History The American Civil War Study Cards

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Causes of the American Civil War

The conflict between the Northern and Southern states primarily over issues of slavery, states' rights, and economic differences.

Key Battles

Significant battles such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Bull Run that had a major impact on the outcome of the war.

Important Figures

Prominent individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Stonewall Jackson who played key roles in the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

A presidential proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that declared all slaves in Confederate territory to be free.

Gettysburg Address

A famous speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, emphasizing the principles of equality and democracy.

Reconstruction Era

The period following the Civil War in which the United States government attempted to rebuild and integrate the Southern states back into the Union.

Impact of the American Civil War

The profound effects of the war on American society, including the abolition of slavery, changes in the economy, and the strengthening of the federal government.

Civil War Medicine

The medical practices and advancements during the Civil War, including the use of anesthesia, amputation procedures, and the establishment of field hospitals.

African Americans in the Civil War

The contributions and experiences of African Americans who served in the Union Army and fought for their freedom during the Civil War.

Women in the Civil War

The roles and contributions of women during the Civil War, including nursing, spying, and supporting the troops on the home front.

Naval Warfare in the Civil War

The naval battles and strategies employed by the Union and Confederate navies during the Civil War, including the use of ironclad ships.

Civil War Photography

The use of photography during the Civil War to document the war's events and provide a visual record of the conflict.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States who led the country through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Robert E. Lee

A Confederate general who commanded the Army of Northern Virginia and is considered one of the greatest military leaders of the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant

A Union general who played a crucial role in the Union victory, leading the Union Army to several key victories, including the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

Stonewall Jackson

A Confederate general known for his tactical brilliance and fearless leadership, earning him the nickname 'Stonewall' during the First Battle of Bull Run.

Battle of Gettysburg

A major battle fought in Pennsylvania in 1863, considered a turning point in the war and the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

Battle of Antietam

A significant battle fought in Maryland in 1862, known as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

Battle of Bull Run

The first major battle of the Civil War, fought in Virginia in 1861, resulting in a Confederate victory and highlighting the challenges faced by the Union Army.

Battle of Vicksburg

A pivotal battle fought in Mississippi in 1863, resulting in a Union victory and granting the Union control of the Mississippi River.

Battle of Fredericksburg

A battle fought in Virginia in 1862, resulting in a Confederate victory and showcasing the effectiveness of entrenched positions.

Battle of Chancellorsville

A battle fought in Virginia in 1863, known for General Robert E. Lee's audacious tactics and Confederate victory despite being outnumbered.

Battle of Shiloh

A major battle fought in Tennessee in 1862, resulting in a Union victory and one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War up to that point.

Battle of Appomattox Court House

The final battle of the Civil War, fought in Virginia in 1865, resulting in the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army.

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, just days after the end of the Civil War.

Underground Railroad

A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada during the antebellum period.

Fort Sumter

The site of the first shots fired in the Civil War, located in Charleston, South Carolina, and held by Union forces until Confederate bombardment.

Sherman's March to the Sea

A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, involving the capture and destruction of Confederate cities and infrastructure in Georgia.

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

An unsuccessful attempt by abolitionist John Brown to start a slave rebellion by seizing the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859.

Ironclad Ships

Warships with iron or steel armor used during the Civil War, such as the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (Merrimack), revolutionizing naval warfare.

Confederate States of America

The unrecognized secessionist government formed by the Southern states that seceded from the Union, leading to the Civil War.

Union Army

The United States Army during the Civil War, composed of Northern states and loyalists to the Union cause.

Confederate Army

The military forces of the Confederate States of America, composed of Southern states that seceded from the Union.

Gettysburg National Cemetery

A cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, established to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg.

Civil War Prison Camps

Prisoner-of-war camps established during the Civil War, such as Andersonville, known for their harsh conditions and high mortality rates.

Battlefield Medicine

The medical practices and challenges faced by doctors and nurses on the battlefield during the Civil War, including limited resources and high casualties.

Civil War Spies

Individuals who engaged in espionage and intelligence gathering during the Civil War, playing a significant role in gathering information for their respective sides.

Draft Riots

Violent protests and riots that occurred in Northern cities in response to the implementation of conscription during the Civil War.

Battle of Chickamauga

A major battle fought in Georgia in 1863, resulting in a Confederate victory and the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

Battle of Cold Harbor

A battle fought in Virginia in 1864, known for its high casualties and Union General Ulysses S. Grant's unsuccessful assault on Confederate positions.

Battle of Petersburg

A series of battles fought in Virginia in 1864 and 1865, resulting in a Union victory and the eventual fall of Petersburg, a key Confederate supply hub.

Battle of Atlanta

A battle fought in Georgia in 1864, resulting in a Union victory and the capture of Atlanta, a major Confederate city.

Battle of Nashville

A battle fought in Tennessee in 1864, resulting in a decisive Union victory and the end of Confederate control in the state.

Battle of the Wilderness

A series of battles fought in Virginia in 1864, known for its dense forest and high casualties, marking the beginning of Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

A battle fought in Virginia in 1864, known for its intense and prolonged fighting, including the famous 'Bloody Angle' engagement.

Battle of Five Forks

A battle fought in Virginia in 1865, resulting in a Union victory and the collapse of Confederate defenses around Petersburg.

Battle of Fort Donelson

A battle fought in Tennessee in 1862, resulting in a Union victory and the first major Union triumph of the war.

Battle of Stones River

A battle fought in Tennessee in 1862 and 1863, resulting in a Union victory and boosting Northern morale after the defeat at Fredericksburg.

Battle of Wilson's Creek

A battle fought in Missouri in 1861, marking the first major battle of the Civil War west of the Mississippi River.

Battle of Franklin

A battle fought in Tennessee in 1864, known for its high casualties and the Confederate Army's failed attempt to break through Union lines.

Battle of Mobile Bay

A naval battle fought in Alabama in 1864, resulting in a Union victory and the closing of one of the last major Confederate ports.

Battle of the Crater

A battle fought in Virginia in 1864, known for the Union's failed attempt to tunnel under Confederate lines and create a massive explosion.

Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack

A naval battle fought in Virginia in 1862, featuring the first clash between ironclad warships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (Merrimack).