7.7 Impact of the Civil War

In 1865, Congress proposed the Thirteenth Amendment, which would a. abolish slavery in the United States. b. prohibit military conflicts between states. c. return former Confederate states back to the Union. d. limit presidents from seeking more than two terms in office.

a. abolish slavery in the United States.

Which of the following factors might have better enabled the Confederacy to win the war? a. aid from Britain or France b. conviction of its citizens c. increased cotton production d. skilled military leadership

a. aid from Britain or France

Alexander Stephens' discussion with President Lincoln about a feasible end to the war yielded no results mainly because a. the Confederates would not accept a future without slavery. b. President Lincoln was committed to punishing the South for starting the war. c. the Union did not want to assume the Confederacy's massive war debts. d. Stephens maintained his firm belief in the principle of popular sovereignty.

a. the Confederates would not accept a future without slavery.

What event darkened the Union's victory in April 1865? a. the assassination of President Lincoln b. the battle at Appomattox Court House c. the siege at Petersburg d. the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment

a. the assassination of President Lincoln

What did Richard Current mean when he described the Civil War after the summer of 1863 as a "war of attrition"? a. The South was unable to secure the support of foreign countries sympathetic to its cause after 1863. b. The North's superior resources and military strength would inevitably wear down the South's ability to continue the war. c. Southern generals remained able to engage Union forces without additional troops or supplies. d. Northern generals employed defensive strategies against which the Confederate forces stood little chance.

b. The North's superior resources and military strength would inevitably wear down the South's ability to continue the war.

What major difference between the Union and Confederate armies became apparent during the siege of Petersburg in 1864? a. The Confederate army had superior officers compared to the Union. b. The Confederate army was made up of poorly trained volunteer soldiers. c. The Union army had superior numbers of replacement troops in reserve. d. The Union army was ill prepared to deal with the Confederates' guerilla tactics.

c. The Union army had superior numbers of replacement troops in reserve.

How did the Land Grant College Act affect education in the United States? a. The country's educational system became more focused on agriculture. b. Private and public schools taught more practical skills. c. The government became involved in public higher education. d. Students went into more specialized careers

c. The government became involved in public higher education.

What significant loss did both the North and the South suffer as a result of the war? a. the breakdown of political parties b. the collapse of industry c. devastating human casualties d. extensive property damage

c. devastating human casualties

What was the result of the protective tariff passed in 1862? a. The number of successful farms in the West grew rapidly to replace goods no longer produced in the South. b. The tariff caused massive inflation and economic hardship throughout the Southern economy. c. The revenue from the tariff allowed the Union, for the first time, to fund campaigns west of the Mississippi River. d. Industrial development in the North surged because the tariff made imported goods more expensive.

d. Industrial development in the North surged because the tariff made imported goods more expensive.

About how many colleges and universities were founded altogether under the Morrill Acts?

About 75 colleges and universities were founded

John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. What effect did he think this would have? What effect did the assassination actually have?

Booth thought that assassinating Lincoln would cause confusion and give the Confederacy a chance to strike back against the Union. Instead, the assassination united northern supporters and Lincoln's critics.

Why do you think Booth was surprised to read that most Americans condemned what he had done?

Booth was most likely surprised to read that most Americans condemned what he had done because Booth believed he was right. He was also likely surprised that most Americans were ready to move on from the war instead of reigniting the controversy according to his plan.

What is a "war of attrition"? Why was the Civil War a war of attrition after a certain point?

In a war of attrition, there is no quick, decisive victory. The combatants slowly deplete each others' resources. After it became evident that Europe was not going to intervene to help the Confederacy, the war turned into a contest of which side could outlast the other. Since the Union had more troops and supplies, it eventually triumphed.

Explain the economic impact of the Civil War on the North and the South.

In the North, the war led to a surge in manufacturing and industry that made the United States a world economic power. However, the South was slow to recover because many of its cities and railways had been destroyed. In addition, southerners had to change their economic system since slavery had become illegal

Explain why the Siege of Petersburg was an important battle for both the Union and the Confederacy.

It was the last stand for the Confederacy. Without Petersburg, the South could not access the railroads, and Richmond would be left without important supply lines. When an attempt by the Confederates to break the siege failed, Richmond was evacuated and burned, and the Confederate army surrendered shortly thereafter.

What reasons does Lee give to explain why he is surrendering to Union forces?

Lee states that his army is surrendering because they no longer have the resources or quantity of soldiers to stand a chance of winning. Therefore, Lee concluded that it was more worthy to surrender than to sacrifice more of his men's lives.

What were Lincoln's ideas about how to treat the Confederates after their surrender?

Lincoln wanted to treat the Confederacy with generosity and without bad feelings. He did not want to seek revenge or punish the South but did want to create a united, peaceful nation and put an end to slavery.

Identify and explain one long-term impact of the Civil War.

Possible answer: The Civil War led to sense of national unity for the United States. Before the war, many people believed in a high degree of autonomy for the states. After the war, more people considered themselves Americans instead of Virginians, for example.

Complete the following sentence, and then support it with evidence: The Confederacy could have won the Civil War if ____.

Possible answer: The Confederacy could have won the Civil War if Britain or France had intervened on its behalf. If this had happened, the other country might have started to trade with the South, which would have improved the southern economy. This change also would have supplied the Confederacy with troops, food, and ammunition.

Explain how a lack of resources impacted the Confederacy during the war.

The Confederacy could not keep up with the number of troops or amount of supplies available in the North. When the Confederacy suffered losses and began to lose the war, there were not enough resources to bolster the troops. As a result, the North was able to win in part by outlasting the South and sending more soldiers to fight.

Why did the Union win the Siege of Petersburg, even though the Union had more casualties?

The Union had many more soldiers and more reserves. Even though the Union lost 40,000 men and the Confederacy lost 28,000 men, the Union was able to keep fighting and sending more soldiers after the losses. The Confederates were forced to try to break the siege, but failed.

Why did the conspirators decide to assassinate the President? What effect did this action have?

The conspirators hoped to cause chaos and panic in the North, thereby giving the South time to regroup and continue the war. Lincoln's assassination instead led to a national outpouring of grief and support for the slain President

Explain how the outcome of the Civil War affected federal authority, and why.

The results of the war cemented federal authority. The government had fought to show that states could not break the Constitution and secede from the Union. The Union victory established that states had to follow the Constitution and federal laws. Although the war did not settle once and for all questions about the balance of power between states and the federal government, it did create a greater sense of unity and national identity.

Why was the summer of 1863 so decisive for the Union?

Prior to the summer of 1863, many Confederates hoped that Europe would recognize their new country and send military supplies or troops. Additionally, many southerners believed that the military skill of the Confederacy would triumph. However, the Union victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg showed that, even though the Confederacy had better military leadership, their territory was divided and they could no longer mount attacks in Union territory. After the events of the summer, the powers in Europe were not likely to intervene to ally with the South.