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Civil War Study Guide

Total questions: 83

Worksheet time: 1hrs 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act contribute to the rising tensions between the North and South in the United States?

a)

By allowing territories to choose the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to increased conflict.

b)

By abolishing slavery in all new territories, thus reducing tensions.

c)

By enforcing a compromise that eased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.

d)

By establishing uniform policies that satisfied both Northern and Southern interests.

2.

What was the primary focus of the Lincoln-Douglas debates?

a)

Slavery and its expansion

b)

International relations

c)

Fiscal policies

d)

Social reforms

3.

What was the impact of the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford on the legal status of African Americans?

a)

It affirmed that African Americans were not citizens and lacked constitutional rights.

b)

It recognized African Americans as citizens with full rights.

c)

It left the status of African Americans unchanged.

d)

It ensured legal protections for African Americans.

4.

The main issue that caused Southern states to secede from the Union was ______.

a)

Slavery

b)

Tariffs

c)

States' rights

d)

Economic differences

5.

What was the primary focus of Lincoln's First Inaugural Address regarding the Union?

a)

Preserving the Union and declaring secession as illegal

b)

Immediate abolition of slavery by the government

c)

Support for the Southern states' decision to secede

d)

Launching an aggressive campaign against the South

6.

What was the main goal of the Union's Anaconda Plan during the American Civil War?

a)

To seize control of the Mississippi River

b)

To fortify the Mason-Dixon Line

c)

To implement a naval blockade of Southern ports and divide the Confederacy, thereby crippling its economy and military capabilities.

d)

To capture the Confederate capital, Richmond, VA

7.

The Confederate generals were:

a)

Robert E. Lee

b)

Stonewall Jackson

c)

George McClellan

d)

U. S. Grant

8.

The main goal of the South during the Civil War was _________

a)

To preserve slavery

b)

To abolish slavery

c)

To become an independent nation

d)

To expand territory

9.

Why did the South anticipate backing from Britain and France during the conflict?

a)

They anticipated backing due to economic ties and mutual interests.

b)

They anticipated backing due to geographical closeness.

c)

They anticipated backing due to shared ideologies.

d)

They anticipated backing due to superior military strength.

10.

Advantages of the North

a)

Abundant resources

b)

Larger Population

c)

Factories to make supplies

d)

Canals and Railroads

e)

Faster communication

11.

Why did President Lincoln choose to suspend habeas corpus during the Civil War?

a)

To maintain national security and suppress rebellion.

b)

To increase his presidential authority.

c)

To free all detained individuals.

d)

To reinforce the power of the judiciary.

12.

What was the main goal of the Fugitive Slave Act?

a)

To capture runaway slaves and return them to their owners

b)

To abolish slavery nationwide

c)

To promote immigration

d)

To support state rights

13.

What was a major impact of the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War?

a)

It allowed black soldiers to join the Union army and shifted the war's focus to ending slavery.

b)

It immediately ended the Civil War and restored peace.

c)

It was a minor administrative act with little impact on the war.

d)

It provided significant economic benefits to the Southern states.

14.

Why was the Battle of Gettysburg considered a pivotal moment in the Civil War?

a)

It marked the end of Confederate advances into the North and uplifted Union spirits.

b)

It had minimal effect on the overall outcome of the Civil War.

c)

It extended the conflict without any significant results.

d)

It was primarily significant for its impact on international diplomacy.

15.

What was the objective of Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg?

a)

To break through Union lines and achieve a decisive victory.

b)

To negotiate a truce with Union forces.

c)

To retreat and regroup Confederate forces.

d)

To conduct a naval blockade.

16.

What was the strategic significance of the Union's victory at Vicksburg during the Civil War?

a)

It divided the Confederacy by gaining control of the Mississippi River.

b)

It led to the immediate end of the Civil War.

c)

It resulted in a peace treaty with the Confederacy.

d)

It had no impact on the war's outcome.

17.

What was the main goal of the Gettysburg Address delivered by Abraham Lincoln?

a)

To honor the fallen and emphasize national unity

b)

To discuss future military plans

c)

To introduce a new government policy

d)

To commemorate a military triumph

18.

During the Civil War, what role did women primarily serve in to support the military efforts?

a)

Providing essential care for wounded soldiers

b)

Fighting on the front lines

c)

Overseeing military logistics

d)

Organizing political campaigns

19.

How did Lincoln's reelection in 1864 affect the war?

a)

It had no notable effect on the war.

b)

It demoralized the Union, leading to a decrease in war efforts.

c)

It boosted Union morale and strengthened the war effort.

d)

It immediately brought the war to an end through peace talks.

20.

Where did General Robert E. Lee surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, marking the end of the Civil War?

a)

Appomattox Court House

b)

Gettysburg

c)

Richmond

d)

Washington, D.C.

21.

Fill in the blank: Southern states believed they had the right to govern themselves, which is known as ______.

a)

States' Rights.

b)

Centralized Government.

c)

Constitutional Supremacy.

d)

People's Sovereignty.

22.
Which title best completes the diagram?
a)
Key Events of the Civil War
b)
Causes of the Civil War
c)
Individual Rights during the Civil War
d)
The Nullification Crisis
23.
Which event was the immediate cause of the secession of several Southern states from the Union in 1860?
a)
The Dred Scott decision by the U.S. Supreme Court
b)
The election of President Abraham LIncoln
c)
The enactment of the Missouri Compromise
d)
The raid on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry by John Brown
24.

According to Lincoln, in 1861, what was the main issue of the Civil War?

a)

maintain the union

b)

abolish slavery

c)

provide African Americans with equal civil rights

d)

Force Southern states to pay tariffs

e)

punish the Confederacy for seceding

25.

The Civil War was mainly fought over slavery and states' rights.

a)

True

b)

False

26.
Dred Scott was famous for ___________. 
a)
being sued by someone else
b)
suing for his freedom
c)
being in the military
d)
being a famous doctor
27.
Why was John Brown so important to the fight against slavery?
a)
He led a slave revolt on plantation owners in VA.
b)
He fought for the South to maintain slavery.
c)
He fought for the North to receive his freedom after the war.
d)
He led a revolt at Harper's Ferry in an attempt to start a slave rebellion.
28.

How did Henry Clay impact the Civil War?

a)

delayed by reducing tensions through compromise

b)

started it by seceding in his state

c)

became president and declared war

d)

increased tensions through sectionalism

29.

Why was the Battle of Fort Sumter significant?

a)

It was the last battle of the Civil War.

b)

It marked the beginning of the Civil War.

c)

It was the deadliest battle.

d)

It ended the Civil War.

30.

Which battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War?

a)

Battle of Gettysburg

b)

Battle of Fort Sumter

c)

Battle of Antietam

d)

Battle of Shiloh

31.
Which newspaper headline might have appeared during the Civil War (1861-1865)?
a)
"John Brown captured in raid on Harpers Ferry"
b)
Supreme Court issues Dred Scott Decision"
c)
"Lincoln ends slavery in rebellion states."
d)
"Former slaves given the right to vote."
32.

The first major battle of the Civil War was...

a)

Appomattox Courthouse

b)

Vicksburg

c)

The second battle of Manassas

d)

The First battle of Bull Run

33.
Which bill allowed settlers to vote over the issue of slavery in territories where it had been banned?
a)
Wilmot Proviso
b)
Compromise of 1850
c)
Missouri Compromise
d)
Kansas-Nebraska Act
34.

Which piece of legislation did Stephen Douglas help write?

a)

Kansas Nebraska Act

b)

Missouri Compromise

c)

Judiciary Act of 1863

d)

Emancipation Proclaimation

35.

___________ refers to the period of time after the Civil War when the Southern States were brought back into the Union?

a)

A. American Revolution

b)

B. Freedmen's Bureau

c)

C. Westward Expansion

d)

D. Reconstruction

36.

Who was the president of the Confederacy?

a)

Abraham Lincoln

b)

Ulysses S. Grant

c)

Jefferson Davis

d)

Robert E. Lee

37.

Who was the general that surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865 ending the Civil War?

a)

Stonewall Jackson

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Winfield Scott

d)

Abraham Lincoln

38.

What year did the Civil War end?

a)

1863

b)

1864

c)

1865

d)

1866

39.
This was the President of the Union.
a)
Jefferson Davis
b)
Robert E. Lee
c)
Ulysses S Grant
d)
Abraham Lincoln
40.

What river was an important resource during the war?

a)

Missouri

b)

Mississippi

c)

Amazon

d)

Delaware

41.

At the end of which battle did General Grant and his troops secure control of the Mississippi River?

a)

Antietam

b)

Gettysburg

c)

Vicksburg

d)

Richmond

42.

What was the capital of the Confederacy?

a)

Washington D.C.

b)

Atlanta, GA

c)

Philadelphia, PA

d)

Richmond, VA

43.

What document does Lincoln refer to in the Gettysburg Address to remind people that "all men are created equal"?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Constitution

c)

Mayflower Compact

44.

Border states were slave states that did not join the Confederacy.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

45.

Which side had an advantage in transportation?

a)

Union

b)

Confederacy

c)

Neither

46.

Which side had more experienced military leadership?

a)

Union

b)

Confederacy

c)

Neither

47.

Which of the following was NOT a key battle of the Civil War?

a)

Antietam

b)

Bull Run

c)

Lexington

d)

Gettysburg

48.

What piece of legislation did Lincoln create which freed slaves in Confederate states?

a)

Gettysburg Address

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Constitution

d)

Emancipation Proclamation

49.

Which of these was a danger for African American troops who fought for the Union?

a)

If captured, they could be sold into slavery

b)

They were frequently attacked by other Union soldiers

c)

If captured, they would be forced to fight for the Confederacy

d)

They were easily overcome since they had no weapons

50.

Lincoln used the dedication for this National Cemetary with a famous Address after this battle.

a)

Antietam

b)

Vicksburg

c)

Shiloh

d)

Gettysburg

51.

At the beginning of the Civil War, the greatest weakness of the North was?

a)

Its fragile economy

b)

It's transportation

c)

Its lack of factories

d)

Its military leadership

52.

What was the Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case?

a)

He returned to a slave state and could not be freed.

b)

Scott was a slave and was not eligible to sue in court, and he was the property of his owner and could be taken anywhere.

c)

He did not live long enough in a free territory to be free.

d)

The U.S. Government did not have the power to decide his fate due to states’ rights.

53.

How was the Dred Scott Case a victory for the South?

a)

It created harsh punishments for those found guilty of not following the Fugitive Slave Law.

b)

It mandated slave owners be reimbursed for slaves if slavery is abolished.

c)

It supported southern states right to secede from the Union.

d)

It protected the property of slave owners and prohibited Congress from limiting slavery.

54.

Why did southern states feel threatened by the election of 1860?

a)

The South feared that slaves would be given citizenship rights and sue for their freedom.

b)

The South feared that Democrats would gain control of Congress.

c)

The South feared that slavery would be abolished throughout the nation.

d)

The South feared that the new president would prohibit slavery in the western territories.

55.

How did the Union blockade impact the South? (Choose 3 answers)

a)

They helped the South establish trade relationships in the North.

b)

They caused a scarcity (shortage) of available manufactured goods in southern states.

c)

They limited the export of the South’s valuable cotton crop.

d)

They weakened the economies of southern states.

e)

They helped the South win the war.

56.

Who won the presidential election of 1860?

a)

John Bell

b)

John Breckenridge

c)

Stephen Douglas

d)

Abraham Lincoln

57.

Which was NOT an advantage of the South:

a)

better knowledge of the land where most battles were fought

b)

extensive railroad system

c)

Mississippi River

d)

more ports

58.

The general in charge of the entire Union Army was:

a)

Abraham Lincoln

b)

Robert E Lee

c)

Ulysses Grant

d)

Jefferson Davis

59.

Lincoln’s speech at the battlefield that said all men are created equal and the Union was important.

a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Battle of Antietam
c)
Emancipation Proclamation
d)
Gettysburg Address
60.

Which Civil War battle was the deadliest single day of fighting in the war and led to a Union victory as Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had to retreat? This battle also marked the first time that the Southern army had invaded the North.

a)

Battle of Vicksburg

b)

Appomattox Court House

c)

Battle of Gettysburg

d)

Battle of Antietam

61.

Disadvantages of the South during the Civil War included having a small navy, fewer railroads, and ______________.

a)

Lack of agricultural land

b)

larger population

c)

Inexperienced military leaders

d)

Lack of industries

62.

Why was the Battle of Gettysburg a turning point in the war?

a)

General Lee surrendered to the Union army after the battle.

b)

There were nearly 48,000 casualties of the battle.

c)

Lincoln emancipated the slaves after the Union victory at the battle.

d)

The battle ended the Confederacy's hopes of getting assistance from Britain and France.

63.

In the Civil War...who is the Confederacy?

a)

North

b)

South

c)

Both

d)

Neither

64.

In the Civil War...who is the Union?

a)

North

b)

South

c)

Both

d)

Neither

65.

Before the Civil War, the North and South argued over whether new land would have slavery or not. Why is it important to keep the same amount of slave and free states?

a)

So slavery doesn't get to the North

b)

So slavery doesn't get to the South

c)

So power is balanced in government

d)

Because the Missouri Compromise said so

66.

In the Dred Scott Decision, the Supreme Court determined that no state could ban slavery because slaves were property. Who did this decision anger?

a)

North

b)

South

c)

Both

d)

Neither

67.

How did the Compromise of 1850 benefit the South?

a)

It forced the North to pay money for escaped slaves.

b)

It added California as a slave state.

c)

It provided an end to the slave trade in Washington D.C.

d)

It included the Fugitive Slave Law that required slaves who escaped to be returned.

68.

A major reason for Northern Democrats split from its political party and help create the Republican Party was because

a)

they believed territories should decide if they were going to be free or slave states.

b)

they wanted to continue slavery in the westward territories.

c)

they didn’t support the spread of slavery into new territoriest

d)

None of these answers are correct.

69.

What statement describes the economic systems of the North and South before the Civil War?

a)

The North relied on manufacturing while the South relied on slave labor for agriculture.

b)

The North relied on transportation while the South relied on imported goods.

c)

The South relied on agriculture while the North relied on slave labor.

d)

None of these answers are correct.

70.

The Battle of Gettysburg took place in what state?

a)

Tennessee

b)

Maryland

c)

Pennsylvania

d)

New York

71.

The line that seperates North and South is called the

a)

Maginot Line

b)

Mason Dixon Line

c)

Harpers Ferry

d)

Washington D.C.

72.

The Missouri Compromise (1820), the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) were all efforts to

a)

end fighting between mid-western farmers and Native Americans

b)

encourage manufacturing in the West

c)

increase the number of people who voted in presidential elections

d)

settle disputes over the spread of slavery to western territories

73.

This poster from the 1850s appeared in response to the

a)

start of the Civil War

b)

issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation

c)

passage of the Fugitive Slave law

d)

enactment of the 13th Amendment

74.
What was the key issue that was debated each time a new state was admitted to the Union before the Civil War?
a)
the expansion of slavery
b)
the building of railroads 
c)
the provision of women's suffrage
d)
support for the homesteading 
75.
What did the North call this strategy to blockade the South's coastline and gain control of the Mississippi River?
a)
Anaconda Plan
b)
Rattlesnake Plan
c)
Scorpion Plan
d)
Scott's Blockade Plan
76.

One reason South Carolina chose to leave the Union was because:

a)

the other states refused to trade with South Carolina

b)

people in the state believed their state's rights were being denied

c)

the state was paying high tariffs.

d)

plantation owners were being forced to trade with northern businesses

77.
Formally withdrawing from the United States
a)
To Confederate
b)
Leaving
c)
Secession
78.

How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act nullify the Missouri Comprise?

a)

It changed the borders of Missouri.

b)

It required that all of Missouri be free.

c)

It allowed slavery in new Northern territories

d)

It established new interests trade rules.

79.

What do you call a person who was opposed to slavery and worked toward ending it?

a)

Fugitive

b)

Abolitionist

c)

Secessionist

d)

Whig

80.

This means that the people get to decide on an issue, including whether or not to allow slavery in their territory

a)

Abolition

b)

Secede

c)

Popular sovereignty

d)

Populist

81.

Why was it important that Maryland did NOT secede from the Union?

a)

Maryland grew most of the nation's corn

b)

Maryland controls access to the Ohio river

c)

All railroads go through Maryland

d)

Washington DC would have been surrounded by Confederate states

82.

What was the main purpose of the Morrill Act of 1862?

a)

To provide free land to settlers willing to farm it for five years

b)

To grant land to states for the creation of agricultural and technical colleges

c)

To encourage Native American relocation to reservations

d)

To provide funding for the construction of railroads

83.

Under the Homestead Act of 1862, what was required for settlers to gain ownership of 160 acres of land?

a)

Pay a large fee and promise to build a railroad

b)

Work on government land for 10 years

c)

Live on and improve the land for at least five years

d)

Purchase the land from Native American tribes