Civil War glossary
ABOLITION
(Abolitionist) Ending slavery
AGRICULTURE
(Agricultural) Farming, growing crops or raising livestock
AMPUTATION
Removal of a damaged limb of the body, popular medical treatment during the Civil War
ANTEBELLUM
Belonging to the period before the Civil War
ARTILLERY
Cannons or mortars
ASSASSINATE
To murder a public figure by surprise attack, usually for political reasons
BLOCKADE
Union warships blocked the southern coast, cutting off trade and supplies from port cities
BOMBARDMENT
To fire cannons on a certain area for an extended time
CALVALRY
Horse soldiers
CONSPIRACY
A group planning a secret act that is unlawful
DISCRIMINATION
Treating people based on them belonging to a certain group
EMANCIPATION
Freeing the slaves
FLANK
The left and right edge of an army, most vulnerable to attack
Immigrants – People from foreign countries who have settled in the United States
FORTIFY
To strengthen one’s position by building barricades with wood, stone, or dirt
FUGITIVE
Someone who had escaped from captivity, such as a runaway slave
HARDTACK
A hard, typically worm-infested biscuit used by both armies as a main source of food
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Speech given by the President at the beginning of his term of office
INDUSTRY
Industry (Industrial) Making or manufacturing goods
INFANTRY
Foot soldiers
MALICE
Hatred
NATURALIZED
Gaining full citizenship
OFFICER
Ranking soldiers able to issue commands
PERISH
Cease to exist
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
States having the right to choose whether to allow slavery
POLITICIAN
Person appointed or elected to represent the population in a country’s government
PREJUDICE
Suspicion or hatred of a certain race, religion, or group
RECONSTRUCTION
Period from 1865-1877, Confederate states were rebuilt and brought back in the Union
REFUGEES
People without a home, usually caused by war or famine
RIFLED MUSKET
Type of musket with a grooved barrel, able to shoot minie balls, highly accurate
SECESSION
(secede) Leave the Union
SEGREGATION
To separate based on race
SECTIONALISM
Dividing the country into different regions with local interests
SHARECROPPING
System adopted by the South after the Civil War in which shares of crops were rent for land
SIEGE
To surround and cut off supplies to an army or town until they surrender
SMOOTHBORE
Type of musket with a smooth barrel, able to shoot round lead balls, highly inaccurate
SYMPATHIZER
Supporter of a certain cause
TARIFFS
Taxes placed on foreign goods coming into the United States
TENANT
A person who pays rent to use property owned by another
TRANSCONTINENTAL
Crossing the continent, going across America
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