Unit 7 Vocabulary: Civil War and Reconstruction

sectionalism – Division based on the concern for regional needs and interests

secede – to withdraw, including the withdrawal of states from the Union

blockade – blocking off an area to keep supplies from getting in or out

blockade My Own sentence My Own Illustration _________________________

emancipation – the act of giving someone freedom

reconstruction – the act of rebuilding, generally refers to the rebuilding of the Union following the Civil War

reconstruction My Own sentence My Own Illustration _________________________

martial law – the imposition of laws by a military authority, generally in defeated territories

sharecropper – a tenant farmer who receives a portion of the crop

popular sovereignty – independent power given to the people

popular sovereignty My Own sentence My Own Illustration _________________________

Republicanism - an ideology of being a citizen in a state as a republic under which the people hold popular sovereignty

individual rights - the liberties of each individual to pursue life and goals without interference from other individuals or the government

individual rights My Own sentence My Own Illustration _________________________

separation of powers - a fundamental principle of the United States government, whereby powers and responsibilities are divided among the legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch

checks and balances - a system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power

federalism – the distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the states

federalism My Own sentence My Own Illustration _________________________

constitution - the system of beliefs and laws by which a country, state, or organization is governed

ideology - a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy

principles - a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning

Confederacy - a league or alliance, especially of confederate states