Flash Cards (Part 2)

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Bleeding Kansas (1854–1856)

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This term describes the violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas following the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It symbolized the failure of popular sovereignty and foreshadowed the Civil War.

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Republican Party Formation (1854)

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Formed by anti-slavery activists, former Whigs, and Free Soilers, the Republican Party opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories. It became a major political force in the North, leading to Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860.

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Caning of Charles Sumner (1856)

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Senator Charles Sumner was violently attacked by Representative Preston Brooks after criticizing slavery. The incident highlighted the deep divisions over slavery and the breakdown of civil discourse in Congress.

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Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

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In this Supreme Court case, Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom. The Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories, pushing the nation closer to civil war.

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Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

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A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas focused on the issue of slavery’s expansion into the territories. The debates elevated Lincoln’s national profile and set the stage for his presidential run in 1860.

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Election of 1860

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Abraham Lincoln won the presidency as the Republican candidate, convincing many in the South that slavery was under threat. His victory prompted the secession of South Carolina and several other states.

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Civil War (1861–1865)

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The Civil War was fought between the Northern Union states and the Southern Confederate states over issues including states’ rights and slavery. It resulted in over 600,000 deaths and led to the abolition of slavery.

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Fort Sumter (1861)

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Located in Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Sumter was the site of the first shots of the Civil War. The attack led Lincoln to call for 75,000 troops and marked the official beginning of the war.

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Border States

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These were slave states (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) that remained in the Union during the Civil War. Their strategic importance was crucial to Union success.

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Anaconda Plan

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The Union’s military strategy to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and gaining control of the Mississippi River. It aimed to weaken the South economically and geographically.