A Nation Divided
What major issue was at the center of the conflict that led to the Civil War?
Slavery, especially disagreements over its expansion into western territories.
What were the two opposing sides in the Civil War?
The Union and the Confederacy.
What advantages did the Union have during the Civil War?
A larger population, more factories, more railroads, and a stronger navy.
What is emancipation?
Freedom from slavery.
What were the main goals of Reconstruction?
Restore former Confederate states to the Union and define and protect formerly enslaved people’s freedom and rights.
How did the economies of the North and South differ before the Civil War?
The North had more industry and varied agriculture; the South relied heavily on plantation agriculture and enslaved labor.
Which state was the first to secede from the United States?
South Carolina.
What happened at Appomattox Court House in April 1865?
Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant.
How did African American soldiers contribute to the Union’s victory?
They fought in battles, guarded important locations, and strengthened Union military forces.
What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?
It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime after conviction.
What is sectionalism?
Loyalty to a region’s interests over those of the nation as a whole.
Where did the Civil War begin in April 1861?
Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
Why was the Battle of Gettysburg a turning point?
It ended Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania and forced his army to retreat.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation declare?
It declared enslaved people in areas rebelling against the United States free, effective January 1, 1863.
What did the 14th Amendment establish?
Citizenship for people born or naturalized in the United States, due process, and equal protection under the law.
What did the Missouri Compromise of 1820 attempt to maintain?
A balance between free and slave states in the Senate.
What was Lincoln’s main goal at the beginning of the Civil War?
To preserve the Union.
Why was the Union victory at Vicksburg important?
It helped secure Union control of the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy.
Why is the 54th Massachusetts Infantry remembered?
It was one of the first Black regiments organized in the North and became known for its assault on Fort Wagner.
What did the 15th Amendment prohibit?
Denying voting rights because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act increase tensions over slavery?
It allowed settlers to vote on slavery, overturned the Missouri Compromise’s restriction in those territories, and led to violence.
Bonus +500 Additional pts
Why did Lincoln’s election in 1860 lead Southern states to secede?
Southern leaders feared his opposition to slavery’s expansion threatened slavery and their political power.
What was the Union’s Anaconda Plan?
A strategy to blockade Southern ports and control the Mississippi River to weaken and divide the Confederacy.
Why did the Emancipation Proclamation not immediately free every enslaved person?
It excluded loyal slave states and certain exempted areas; enforcement depended on Union advances.
Why is 1877 commonly considered the end of federal Reconstruction?
Remaining federal troops protecting Republican state governments in the South were withdrawn, weakening federal protection of Black rights.