American History Flashcards
Abolitionist
a person who wanted slavery to end
Emancipate
to set free
Secede
to formally withdraw from an alliance or union
Sovereignty
rule or control
Border Ruffians
armed supporters of slavery who crossed the border to vote in Kansas
States Rights
theory that individual states are independent and have the right to control their most important affairs
Border States
state between the North and South that was divided over whether to remain in the Union or join the Confederacy
Ironclad
a ship covered with iron armor
Casualty
soldier who is killed, wounded, or captured
Refugee
one who flees his or her home to seek refuge or safety from some danger or ill
Habeas Corpus
a legal process that prohibits the government from jailing anyone without lawful grounds
Greenback
U.S. currency
Draft
the selection system for required military service
Inflation
a decline in the buying power of money
Siege
surrounding and blockading a town or outpost
