Civil War Vocabulary

Abraham Lincoln The 16th president of the United States known for his Emancipation Proclamation Speech

A plot to kill an important government figure Assassination A plot to kill an important government figure

A conflict involving violence Battle A conflict involving violence

California Gold Rush When gold was found in Sutter’s Mill, settlers moved westward in search of gold

An injured or dead person as a result of war Casualty An injured or dead person as a result of war

A conflict between people from the same country or background Civil War A conflict between people from the same country or background

Decided how slavery would work in new territories Compromise of 1850 Decided how slavery would work in new territories

The group of Southern States that seceded from the United States Confederacy The group of Southern States that seceded from the United States

Freedom from a controlling body Emancipation Freedom from a controlling body

Emancipation Proclamation A speech made by President Lincoln addressing slavery

Expansionism A way of thinking that meant Americans had the right to expand where they chose

Mostly Western settlers that did not agree with Eastern politics Free Soil Party Mostly Western settlers that did not agree with Eastern politics

A law that made it illegal to not return escaped slaves Fugitive Slave Act A law that made it illegal to not return escaped slaves

Leader of the Union Army General Grant Leader of the Union Army

Leader of the Confederate Army General Lee Leader of the Confederate Army

Harriet Tubman A runaway slave that led other slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad

A person working to pay off a debt Indentured Servant A person working to pay off a debt

President of the Confederate States Jefferson Davis President of the Confederate States

Kansas-Nebraska Act Allowed new western states to decide by popular sovereignty if slavery would be allowed in that state

Lincoln Douglas Debates A series of debates between Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during the election of 1858

Prohibited slavery above the 36’30” line and the Northwest territory Missouri Compromise Prohibited slavery above the 36’30” line and the Northwest territory

Nationalism A way of thinking that an individual’s first responsibility is to one’s nation

Popular Sovereignty When a new state’s citizens vote whether they want to have slavery in their state or not.

To leave or separate from an established country Secession To leave or separate from an established country

A way of thinking that one small group or region is most important Sectionalism A way of thinking that one small group or region is most important

Sharecropping When multiple farmers own pieces of a large plantation

Slavery When one man takes away another man’s basic rights as a human being

Uncle Tom’s Cabin An abolitionist book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe addressing slavery issues

Union The Northern States that stayed with the United States during the Civil War

War An elongated, violent conflict between at least 2 groups of established militaries.