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Abraham Lincoln and Politics of the Civil War Study Guide
Directions: Read each question. These questions are based on the notes taken
in class and the activities completed in class. Put all answers on a separate
sheet of Paper.
1. What are Lincoln’s experiences prior to becoming President?
2. What becomes arguably Lincoln’s greatest strength and why?
3. What is Habeas Corpus?
4. Explain why Lincoln’s actions go beyond the Constitution with Habeas Corpus.
5. Who gives a dissenting opinion based on Lincoln’s actions
6. Explain/defend your position on Habeas Corpus and whether Lincoln was justified.
7. What is the Emancipation Proclamation?
8. What are arguments supporting the Emancipation Proclamation?
9. What are arguments opposing the Emancipation Proclamation?
10. Why is the decision to arm the freed slaves controversial? What is at risk?
11. What are arguments supporting the decision to arm freed slaves?
12. What are arguments opposing the decision to arm freed slaves?
13. What are consequences of to agreeing to an armistice?
14. What are arguments supporting the search for an armistice?
15. What are arguments opposing an armistice?
16. What is the goal of Sherman’s March to the Sea?
17. What type of warfare and strategy does William Sherman want to employ?
18. Define scorched earth policy.
19. Why is Sherman’s March to the Sea controversial?
20. What has been put in place in the 20th Century to avoid Sherman’s March?
Explain what it protects.
21. Be able to explain the significance of following quote:
“You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. We cannot change the hearts of
these people of the South.
But we can make war so terrible and make them so sick of war that generations will
pass away before they again appeal to it.” – William Sherman
22. What are arguments supporting/opposing Sherman’s March?
23.When is the Gettysburg Address given?
24. What does Lincoln reference in the Gettysburg Address?
25. The types of people that would not support Lincoln’s Address are known as _____.
26. What are the arguments made for and against the Gettysburg Address?
27. What language does Abraham Lincoln use and avoid in the Gettysburg Address?
28. Who are the conspirators trying to assassinate the President, VP, and Secretary
of State?
29. Who are the targets in the plot?
30. Who becomes a de facto leader in the immediate aftermath for the North?
31. What happens to J.W. Booth afterward?
32. Who is Mary Surratt why is she important? What is her fate? Who could possibly
have saved her?
1. What are Lincoln’s experiences prior to becoming President?
Rises from very humble beginnings. Lincoln traveled long distances to find reading
material. Father often loans him to farmers to perform manual labor.
Elected captain of a volunteer unit in the Black Hawk War (1832). During this war
Lincoln makes political connections that launch his career.
After the war, becomes a lawyer Teaches himself law by repeatedly reading books
about law.
Lincoln serves one term in the House of Representatives (1847 -1849) Opposes the
Mexican-American War.
1858 – Lincoln Douglas Debates . 7 debates for a Senate seat. Lincoln elected
President in 1860
2. What becomes arguably Lincoln’s greatest strength and why?
Lincoln’s Cabinet becomes arguably his strongest asset once becoming President.
Lincoln is smart enough to realize the honesty and talents each could provide
Lincoln.
3. What is Habeas Corpus?
The right to be released from jail after being thrown in jail. Right to be released if
arrested without legal merit.
4. Explain why Lincoln’s actions go beyond the Constitution with Habeas
Corpus.
Lincoln acts beyond the Constitution, suspends the right of Habeas Corpus.
Justification: More guilty than honest men hide behind habeas corpus. Congress (not
the Pres. has the right to suspend Habeas Corpus).
Placed troops in Baltimore to protect northern soldiers marching to D.C. Also to
keep Maryland from Seceding
5. Who gives a dissenting opinion based on Lincoln’s actions
Chief Justice Taney: violates the Const., wages war without congressional consent
6. Explain/defend your position on Habeas Corpus and whether Lincoln was
justified.
Need to review your notes on the position.
7. What is the Emancipation Proclamation?
A document issued after the battle of Antietam freeing slaves within territory still
controlled by the Confederacy.
8. What are arguments supporting the Emancipation Proclamation?
– Act of war.
Keeps Britain/France from supporting the Confederacy
Undermining Confederate production.
***Slaves are free if they escape.
– Redefines the purpose of the war (War against slavery)
9. What are arguments opposing the Emancipation Proclamation?
– If the Confederate states never left the U.S.A the President is taking
property from citizens.
– Border states lose power. Could leave for the Confederacy
– Upsetting northerners not looking to fight to free slaves.
10. Why is the decision to arm the freed slaves controversial? What is at risk?
Risk losing the border states. Border states are fearful of slave uprisings.
11. What are arguments supporting the decision to arm freed slaves?
• Supporters of arming the freed slaves will say:
Expanding the army by roughly 300,000 soldiers
Freed slaves will fight bravely for freedom
Arming freed slaves takes potential soldiers from the Confederacy
12. What are arguments opposing the decision to arm freed slaves?
•
•
•
Dissenters will say:
Fear of inspiring slave riots in border states.
Slaves are inherently unequal, cannot be soldiers
13. What are consequences of to agreeing to an armistice?
Recognition of the Confederate government as a separate entity from the U.S.
Ending the carnage and destruction of the war.
14. What are arguments supporting the search for an armistice?
•
Confederates are willing to give favorable terms
•
•
Lincoln is a tyrant
Ending the carnage/destruction is more important than preserving the
Union.
15. What are arguments opposing an armistice?
•
•
•
Compromising will be giving in to Confederates.
Compromise = recognition of the Confederate gov.
Compromise will keep the country divided (risk the war effort to this point).
*Lincoln does not support peace
16. What is the goal of Sherman’s March to the Sea?
•
Set out from Atlanta (after 1864 election) to capture Savannah.
17. What type of warfare and strategy does William Sherman want to employ?
Psychological warfare, Scorched earth policy
18. Define scorched earth policy.
Scorched Earth Policy: a military policy in which all the houses, factories,
crops, and any other goods in an area are destroyed so that an enemy cannot
use them.
Victory or supremacy at all costs.
•
19. Why is Sherman’s March to the Sea controversial?
• Critics argue he brings unnecessary destruction For example,
Foraging for foods from farmers in the winter
Ransacking homes of anyone in their path
Could be supporters of the U.S. too
• Supporters say he uses legitimate military means to bring an end to the war.
Helps bring an end to war
20. What has been put in place in the 20th Century to avoid Sherman’s March?
Explain what it protects.
Article 54 from the Geneva Conventions – Protection of objects indespensible to the
survival of the civilian population
21. Be able to explain the significance of following quote:
“You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. We cannot change the hearts of
these people of the South.
But we can make war so terrible and make them so sick of war that generations will
pass away before they again appeal to it.” – William Sherman
- Cannot change the beliefs of southerners but we can make them feel the
destruction of war so that they won’t appeal to it again.
22. What are arguments supporting/opposing Sherman’s March?
Support – Brings an end to the war sooner. Some destruction is caused by the
Confederates. Destroying property instead of killing people.
Opposed – Destroyed food stuffs on the eve of winter. Killed civilians in Atlanta.
Soldiers also looted houses
23.When is the Gettysburg Address given?
November 1863
24. What does Lincoln reference in the Gettysburg Address?
Declaration of Independence, specifically “all men are created equal”
25. The types of people that would not support Lincoln’s Address are known
as _____.
Democrats (Northern)
26. What are the arguments made for and against the Gettysburg Address?
Support: Redefining freedom, hitting the “reset button” on the U.S., ending slavery,
expanding the definition of the Civil War
Oppose: Politicizing a memorial, acting beyond the Constitution, Constitution allows
for slavery (3/5 clause)
27. What language does Abraham Lincoln use and avoid in the Gettysburg
Address?
Never mentions “slavery” or the “union” Mentions “nation” and “new birth of
freedom.”
28. Who are the conspirators trying to assassinate the President, VP, and Secretary
of State?
George Atzerodt, John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Payne
29. Who are the targets in the plot?
Andrew Johnson – VP
Abraham Lincoln – Pres.
William Seward – Secretary of State
30. Who becomes a de facto leader in the immediate aftermath for the North?
William Stanton
31. What happens to J.W. Booth afterward?
Jumps off stage, yells, “sic semper tyrannous,” breaks his leg but rides away on horse
Escapes to Maryland at Dr. Mudd’s house (sets his leg)
Gets to Port Royal Virginia and is captured at the Garrison Farm
32. Who is Mary Surratt why is she important? What is her fate? Who could
possibly have saved her?
Ran a boarding house where the conspirators hatched plots against the U.S.
government. First woman executed by the U.S. government. Her son John Surratt
had potential testimony that could have helped free her.