Key Players
What were the nicknames for the Union soldiers and the Confedereate soldiers?
The Yankees (Blue Coats) and the Rebels (Grey Coats)
What was the Union's main goal once the war broke out?
To preserve the Union
How many enslaved people were there in the South before the Civil War?
In the South, there were approximately 4 million enslaved people.
How many amendments were added to the U.S. Constitution before the Civil War?
There were 12 amendments in the Constitution at the start of the Civil War.
How many years did the Civil War last?
The Civil War lasted 4 years, from 1861 to 1865.
Who led the Union during the Civil War?
Abraham Lincoln
How did railroads help the North during the war?
Railroads helped the North by making it easier and faster to move soldiers, weapons, and supplies. The North had more railroads than the South, which gave them a big advantage. They could quickly send troops to where they were needed and keep their armies supplied during battles.
Name TWO of the major crops enslaved people were forced to harvest on the plantations.
tobacco, indigo, cotton
What did the 13th Amendment do?
The 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States. It was passed in 1865, after the Civil War.
What was the period after the Civil War called, and what was its main purpose?
The period after the Civil War was called Reconstruction. Its main purpose was to rebuild the South, reunite the country, and help formerly enslaved people gain rights.
What was the name of the Confederate general that led the South to defeat?
Robert E. Lee
What was the first battle that started the Civil War?
The first battle that started the Civil War was the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861. Confederate forces fired on the Union-held fort in South Carolina, marking the official beginning of the war.
What secret network helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North?
It was a secret system of safe houses and helpers that guided enslaved people to freedom, often in the North or Canada. People called "conductors" helped lead them from one safe place to another.
What did the 14th Amendment do?
The 14th Amendment made everyone born in the U.S. a citizen, including formerly enslaved people. It also said that all citizens must be treated equally under the law. It was passed in 1868.
Who were the official allies of the Confederate South have the Civil War?
The Confederate South did not have any official foreign allies during the Civil War. Although they hoped for help from countries like Britain and France, these nations remained neutral andsome quielty supported the North especially after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Which general did President Lincoln fire during the Civil War?
President Lincoln fired General George McClellan because he was too slow to act and didn’t aggressively pursue Confederate forces.
What was the Fugitive Slave Act?
The Fugitive Slave Act forced people in the North to help catch and return escaped slaves.
Why was slavery important to the Southern economy?
Slavery was important to the South because many farms and plantations relied on enslaved people to grow crops like cotton and tobacco, which made a lot of money.
What did the 15th Amendment do?
The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. It said the government couldn’t stop someone from voting because of their race or color. It was passed in 1870.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19th that marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally told they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. It’s a day to remember the end of slavery in the United States and to celebrate freedom and African American culture.
Who led the Georgian "March to the Sea"?
The March to the Sea was a military campaign during the Civil War led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. In 1864, he and his troops marched from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, destroying railroads, farms, and supplies along the way to weaken the South’s ability to fight.
What was the Missouri Compromise?
It was a law passed in 1820 that tried to keep peace by allowing Missouri to be a slave state and Maine to be a free state. It also drew a line to decide where slavery would be allowed in future states.
How did enslaved people resist slavery?
Enslaved people resisted slavery in many ways, like working slowly, pretending to be sick, running away, or helping others escape through the Underground Railroad.
How many amendments are there in the Constitution today?
As of today, there are 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
The Emancipation Proclamation was an order given by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War. It declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. While it didn’t end slavery everywhere, it changed the war’s focus to fighting for freedom and helped make ending slavery a goal of the Union.