Download People of the Civil War

People of the Civil War
The Essentials
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President of the United
States during the Civil War
Mostly self-educated (18
months of formal
education)
Sought to end the spread
of slavery, though did not
support equal rights
among the races
Signed the Emancipation
Proclamation (effective Jan
1, 1863), freeing all slaves
Assassinated by John
Wilkes Booth in 1865
Abraham Lincoln
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Only President of the
Confederate States of America
Graduated from West Point,
fought in Mexican-American
War, US Secretary of War,
Senator from Mississippi
Considered a far worse leader
than Lincoln, too controlling
and out of touch
Captured in May 1865 and
charged with treason (though
never tried). Not allowed to
run for public office ever
again.
Jefferson Davis
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General of Confederate
Army and “hero of the
south”
West Point Graduate- 2nd in
class
Previously served US
military, rejected offer to
lead Union troops after his
home state of Virginia
seceded
Surrendered to Grant at
Appomattox Courthouse, VA
in April 1865
Still praised as an icon of
military leadership and
strategy
Robert E. Lee
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General of Union Army in Civil
War
West Point graduate, fought
in Mexican-American War
Accepted surrender of
General Lee
Elected President in 1868
Irony: Grant owned slaves at
one point, but as President
claimed many civil rights
victories, including the
election of African Americans
to Congress
Ulysses S. Grant
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Leading Abolitionist,
“Conductor” of the Underground
Railroad
Escaped slavery and led 19
missions to bring over 300
slaves to freedom in Canada
Rewards for her capture
reached $40,000 but praised as
a hero among abolitionists
Served as a nurse for the Union
forces
Known as “Moses” by those
associated with the
Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman
Wrote anti-slavery book
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
 Book based on abolitionist
literature and her personal
observations in Kentucky
 Praised in the north and led
to greater abolitionist
movement
 Criticized heavily in the
south- declared biased
propaganda that unfairly
portrayed slavery
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Harriet Beecher Stowe
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Led raid at Harper’s Ferry,
1859
Although he was white, settled
in a black community in New
York
Believed he was chosen by God
to end slavery
Captured during raid, tried for
murder, slave insurrection and
treason
Sentenced to death by hanging
John Brown
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Important abolitionist and
anti-slavery orator
Born into slavery, bought and
sold several times
Taught to read and write by
the wife of one of his owners
Successfully escaped slavery
in 1848 after several attempts
Helped recruit AfricanAmericans to join Union army
during the war
Frederick Douglass
Union general, led
“Sherman’s March”
through the south during
Civil War
 West Point graduate
 Burned Atlanta, led
devastating march to the
sea, leaving a trail of
destruction
 Credited with saying
“war is hell”
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William T. Sherman
Known as the “Great
Compromiser”,
responsible for Missouri
Compromise,
Compromise of 1850
 Represented Kentucky in
Senate and House of
Representatives
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Henry Clay
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A slave who lived for a short time
with his owner in free states, and
with the help of antislavery
lawyers, Scott sued for his
freedom.
The case reached the U.S.
Supreme Court - the Court
decided that Scott had no right to
sue because slaves were not
citizens, and they said that slaves
were property, and property rights
are protected by the Constitution.
Dred Scott
Briefly served as General in
Chief of the Union Army (18601862).
 Lincoln disagreed with
McClellan’s leadership style
and removed him as General.
In 1864, McClellan ran against
Lincoln for President and lost.
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George McClellan