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What is Presidential Reconstruction?

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The period following the Civil War where presidents aimed to reintegrate Confederate states back into the Union with minimal requirements, focusing on accepting the 13th Amendment and granting amnesty to most former Confederates.

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What was the Battle of Fort Sumter?

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The bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861, marking the opening engagement of the American Civil War.

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What was the Wilmot Proviso?

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An unsuccessful 1846 proposal in the U.S. Congress that aimed to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico following the Mexican-American War.

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What was the significance of the Battle of Atlanta?

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A pivotal engagement where Union forces under General Sherman defeated Confederate troops, marking a significant turning point in the Civil War and contributing to Lincoln's re-election in 1864.

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Who was Ulysses S. Grant?

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A prominent Union general during the Civil War known for leading to the Confederate surrender and later served as the 18th President of the United States.

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What is the Emancipation Proclamation?

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An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, freeing all slaves in Confederate-held territory.

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What does 'amnesty' mean in the context of Reconstruction?

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A pardon granted to former Confederates, allowing them to reintegrate into society without facing prosecution for their actions during the Civil War.

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What was the role of the 13th Amendment?

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The constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

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What is Congressional Reconstruction?

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The period after Presidential Reconstruction where Congress took control of Reconstruction efforts, implementing stricter requirements for Southern states to rejoin the Union.

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What was the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg?

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A major Union victory that gave the North control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.