The American Civil War
(Longman Pearson)
I. Fill in the blanks.
1. The issue of slavery led to the American Civil War.
2. The northern states wanted to abolish slavery, hence they were called abolitionists.
3. Jefferson led the southern states during the Civil War.
4. The Emancipation Proclamation was made in the year 1863 by Abraham Lincoln.
5. The famous Gettysburg Address was delivered by Abraham Lincoln on 19 November 1863.
6. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the book Uncle Tom's Cabin.
7. The southern states had large plantations of cotton and sugar where labours worked.
8. Arkansas, Florida and Georgia were a few of the Confederate States.
9. Abraham Lincoln was elected as the president in the year 1860.
10. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in the year 1863.
11. The American Civil War ended in the year 1865.
12. Hinton Rowan Helper wrote the book Impending Crisis of the South.
II. Answer these questions.
1. Write about the two important development that had taken place in nineteenth-century America?
= The two important development that had taken place in nineteenth-century America are -
❐ Westward expansion of the United States.
❐ Industrial development on an unprecedented scale.
2. What was the main reason of conflict between the northern and southern states?
= The main reason of conflict between the northern and southern states is - the issue of slavery. The Northern states of America had banned it. On the other hand the Southern states of America needed more slaves for the cotton and sugar plantation.
3. Write in brief about the abolitionists.
= The northerners wanted to put an end to slavery in the south. They were, therefore, termed the abolitionists. The publication of two books at that time had a profound influence on the northern states. The first book was Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), which is a sentimental portrayal of slavery's brutal impact. The other book, Hinton Rowan Helper's Impending Crisis of the South (1857), gives an effective argument that slavery was disastrous to the non-slave holding white majority in the South.
4. Why did the southern states wanted to break away from the American Union?
= After Abraham Lincoln was elected the president from the Republican Party in 1860, he was highly critical of slavery and therefore, the southern states demanded secession.
5. Name the two books that had a considerable influence on the American Civil War?
= The name of the tow books that had a considerable influence on the American Civil War are -Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and Hinton Rowan Helper's Impending Crisis of the South.
6. Write a short note on the Confederate States. Who led these states?
= The Confederate States were formed by the thirteen states that had seceded from the union. These included Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Jefferson Davis led these states.
7. What was the reason behind Jefferson's wanting to recognise slavery?
= The Southern states, which were mainly agricultural, needed staves because both cotton and sugar plantations were both very labour-intensive. They required more labour, which would be provided by the slaves.
8. When and how did the Civil War break out? How many years did it last?
= In the year 1863, President Lincoln, through his Emancipation Proclamation, declared slavery illegal in the Southern States. This further intensified the war.
The war continued up to 1865 and ended with the defeat of the southern focus by the northerners.
9. What prompted Lincoln to declare war on the Southern Confederacy?
= Abraham Lincoln was highly critical of slavery. The Southern States of America required more labour and they were not intending to abolish the practice of slavery. These fact prompted Lincoln to declare war on the Southern Confederacy.
10. What led to the victory of the northerners over southerners?
= The victory of the northerners over southerners led the abolition of slavery from the United States of America. and also the imminent division of the country was avoided.
11. Why is the American Civil War regarded as an important event in the history of America? Discuss in brief.
= The American Civil War was able to abolish the most inhuman practice that ever existed in the world - slavery. And also showed to the world the horrors that modern warfare can cause with the introduction of new weaponry and war techniques.
III. Write short notes.
1. Battle of Gettysburg.
= The American Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought in America. It resulted in the loss of more than six lakh lives, and there was destruction all around. The most intensive was the Battle of Gettysburg, fought in July 1863. In it, more than 50,000 soldiers died in just three days.
2. Emancipation Proclamation.
= In the year 1863, President Lincoln, through his Emancipation Proclamation, declared slavery illegal in the Southern States.
3. Confederate States.
= The Southern States, led by Jefferson Davis, seceded from the USA. They formed the Confederate States with Davis as the president. The Confederate States was formed by the thirteen states that had seceded from the Union. These included Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
IV. Match the columns.
=
|
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin |
a. Hinton Rowan Helper. [2] |
|
2. Impending Crisis of the South |
b. Harriet Beecher Stowe. [1] |
|
3. Abraham Lincoln died |
c. 1865. [3] |
|
4. Confederate States |
d. 1863. [5] |
|
5. Emancipation Proclamation |
e. Jefferson Davis. [4] |
V. State whether true or false.
1. The election of Abraham Lincoln was also a reason behind the American Civil War. [F]
2. The main objective of the northerners was to abolish slavery. [T]
3. The Confederate States won the war after a prolonged struggle. [F]
4. The Battle of Gettysburg was the fiercest battle of the American Civil War. [T]
5. Abraham Lincoln declared slavery illegal in southern states in 1863. [T]