Glossary
Border States
Slave states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware) that remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War, despite having strong ties to the South.
Example:
Keeping the Border States in the Union was a strategic priority for Lincoln, as their defection would have severely weakened the North's position and potentially surrounded Washington D.C.
Conscription (Draft)
The compulsory enrollment of individuals into military service, implemented by both the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War to fill their armies.
Example:
The implementation of conscription led to widespread resentment and protests, as many felt it unfairly targeted the poor while the wealthy could pay for substitutes.
Copperheads/Peace Democrats
A faction of Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and advocated for a negotiated peace settlement with the Confederacy.
Example:
The Copperheads were often criticized by Union loyalists for undermining the war effort and being sympathetic to the Southern cause.
Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, that declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory to be free.
Example:
The Emancipation Proclamation fundamentally shifted the Union's war aims, transforming the conflict from solely preserving the Union into a fight for freedom and human rights.
First Inaugural Address (1861)
A speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln where he emphasized upholding the Constitution and preventing secession, stating he would not interfere with slavery where it existed but would not permit states to leave the Union.
Example:
In his First Inaugural Address, Lincoln tried to reassure the South that he had no intention of ending slavery in existing states, hoping to avert war.
Gettysburg Address
A brief but profound speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln in November 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Example:
In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln eloquently redefined the purpose of the Civil War, linking the Union cause to the principles of liberty and equality for all.
Martial Law
The temporary imposition of military rule over a civilian population, typically during an emergency or conflict, suspending ordinary law.
Example:
Lincoln declared martial law in parts of Maryland to ensure the state's loyalty and prevent it from seceding, demonstrating the extraordinary measures taken during wartime.
New York Draft Riots
Violent protests that erupted in New York City in 1863, primarily by working-class Irish immigrants, in response to the Union's conscription laws and racial tensions.
Example:
The New York Draft Riots demonstrated the deep divisions and social unrest that existed on the Union home front during the war.
Preserve the Union
Abraham Lincoln's primary objective at the outset of the Civil War, aiming to maintain the United States as one indivisible nation rather than allowing Southern states to secede.
Example:
Lincoln's steadfast commitment to preserve the Union meant he initially prioritized keeping the country together over immediately abolishing slavery.
Second Inaugural Address (1865)
Abraham Lincoln's speech delivered shortly before the end of the Civil War, characterized by its conciliatory tone and call for national unity and healing.
Example:
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address famously urged Americans to act "with malice toward none, with charity for all," setting a tone for reconciliation rather than retribution after the war.
Suspension of Habeas Corpus
The temporary removal of the legal right guaranteeing that a person cannot be imprisoned indefinitely without being brought before a judge and having a cause determined for their detention.
Example:
Lincoln's controversial suspension of habeas corpus allowed the Union to detain suspected Confederate sympathizers without trial, a move he argued was necessary for national security.