Secession & War Begins
Why did Southern states secede after Lincoln won the 1860 election?
He didn’t call for slavery to end but opposed its spread; 6/10 people didn’t vote for him; he wasn’t on the ballot in many Southern states.
What was the name of the Union’s military strategy to defeat the South?
The Anaconda Plan.
What was the first official battle of the Civil War?
Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).
Who was the president of the Confederate States?
Jefferson Davis.
Which amendment abolished slavery?
13th Amendment
Which state was the first to secede?
South Carolina.
What river did the Union want to control?
The Mississippi River.
What battle was the turning point of the war?
Battle of Gettysburg.
Who led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia?
Robert E. Lee.
What role did Clara Barton play in the war?
She served as a nurse and founded the American Red Cross.
What was the name of the country formed by the seceding states?
The Confederate States of America (CSA).
Name two Union advantages at the start of the war.
More people, strong industry, established government, and navy.
What battle gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River?
The Siege of Vicksburg.
What was the Union’s main army in the east called?
The Army of the Potomac.
What three rights did the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments guarantee?
End to slavery (13), citizenship (14), right to vote for black men (15).
What happened at Fort Sumter?
Confederate forces fired on the Union fort, starting the Civil War.
How did the South plan to gain foreign support?
Using “King Cotton” diplomacy to attract allies like Britain or France.
What happened during Sherman’s March to the Sea?
Union forces destroyed infrastructure from Atlanta to Savannah to break the South’s will.
Why did Lincoln want to keep the border states in the Union?
They had slavery but were crucial to keeping the Union together—especially Maryland.
Name one deadly technology used in the war.
Minie balls, exploding shells, land mines, Gatling gun.
What was the Crittenden Compromise?
A failed proposal to protect slavery forever where it already existed to avoid war.
Why did the CSA have better generals at the start?
Many were more experienced and tactical; Robert E. Lee declined to lead the Union.
What was the result of the Battle of Antietam?
Tactical draw, but led Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Name at least three Union generals.
McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Grant.
How did the Civil War affect the power of the national government?
It proved that the federal government was supreme over the states.