeking freedom, as they began to see this side's armed forces as a force of liberation.

Identify how Robert E. Lee did NOT respond to the siege of Vicksburg.

He would retreat South to devise a plan for a single infantry division to sneak into the city of Vicksburg and lead a counterattack against the Union soldiers outside the city, and he would surround the Union army in Vicksburg, force them to enter the city, and subjugate them to the same treatment endured by Rebel soldiers.

Identify how Robert E. Lee responded to the siege of Vicksburg.

He would strike again into the North to force a Union retreat from Vicksburg to defend its home territory, and he sought to develop a military strategy to try to persuade Copperhead Democrats to end the war.

Which of the following statements accurately describe the role and prevalence of immigrant soldiers during the Civil War?

Immigrants fought for a variety of reasons, including belief in their side's cause, cash bonuses, and extra food, the Union forces included a large number of immigrants and foreign-born soldiers who played an important part in the war.

Identify the actions President Lincoln took in 1862 that suggest he was considering emancipating all slaves within the Confederacy.

In early 1862, Lincoln signed an act that outlawed slavery in Washington, D.C., Lincoln confided in his cabinet that he was contemplating emancipation as a way to weaken the Confederacy, and in the mid-1862, Lincoln supported a bill that prohibited slavery in the western territories.

Identify the main advantages the North had during the Civil War.

Industrial development and infrastructure, and a considerable advantage in human resources.

Identify ways by which the Civil War profoundly changed the South economically.

It destroyed modes of transportation within the South, and it destroyed the southern economy and cut its productivity in half.

Identify ways by which the Civil War did NOT profoundly change the South economically.

It emboldened Southerners to invest even more in their economy, leading to the postwar "southern boom."

How did the end of the war NOT change the political landscape of the United States?

It expanded the power of northern states over the federal government as Union soldiers returned home and began participating in local politics.

How did the end of the war change the political landscape of the United States?

It shifted the political balance of power from the South to the North, it expanded the power and scope of the federal government, and it greatly expanded the federal budget and transformed the government into the nation's largest employer.

Six generals and 1,750 soldiers were lost in Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. What impact did this "grand charge" have on the Confederate cause?

It was the climactic assault on the Union lines during the Battle of Gettysburg, and the charge was a great failure for the Confederacy, which forced the Rebel army to retreat to Virginia.

What does the map suggest about the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg?

It would be difficult for the Confederates to escape by land or receive supplies, as the Union forces led by Grant pinned them inside Vicksburg, and taking control of Vicksburg was key because it could force the Confederates to surrender control of parts of the Mississippi River.

Put the following key emancipation efforts in chronological order.

Lincoln abolishes slavery in Washington, D.C., The Union emerges victorious at the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln signs the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, the battle of fredericksburg begins and the new york city draft day riots break out

Why did a New York newspaper report that Lincoln's bid in the 1864 election was now "in the hands of General Grant, and the failure of the General will be the overthrow of the president"?

Lincoln brought Ulysses S. Grant to the capital and gave him overall command of the Union army.

Identify the actions President Lincoln did NOT take in 1862 that suggest he was considering emancipating all slaves within the Confederacy.

Lincoln put an end to the "contrabands" designation of former black slaves who escaped to Union-held territory.

What were some of the ways the Civil War did NOT impact social and economic life in the North and South?

Neither side experienced serious disruptions to social life because the tensions that caused the Civil War had been around for so long.

Which of the following statements accurately describe the scope and scale of the Civil War?

New methods of transportation revolutionized the way soldiers and supplies traveled, and vast numbers died in battle, but disease was the greatest threat.

Identify the congressional reforms passed to address the war's substantial cost for the Union.

Printing paper money, raising taxes, and selling government bonds to investors.

Legal Tender Act

Resulted in the Treasury issuing $450 in paper currency

Identify the congressional reforms NOT passed to address the war's substantial cost for the Union.

Seeking reparations from former Confederate states in the form of southern states.

Chattanooga

Signaled the Confederate's ultimate defeat in the war in the West.

Which of the following statements accurately assess how the war changed or failed to change the nation?

Southern secession signaled the end of southern dominance in the representative government by removing the South from Congress for the duration of the war, and the civil war failed to resolve the issue of race relations in the United States, which continued to plague the nation for more than a century afterward.

Identify the elements of the Union military's Anaconda Plan.

The Army of the Potomac defended Washington, D.C., against Confederate encroachment, while advancing on the Confederate capital at Richmond, the federal navy blockaded southern ports to keep the Confederacy from accessing foreign goods and weapons, and Union forces divided the Confederacy by advancing along the crucial inland water routes via the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers.

Which of the following statements do NOT accurately assess how the war changed or failed to change the nation?

The Civil War ended the institution of slavery and led to full freedom and equality for African Americans in the United States, and although racial prejudice continued to linger in the South, many Northerners were deeply moved by the war and eliminated racial prejudice in the North

Identify what were NOT elements of the Confederate war strategy at the beginning of the Civil War.

The Confederacy used its naval warships to defend merchant ships carrying cotton between Europe and the South.

Identify the elements of the Confederate war strategy at the beginning of the Civil War.

The Confederate leadership wanted to prolong the war as long as possible, the Confederacy wanted to use British and French demand for southern cotton to persuade them to support the Confederate cause, and the Confederacy counted on northern Confederate sympathizers to exert pressure on the Union government to end the war effort.

Which of the following statements accurately describe the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on the Civil War?

The Emancipation Proclamation transformed Lincoln's war to preserve the Union into a crusade to end the institution of slavery, and in an act of war, Lincoln chose to emancipate all enslaved individuals held in territories still at war with the Union as of January 1, 1863.

Identify how the Emancipation Proclamation did NOT affect the Militia Act and the composition of the Union's armed forces.

The Militia Act allowed for young men outside the mandatory conscription age to form vigilante militias to defend Union territory, and the Emancipation Proclamation allowed freed blacks to serve in the Union navy.

The Confederacy won most of the battles fought on southern soil, but the tables would turn when the war expanded to the West in 1862. Put in chronological order the events that gave the Union the advantage in the western theater.

The Union emerges victorious at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee, the Union emerges victorious at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee, Union forces capture New Orleans, and the Union forces retain control of Kentucky at the Battle of Perryville.

Identify the elements that were NOT the Union military's Anaconda Plan.

The Union enlisted Confederate defectors to serve as spies in exchange for clemency for themselves and their families, and the Union commanders used conscription recruitment to raise multiple armies that immediately advanced on the capitals of every Confederate state, constricting the South.

Identify the reasons the Union did NOT believe at the beginning of the war that its industrial development would ensure a Union victory.

The Union had more experienced military leaders and cavalry commanders.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the experiences of African Americans serving in the Union military during the Civil War?

The Union military treated black and white soldiers unequally, paying white soldiers more than double per month than black soldiers.

Identify the reasons the Union believed at the beginning of the war that its industrial development would ensure a Union victory.

The Union states produced 97 percent of the nation's firearms, at the outset of the Civil War, the Union had 90 naval warships, while the Confederacy had no navy, and the Union's railroad infrastructure gave the Union a transportation advantage.

In 1862, General Robert E. Lee took the war into Union territory at the Battle of Antietam outside Sharpsburg, Maryland. What were the ramifications of the Battle of Antietam for the course of the Civil War?

The Union's ability to repel the Confederate invasion greatly improved morale among Union troops, the results of the battle dashed Confederate hopes of establishing an alliance with Britain and France, and the Antietam victory for the Union provided an opportunity for President Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

In 1862, General Robert E. Lee took the war into Union territory at the Battle of Antietam outside Sharpsburg, Maryland. What were NOT the ramifications of the Battle of Antietam for the course of the Civil War?

The battle decisively crushed the Confederacy's will to fight and subsequently ended the Civil War.

According to Senator John Sherman, the war encouraged prominent capitalists to make "millions as confidently as formerly of thousands" in industries like steel and iron.

True

After Union victories in the South at ______, the North at _____, and the West at _____ began to change the momentum of the war, General Grant dramatically changed the strategy of the Union military. He arranged for Union armies in Virginia, Tennessee, and Louisiana- the three largest in the Union- to launch an offensive. The Federals would execute a new strategy known as ______.

Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Chattanooga, and "complete conquest"

Chancellorsville

Was Robert E. Lee's last significant victory but resulted in Stonewall Jackson's death

A nineteenth-century journalist commented, "No conflict in history was such a woman's war as the Civil War." Indeed, the Civil War not only weakened the traditional hierarchy of slave owner over slave but also challenged restrictions placed on women. Which of the following statements do NOT accurately describe roles taken on by women during the Civil War?

While many northern women were able to step into jobs or roles in their family farms or businesses, southern women were strictly confined to the home, and the introduction of conscription laws caused thousands of women in the South to enlist in local regiments of the army.

Which of the following statements do NOT accurately describe the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on the Civil War?

While most Confederates were outraged by Lincoln's proclamation, Northerners universally celebrated the decision to emancipate slaves, and the Emancipation Proclamation focused only on regions under Union control and, thus, most of the slaves there had already been freed.

What does the map NOT suggest about the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg?

With the absence of natural boundaries around Vicksburg, capturing the city would be a relatively easy victory, which the struggling Union army profoundly needed, and with the Union forces already in Memphis, Tennessee, Grant could quickly approach Vicksburg by taking an overland route before Confederate forces would have time to mount a defense.

One contemporary journalist wrote, "No conflict in history was such a woman's war as the Civil War." Identify the ways in which women contributed to the war efforts that support this statement.

Women played prominent roles in the war, ranging from working as nurses to supporting the freedman's aid movement.

Confederacy

Won the first major battle since the fall of Ft. Sumter, had a more experienced officer corps and seemingly more confident soldiers, and waged a defensive war on their home turf.