History Civil War Flashcards

Front 1

1. Seven Southern states to secede from the union

Back 1

a) Northerner Abe Lincoln was elected president in November 1860
b) South Carolina was first to secede
c) 6 more states quickly followed South Carolina
d) Southern delegates met in Feb. 1861 and set up the confederate states of America (CSA)
e) New government’s constitution was based on the U.S. Constitution but allowed slavery.
➢ Result: following Lincoln’s election, South left the U.S. and tried to form a new country.

Front 2

2. Jefferson Davis was new president of CSA

Back 2

a) Jefferson Davis, former U.S. senator from Mississippi, was inaugurated as CSA president
b) In his inaugural speech, he claimed Union twisted the intentions of the Constitution’s purpose
c) He stated that a reunion with the North was not particle or desirable
➢ Result: The CSA had solid leadership in Davis.

Front 3

3. Abe Lincoln inaugurated 16th president

Back 3

a) Lincoln and V.P. Hannibal Hamlin watched a crisis evolve in four months following the election
b) Secession of 11 southern states made the new president’s job unique
c) Lincoln’s inaugural ceremony was guarded closely
d) Lincoln stated that the issue of conflict lies with the south and he had no intention of interfering with slavery
➢ Result: Lincoln faced many new and dangerous challenges as president.

Front 4

4. Abe decides war

Back 4

a) As a result of the surrender of the Fort Sumter (SC) to the confederates, Lincoln called for 75,000 militia volunteers.
b) The immediate response from most northern states was positive. Some border states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware), were not happy.
➢ Result: Lincoln recognized that a war with the south was going to happen.

Front 5

5. Robert E. Lee turned down Union command

Back 5

a) Lincoln offered Robert E. Lee command of the armies of the United States
b) Despite being against slavery and secession, Lee refused Lincoln’s offer and decided to remain loyal to Virginia.
c) Lee stated, “How can I draw my sword upon Virginia?”
➢ Robert E. Lee is very loyal to his state.

Front 6

Richmond, VA, became new CSA capital

Back 6

a) The new capital city for the confiderate government was Richmond, Virginia.
b) This capital was chosen to get and maintain support of Virginia though out the war.
c) Richmond is also only 105 miles from the Union capital of Washington, D.C.
➢ Result: The choice of Richmond as capital of the CSA will lead to clashes with the nearby Washington, D.C.

Front 7

Winfield Scott's downfall

Back 7

a) Lincoln chose W.S., hero of the Mexican War, to lead the Union troops as General-in-chief
b) Scott created the “Anaconda Plan”, which involved blockading the southern seaports and gaining control of the Mississippi to cut supply and communication lines to the south
c) Scott believed this would allow the North time to prepare for what may be a long war.
d) The public and many fellow soldiers thought Scott was ridiculous for thinking the war would last so long
➢ Result: Scott was the leader of the Union troops, but he did not last long with such weak support

Front 8

s

Back 8

a) In an attempt to help pay for an expensive and ever-widening war, Congress levied the first income tax in our history
b) The money earned from this act would serve as the mainstay of the treasury
➢ Result: A drastic and unique tax law was necessary to help pay the cost of this war for the union

Front 9

s

Back 9

n an appeal to gain Northern voters, Congress passed the homestead act, which permitted any citizen over 21 to own a free plot of 160 acres on land in the public domain – if they occupied and improved it for 5 years
b) Many in Congress opposed it at first, fearing that it would drain men and money from their areas.
c) With no Southerners in Congress, the law had weaker opposition.
➢ Result: It was easier to pass things when half of congress had left.

Front 10

11. Sioux uprising in Minnesota

Back 10

a) Minnesota’s Sioux Indians harassed and killed more than 800 settlers in an attempt to eliminate them from their lands.
b) The raids were led by Chief Little Crow who faced state militia man colonel Henry Sibley
c) The Indians were finally subdued and more than 1500 Sioux were captured and 300 were later hanged
➢ Result: The union was having problems with Indians