For the next 2 weeks, we will be studying the US Civil War. We will be learning about the causes of the War, the key people involved, the major battles, and the effect on the US during and after the Civl War. We will also be doing group projects on the major battles of the Civil War, and the students will present their multimedia presentations on Google Slides.
Here are our terms for the next 2 weeks, including key people during this time in history.
Sectionalism-an exaggerated devotion to the interests of a region over those of a country as a whole.
States rights-the belief that individual states have the right to limit the power of the federal government and secede from the union, if necessary.
King Cotton-the belief by Southern states that they would survive secession and become an independently wealthy country because of the power of cotton.
Slave-a person who is owned as the property of someone else.
Abolitionist-someone who wishes to abolish or get rid of slavery.
Secession-withdrawal from the federal government of the United States.
Rebel-nickname given to people in the South who supported the Confederacy.
Yankee-nickname given to people in the North who supported the Union.
Dred Scott case-Dred Scott was a slave who was taken to free territory by his owner. He petitioned the Supreme Court to declare him free, but the Court ruled that he was not a citizen, but property, and was not protected by any rights.
Key people:
John Brown-an abolitionist who believed that slavery must be ended by any means. He and his sons organized slaves to revolt at Harper’s Ferry in Virginia in 1859, but the slaves backed out at the last minute, and Mr. Brown’s sons were killed, and John Brown was tried and executed by Virginia.
There were 100,000 weapons stored at the arsenal at Harper’s ferry by 1859.
Harriet Tubman-a slave who escaped in 1849, and used the Underground Railroad to help about 70 family and friends to escape slavery from Maryland to freedom in the North.
Abraham Lincoln-16th President of the US. Issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all the slaves in the South in 1863.
As soon as Lincoln was elected South Carolina seceded in December 1860 from the Union, and Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas followed soon after in January 1861.
Jefferson Davis-President of the Confederacy from 1861-1865.
Robert E. Lee-Overall Commander of the Confederate Forces from 1861-1865.
Ulysses S. Grant-Overall Commander of the Union Forces from 1864-1865. Later 18th President.
Frederick Douglas-former slave who ended up being an advisor to President Lincoln on abolition issues. Gifted speaker and writer on anti-slavery issues.