Civil War Questions

What role did Harriet Breecher Stowe have on the abolitionist movement?

"Created two million abolitionists", wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin that praised the North and sparked outrage in the South

Battle of Shiloh

Grant, on a winning streak, looses the first day of the battle but eventually overpowers South, 1862.

Battle of Vicksburg

Grants men surround the city preventing the South from brining in supplies, one day after the win of Gettysberg the North takes Vicksburg and controls the whole MS river, North meets winning objective.

Why was the Battle of Gettysberg a turning point in the Civil War?

Lee was very confident about invading the South, he thought that he would win a battle easily but in the end, Lee lost a lot more men that Meade at Gettysberg. Lee's men had to retreat.

Why was it important for the Union to not lose the border-states to the Confederacy?

The Union could not lose the border-states because the Union's capitol was on the border states. They would lose their capitol and lose the war. The Confederate States would be able to invade the Union's capitol easily.

Why was gaining control of the Mississippi River important for the Union?

The controlling the Mississippi River would allow the North to cut the eastern states of the Confederacy off from important sources of food production in the western states of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. From bases on the Mississippi River, the Union would be able to attack the South's communication and transportation network.

What disadvantages did the South have at the beginning of the Civil War?

The disadvantage the South has was not being able to be supplied and not having enough soldiers.

What disadvantages did the North have at the beginning of the Civil War?

The disadvantage was not having very well trained generals to lead the war.

How did the South rebuild after the war?

There was a new president, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments were added to the Constitution, a new temporary government, and African American took political jobs.

What were the war strategies for the North?

• Bring the South back to the Union ASAP • Never recognize the South's independence • Strangle the South with a naval blockade (Anaconda Plan) • Defeat Rebel Armies, split the South in two and capture the capital (Richmond, VA) • Total War

What were the war strategies for the South?

• Fight a defensive war until the Union no longer has the will to fight • Stress how succession is a parallel with the 13 colonies pulling out of the British Empire in 1776 • Capture Washington, D.C.

What was the Fugitive Slave Act?

A law that states that it is a federal crime to help runaway slaves.

What role did Frederick Douglass play in the abolitionist movement?

He spoke out for African Americans.

What role did Harriet Tubman have on the abolitionist movement?

Helped fugitive slaves escape through the underground railroad. She never lost a slave and her captured reward was 40 thousand dollars.

Fort Sumter

Jefferson Davis issued attack on Union forces holed up at the fort on Confederate land, April 1861, Charleston, SC, Davis thought North should leave the fort since it was on the South's land, South wins: Major Anderson surrendered the Fort, official start of the War.

Second Battle of Bull Run

Lee and Jackson defeat General Pope

Battle of Antietam

Lee invades northern territory in MD and this was the bloodies of all battles-Lee was forced to retreat-MD is saved, about 24,000 Northern and Southern troops were killed.

Battle of Gettysberg

Lee invades the North after his confidence is boosted from previous wins. Union troops were ready and killed over 22,000 of Lee's men. This reduced the South's numbers and confidence.

Why was Grant promoted to leader of the Union armed forces?

Lincoln was impressed by his success at Vicksburg and in the West.

Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville

Lincoln replaces McClellan with Burnside and they loose heavily to Lee in the first battle. Then north looses again to Lee. However Jackson is accidentally killed by his own men, huge blow to the South.

Seven Days Battle

McClellan and Lee fought on even terms until McClellan thought he was outnumbered and retreated. Richmond was saved.

Missouri Compromise

Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, northerners opposed. Maine would join the Union as a free state. Slavery would be prohibited in any new territories or states formed north of 36 degrees 30' latitude- Missouri's southern border.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

North: Outraged. Attended protest meetings and sent anti-Nebraska petitions to Congress. South: Measure carried stronger southern support. Douglas and President Polk tried to get Democrats to vote for it.

Compromise of 1850

North: William Seward(New York Senator) demanded the admission of California without conditions, qualifications and compromise. South: John C. Calhoun(South Carolina Senator) argued that letting California enter as a free state would destroy the balance between the two sections of the country. The slave states could not remain in the Union.

What advantages did the North have at the beginning of the Civil War?

The advantage the North had was being able to be supplied and not having to fix their area after destruction.

Which states seceded from the Union?

South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida.

What advantages did the South have at the beginning of the Civil War?

The advantage the South had was having well trained generals and knowing the field.

What was the significance of the election of 1860?

The Democrat Party had to split in two because they could not agree on a candidate, Lincoln (Republican) won even though he had strong anti-slavery views.

How did the fifteenth amendment impact the South?

The fifteenth amendment gave African American men throughout the United States the right to vote. It did not extend the right to vote to all Americans. It upset women's rights activists, many believed that it was unfair to grant African American to vote while women couldn't.

What types of economy did the north rely on?

The north relied on manufacturing and trading.

What types of economy did the south rely on?

The south relied on slaves and plantations.

Why did the states seceded from the Union?

The states seceded because they feared that Lincoln would move to abolish slavery and this action would destroy the South's economy.

How did the capture of Atlanta help President Lincoln win his reelection campaign?

The success showed northerners that progress was being made in defeating the South.

How did the thirteenth amendment impact the South?

The thirteenth amendment made slavery illegal throughout the United States, still not all abolitionist thought they were "free" because African Americans did not have equal rights like the Whites. Freedpeople demanded the same political and economic right as white citizens. Freedpeople asked people to call them in a formal way. Other feed slaves looked for relatives who have been separated from them.

What were the three new amendments to the Constitution?

The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendment were added to the Constitution.

Transportation In the North

Train (Railroad)

Battle of N.O.

Union Navy takes over powerful port

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

Union army, led by McDowell launched attacks against Stonewall Jackson's troops, July 1861, Manassas, VA, North wanted to win better positioning in the border states for future battles of the war, South wins: Stonewall's determination broke Union lines and northerners retreated back to WA, DC, the North realized the war would be longer and bloodier than anticipated.