Election of 1860
This candidate won the presidency in 1860 without carrying a single Southern state, demonstrating the deep sectional divide.
Abraham Lincoln
This event forced President Abraham Lincoln to choose between abandoning federal property or provoking war.
the attack on Fort Sumter
This battle demonstrated that both sides underestimated the length and brutality of the war.
First Battle of Bull Run
This Confederate general’s defensive tactics prolonged the war but ultimately could not overcome the Union’s advantages
Robert E. Lee
This document transformed the Civil War into a fight against slavery, discouraging European support for the Confederacy
the Emancipation Proclamation
The bravery of this regiment at Fort Wagner challenged racist beliefs about African American soldiers.
the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
The split of this political party into Northern and Southern factions made Lincoln’s victory more likely.
The Democratic Party
Because of its industrial capacity and railroad network, the North was better positioned to carry out this long-term military strategy.
total war / sustained industrial warfare / the Anaconda Plan
Although tactically inconclusive, this battle gave Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Antietam
Nicknamed “Stonewall,” this general’s leadership at Bull Run boosted Confederate morale early in the war
Thomas J. Jackson
This speech reframed the war as a test of whether a nation “conceived in liberty” could survive
Gettysburg Address
These soldiers played a key role in the Union victory at the Battle of Nashville as part of the 13th U.S. Colored Troops
African American Union soldiers
What factors caused 3 southern states to vote for John Bell instead of John Breckenridge?
The geography of their states (mountains) causes a divide in the population when supporting slavery or staying neutral
One key geographic weakness of the Confederacy, created by its size and transportation system, was...
difficulty moving troops and supplies across vast territory
Explain why the Union victories at Battle of Gettysburg and Battle of Vicksburg in July 1863 are considered a double turning point.
they ended Lee’s invasion of the North and gave the Union control of the Mississippi River
This Union admiral’s capture of New Orleans gave the North control of a vital Southern port city
David Farragut
The Emancipation Proclamation applied only to these areas, revealing its strategic military purpose.
Confederate-controlled states
In Co. Aytch, Sam Watkins describes this aspect of soldier life more often than battlefield glory.
hardship, hunger, disease, and boredom
This candidate attempted to preserve the Union by avoiding the slavery debate altogether, showing how some Americans prioritized unity over reform.
John Bell
What action did the Tennessee governor take to ensure Tennessee's cooperation after deciding to secede from the Union?
He sent troops into Tennessee to prevent a split (like West Virginia)
This campaign aimed to destroy not just Confederate armies but also Southern infrastructure and morale.
Sherman's March to the Sea
After early Union struggles, this general used coordinated assaults and total war strategy to pressure the Confederacy.
Ulysses S. Grant
Explain how the Gettysburg Address connected the Civil War to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence
it emphasized equality and government by the people
Compare how Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins illustrate similarities in daily life despite fighting for opposing sides.
both described fear, poor conditions, camaraderie, and exhaustion
Explain how the platforms of Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge revealed fundamental disagreements over federal authority and slavery in the territories.
Douglas supported popular sovereignty while Breckinridge supported federal protection of slavery in all territories?
This new state was admitted to the Union in 1863 after separating from a Confederate state, showing internal geographic divisions.
West Virginia
The surrender at this location symbolized not only military defeat but the collapse of the Confederate government.
Appomattox Court House
Explain the controversy that surrounded Confederate cavalryman Nathan Bedford Forrest
Though a great cavalryman, Nathan Bedford Forrest was accused of massacring a group of African American soldiers after their surrender, and later would become known as a founder of the KKK
Did the Emancipation Proclamation actually free anyone when it was passed by Lincoln?
Only after what event were African Americans allowed to fight in the Civil War?
The Emancipation Proclamation