Dred Scott & Debates
What did Dred Scott do in 1856 that brought his name to national attention?
He sued for his freedom after living in free territory.
What happened at Harpers Ferry in 1859?
John Brown tried to start a slave revolt by raiding a federal arsenal.
Who was elected President of the Confederacy?
Jefferson Davis.
What battle marked the official beginning of the Civil War?
The attack on Fort Sumter.
Which side had more people, industry, and railroads?
The Union
What was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case?
African Americans were not citizens and Congress couldn't ban slavery in territories.
Why was the South upset about Lincoln’s victory in the 1860 election?
He won with only support from free states and wasn’t even on the ballot in most Southern states.
What tough decision did Lincoln face at Fort Sumter?
Reinforce and risk war or evacuate and look weak.
What happened at the First Battle of Bull Run?
The South won; it proved the war would not be short or easy.
Name two advantages the Confederacy had at the war’s start.
Strong motivation, military leadership, “King Cotton.”
Who debated Stephen Douglas in 1858 for a Senate seat?
Abraham Lincoln.
He won with only support from free states and wasn’t even on the ballot in most Southern states.
The Confederate States of America or the Confederacy
What did Lincoln actually choose to send to Fort Sumter?
Food for hungry men (not weapons).
Who was the Union general nicknamed “Unconditional Surrender” after victories at Fort Donelson and Fort Henry?
Ulysses S. Grant.
What were the four key border states Lincoln kept in the Union?
Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, Delaware.
How did Lincoln and Douglas differ in their views on how to end slavery?
Douglas supported popular sovereignty; Lincoln wanted legislation to stop it.
Name 3 of the first 7 states to secede from the Union.
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas (any 3).
Why did Jefferson Davis order the attack on Fort Sumter?
To assert Confederate authority and legitimacy.
What key lesson was learned at the Battle of Shiloh?
Generals needed better tactics like scouting and fortifications.
Why were the border states so important to both the North and South?
They had strategic locations, industries, and key transportation routes.
What effect did the Lincoln-Douglas debates have on Lincoln’s political career?
He lost the Senate race but gained national recognition and support for the presidency.
Why did Virginia’s secession hurt the Union so much?
It was the South’s most populous and industrialized state.
What action by Lincoln after Fort Sumter caused more states to secede?
Calling for 75,000 volunteers to serve in the Union army.
Why was Antietam a significant turning point in the war?
It was the bloodiest single-day battle and led to the Emancipation Proclamation.
Compare the military populations and industrial workers of the Union and Confederacy.
Union: 4 million soldiers, 1.1 million workers. Confederacy: 1.3 million soldiers, 100,000 workers.