III. The Civil War III. The Civil War and and

ReconstructionReconstruction

1. What made slavery such a hot issue 1. What made slavery such a hot issue throughout the nation was the question throughout the nation was the question over the expansion of slavery into new over the expansion of slavery into new

territories and states.territories and states. TrueTrue The majority of the American The majority of the American

people in the middle of the 19people in the middle of the 19thth century did not want to abolish century did not want to abolish slavery. The Abolitionists were slavery. The Abolitionists were always a minority. always a minority.

However, the land acquired from However, the land acquired from Mexico brought to the surface the Mexico brought to the surface the issue of the issue of the expansionexpansion of slavery. of slavery.

Four options emerged:Four options emerged: Abolish slaveryAbolish slavery Keep slavery out of the new Keep slavery out of the new

territories (Free Soil)territories (Free Soil) Popular Sovereignty (Let the people Popular Sovereignty (Let the people

decide)decide) Encourage the expansion of slavery.Encourage the expansion of slavery.

2. The tension leading up 2. The tension leading up to the Civil War built up to the Civil War built up

only gradually over a long only gradually over a long period of time.period of time.

TrueTrue Slavery had been an issue ever Slavery had been an issue ever

since the founding days of the since the founding days of the republic. Settlements like the republic. Settlements like the Missouri Compromise only Missouri Compromise only postponed the issue. The postponed the issue. The acquisition of the Mexican session acquisition of the Mexican session brought the issue up to a front brought the issue up to a front burner.burner.

Another compromise in 1850 Another compromise in 1850 brought California in as a free brought California in as a free state, but only after concessions state, but only after concessions were made to the slave states.were made to the slave states.

Books like Books like Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin, , which publicized the horrible which publicized the horrible conditions of slavery, increased conditions of slavery, increased the tension further.the tension further.

3. Abraham Lincoln stated during his 3. Abraham Lincoln stated during his presidential campaign in 1860 that he presidential campaign in 1860 that he planned to abolish slavery throughout planned to abolish slavery throughout

the United States.the United States. FalseFalse Lincoln was a member of Lincoln was a member of

the new the new RepublicanRepublican party. party. The Republicans were The Republicans were

opposed to the opposed to the spreadspread of of slavery. Although he was slavery. Although he was supported by Abolitionists, supported by Abolitionists, Lincoln did not support the Lincoln did not support the abolition of slavery.abolition of slavery.

Nevertheless, Lincoln’s Nevertheless, Lincoln’s election in 1860 was the election in 1860 was the final straw that provoked final straw that provoked six southern states into six southern states into seceding from the union.seceding from the union.

http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/000000bd.htm

4. In 1857, the Supreme Court 4. In 1857, the Supreme Court only made matters worse only made matters worse

when they ruled slavery to be when they ruled slavery to be unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

FalseFalse The Supreme Court did hand down a The Supreme Court did hand down a

case in 1857 called case in 1857 called Dred ScottDred Scott, and , and the case did make matters worse. the case did make matters worse. However, in this case, the Supreme However, in this case, the Supreme Court ruled that since Dred Scott was Court ruled that since Dred Scott was a slave, he could not sue for his a slave, he could not sue for his freedom even though his master had freedom even though his master had taken him to a free state.taken him to a free state.

They went on to say that the Federal They went on to say that the Federal Government could not decide where Government could not decide where slavery could expand, that this slavery could expand, that this should be left up to the individual should be left up to the individual states.states.

The case was hailed as a victory in The case was hailed as a victory in the south and a disaster in the north. the south and a disaster in the north. It was seen as one more step It was seen as one more step towards Civil War.towards Civil War.

5. A sneak preview for the Civil War could be 5. A sneak preview for the Civil War could be seen in the late 1850’s by the violence and seen in the late 1850’s by the violence and

killing that took place in Kansas.killing that took place in Kansas. TrueTrue In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was

passed to allow these two territories to passed to allow these two territories to become states based on Stephen become states based on Stephen Douglas’ principle of Douglas’ principle of popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty..

In Kansas, pro-slavery factions and In Kansas, pro-slavery factions and abolitionists both poured in and began to abolitionists both poured in and began to engage in brutally violent acts against engage in brutally violent acts against each other. The most notorious examples each other. The most notorious examples of this violence were the murders of this violence were the murders committed by John Brown.committed by John Brown.

Bleeding Kansas eventually took the lives Bleeding Kansas eventually took the lives of over 200 people and foreshadowed the of over 200 people and foreshadowed the terrible violence of the Civil Warterrible violence of the Civil War

6. In 1861, Missouri seceded from 6. In 1861, Missouri seceded from the Union and joined the the Union and joined the

Confederacy.Confederacy. FalseFalse During the Civil war, 11 states seceded During the Civil war, 11 states seceded

from the Union and joined the from the Union and joined the Confederacy. Missouri was Confederacy. Missouri was notnot one of one of them.them.

Instead, Missouri was one of four border Instead, Missouri was one of four border states that had allowed slavery but did not states that had allowed slavery but did not secede (Delaware, Kentucky and Maryland secede (Delaware, Kentucky and Maryland were the other three. In addition, West were the other three. In addition, West Virginia seceded from Virginia in order to Virginia seceded from Virginia in order to remain in the Union).remain in the Union).

Within Missouri, both sides resorted to Within Missouri, both sides resorted to bloody guerilla tactics, making the fighting bloody guerilla tactics, making the fighting in Missouri amongst the worst in the nation.in Missouri amongst the worst in the nation.

7. Compared to the wars that America participated 7. Compared to the wars that America participated in during the 20in during the 20thth century, there were relatively few century, there were relatively few

American casualties during the Civil War.American casualties during the Civil War. FalseFalse Every soldier who died on Every soldier who died on

both sides was an Americanboth sides was an American The war involved a number The war involved a number

of new weapons, including of new weapons, including the first iron-clad ships, the first iron-clad ships, submarines, hot air submarines, hot air balloons, a primitive balloons, a primitive machine gun and most machine gun and most important, breach-loaded important, breach-loaded rifles.rifles.

Unfortunately, medical Unfortunately, medical knowledge, such as germ knowledge, such as germ theory, did not keep up theory, did not keep up with advances in military with advances in military technology.technology.

HowHow do the casualties do the casualties compare?compare?

Rank  Rank   War  War   Years  Years   Deaths   Deaths   Deaths per Day   Deaths per Deaths per Day   Deaths per Population   Population  

1American Civil War1American Civil War 1861–18651861–1865 625,000625,000 599599 1.988% 2World War II1.988% 2World War II1941–19451941–1945 405,399405,399 416416 0.307%0.307%

3World War I3World War I 1917–19181917–1918 116,516116,516 279279 0.110%0.110% 4Vietnam War4Vietnam War 1964–19731964–1973 58,151 58,151 260260 .003%.003% 5Korean War5Korean War 1950–19531950–1953 36,516 36,516 450450 .002% .002% 6Revolutionary War6Revolutionary War 1775–17831775–1783 25,000 25,000 110110 .899%.899% 7War of 18127War of 1812 1812–18151812–1815 20,000 20,000 310310 .345%.345% 8Mex-American War8Mex-American War 1846–18481846–1848 13,283 13,283 290290 .057% .057% 9Philippine War9Philippine War 1899–19021899–1902 4,196 4,196 50 50 .006%.006% 10Iraq War10Iraq War 2003–present2003–present 4,056 4,056 2.35 2.35 0.001%0.001%

8. Freeing the slaves was not the 8. Freeing the slaves was not the original reason for fighting the original reason for fighting the Civil war, but it became a major Civil war, but it became a major

goal by the end.goal by the end. TrueTrue Lincoln’s goal after Fort Lincoln’s goal after Fort

Sumter was fired upon in Sumter was fired upon in April of 1861 was to April of 1861 was to preserve the Union.preserve the Union.

After a northern “victory” After a northern “victory” in the battle of Antietam, in the battle of Antietam, Lincoln decided to issue Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation the Emancipation Proclamation. It went into Proclamation. It went into effect on January 1, 1863.effect on January 1, 1863.

This shift in the war’s This shift in the war’s goals reflected goals reflected

the practical goal of the practical goal of keeping the British from keeping the British from supporting the supporting the Confederacy.Confederacy.

A change in the moral A change in the moral purpose of the war.purpose of the war.

9. Gettysburg and Vicksburg proved to be the 9. Gettysburg and Vicksburg proved to be the decisive turning point battles of the Civil War.decisive turning point battles of the Civil War.

TrueTrue Up to July of 1863, the South won most Up to July of 1863, the South won most

battles. The Confederates were fighting battles. The Confederates were fighting a defensive strategy on their own soil, a defensive strategy on their own soil, and the Union’s efforts to capture and the Union’s efforts to capture Richmond were costly disasters.Richmond were costly disasters.

In July of 1863, Union forces captured In July of 1863, Union forces captured Vicksburg which gave them control of Vicksburg which gave them control of the Mississippi River and cut the the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two. At the same time, Confederacy in two. At the same time, they stopped a Confederate invasion of they stopped a Confederate invasion of the North at Gettysburg.the North at Gettysburg.

The war still dragged on for two more The war still dragged on for two more years and was characterized by “total years and was characterized by “total war” and attrition.war” and attrition.

10. Most historians would call the Reconstruction of 10. Most historians would call the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War a success for white the South after the Civil War a success for white

southerners as well as for former slaves.southerners as well as for former slaves. FalseFalse Reconstruction was hampered as the Civil War concluded in Reconstruction was hampered as the Civil War concluded in

April, 1865 because President Lincoln was assassinated.April, 1865 because President Lincoln was assassinated. As a result, Andrew Johnson (his vice-president) was unable to As a result, Andrew Johnson (his vice-president) was unable to

prevent Congressional Reconstruction, which proved to be much prevent Congressional Reconstruction, which proved to be much harsher on the South. harsher on the South.

This meant that white southerners could not vote while their former This meant that white southerners could not vote while their former slaves were elected to office. slaves were elected to office.

It meant the military occupation of the South which presided over the It meant the military occupation of the South which presided over the corruption of the Scalawags and the Carpetbaggers.corruption of the Scalawags and the Carpetbaggers.

It also meant some improvements, including schools built for the It also meant some improvements, including schools built for the former slaves by the Freedman’s Bureau and passage of the 13former slaves by the Freedman’s Bureau and passage of the 13thth, 14, 14thth and 15and 15thth Amendments. Amendments.

After years of turmoil that saw the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the After years of turmoil that saw the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the troops were finally withdrawn in 1876. During the 11 years of troops were finally withdrawn in 1876. During the 11 years of Reconstruction, nothing was ever done to help the former slaves Reconstruction, nothing was ever done to help the former slaves economically. Many historians consider Reconstruction to be a economically. Many historians consider Reconstruction to be a failure, and as a result, racial discrimination, Jim Crow failure, and as a result, racial discrimination, Jim Crow segregation and a system of sharecropping would survive for segregation and a system of sharecropping would survive for another 100 years.another 100 years.

Reconstruction…Reconstruction…