Civil War quiz review

How did the Civil War shape our lives today? It set up the union the way it is now. It also went a long way towards abolishing slavery and making everybody equal. It also changed the face of modern warfare in that two ironclad ships did battle for the first time. It strengthened the central government and the idea that it’s important to have one.

Name three ways the Civil War changed the South. It tanked their economy so they had to rebuild, it wiped out slavery there, and it killed many of their men.

What constitutional right did Lincoln suspend? He suspended the writ of habeas corpus.

List the four border states. Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri.

Why did West Virginia form? The people in the western counties of Virginia didn’t agree with Virginia’s decision to secede, so they formed their own state and got inducted into the Union instead.

What disadvantages did the South face? They had significantly less men, less states and people supporting them, and a less stable economy. They also had to face the possibility of a slave rebellion.

Why did the Confederate States believe they had a right to leave the Union? They believed that the union was based on a mutual agreement between states, so states had the right to leave the union when it wasn’t benefitting them anymore.

What were the three main strategies of the Union? They wanted to blockade southern ports, end prisoner-exchange, and attack the infrastructure of the south.

What was the average age of soldiers who fought in the Civil War? The average age of a recruit was 25 years.

What was the outcome of Bull Run? It was a Confederate victory. Both sides realized it wasn’t going to just be a quick war. They realized there was actually going to be some serious fighting.

Discuss the Battle of Shiloh. It was a Union victory, and one of Grant’s worst battles. He was slaughtered in the papers because of his poor preparation and his reputation suffered greatly. By the second day of battle, Confederate soldiers had suffered about 8,500 casualties and were tired, hungry, and in need of weapons and ammunition. With a severe counter-attack by Grant, Confederate forces were all but decimated, driven further and further south until the battle was over.

What were Lincoln’s reasons for the Emancipation Proclamation? He knew that striking a blow against slavery would make Britain less likely to aid the South. He was also convinced that slavery kept the South able to fight. He also believed it important that the President was the one making decisions about slavery.

What did the 13th Amendment do? It was the final act that abolished slavery. It also said that congress had final authority over states, establishing once and for all a strong central government.

How was the Civil War a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight? It was a war that was initiated by plantation owners and politicians. However, it ended up being fought by the lower class, which just ended up making them poorer. Plantation owners, if they fought at all, were officers. In the north, if you had $300 or the money to hire a substitute, you didn’t have to fight.

Discuss the draft laws in the north. All men from age 20-45 had to register, and a person was drawn from the pool of names. You could avoid it by hiring a substitute or paying the army $300. There was much opposition and rioting in the North.

Discuss the importance of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. The battle of Gettysburg had the largest number of casualties of any battle in the war. It was also a turning point because it was a Union victory, the first they had gotten in a while. Perhaps the most significant part of the battle of Chancellorsville was the wounding and subsequent death of Stonewall Jackson. He was one of the south’s greatest strategists and the Confederacy definitely lost a major leader. Another important thing about the battle was that it was such a major victory for Lee. It is known as his perfect battle because his strategy worked so well against unimaginable odds and in spite of the complete lunacy of his plan. The battle also served the purpose of discouraging the Union army and making them realize that the Confederacy might put up a real fight.


How did Sherman use “Total War” against the South? The 'March to the Sea' in 1864 completely decimated the resources the South needed to make war. This is total war.

Who were the Presidents of the Confederacy and the United States during the Civil War? Lincoln was the President of the Union and Jefferson Davis was President of the Confederacy.

What, exactly, did the Emancipation Proclamation do? The Emancipation Proclamation states that, "...all persons held as slaves within any state...in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Since it applied only to areas the Confederacy controlled, it didn’t actually free anyone. It persuaded Britain and France not to recognize the Confederacy. It also led to the 13th amendment.