Unit 8 Vocabulary Powerpointx

Unit 8 Vocabulary The Civil War and Reconstruction

state’s rights rights held by the states that place limits on the implied powers of the federal government over state governments

secede to formally withdraw from an organized body

sovereignty complete power and authority

regiments a military unit made up of a number of battalions, or groups, of troops

ironclads ships used during the Civil War that were heavily armored with iron plates

drafted required to serve in the military

martial law rule by the military instead of the usual civil authorities

freedpeople former slaves who have been freed from slavery

suffrage voting rights

civil rights individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution

impeach to bring charges against a public official

scalawags name given to southerners who supported Reconstruction for personal economic gain

carpet baggers Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War; so called because they often carried all they owned in bags made of carpet

segregation Forced separation of whites and African Americans in public

tenant farmers people who rent land to grow crops

sharecroppers farmers who lacked land and necessary supplies and thus promised a large part of their crop to the landowner in exchange for these items

sectionalism excessive devotion to local interests and customs

blockades the isolation of a nation, area, city, or harbor by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce

Reconstruction The post-Civil War era from 1865 to 1877; the U.S. re-admitted the southern states to the Union and the federal government implemented policies affecting southern states

amendment a change made to the U.S. Constitution

allegiance loyalty to a nation or cause

emancipation the act of freeing someone from the control of another

proclamation the act of announcing something officially or publically

vigilantism the act of taking matters in to one’s own hands and out of the hands of the law

federalism a system in which power is distributed between the central or federal government and smaller state or local governments