1. Slavery Definition: Slavery The practice of owning slaves. A practice in which one human being (white American) owns another human being (African or African-American). Slaves were taken from Africa and brought to America to work against their will for white plantation (southern-farm) owners. Examples of slavery in a sentence: During the American Civil War, the Union (the North) fought to end the practice of slavery. African American slaves were treated badly by their owners. President Abraham Lincoln ended slavery in America.

2. Free State Definition: A state in which slavery was not allowed. Example of free state in a sentence. Maine entered the Union as a free state after Congress agreed to the Missouri Compromise.

3. Slave State Definition: A state in which slavery was allowed. Example of slave state in a sentence. The slave states were afraid that Abraham Lincoln would end slavery when he was elected President of the United States in 1860.

4. Civil War Definition: A war between two groups of people in the same country. Example of civil war in a sentence. The American civil war was fought between the Union (the North) and the Confederacy (the South).

5. Secede Definition: To leave or break away from the United States. Example of secede in a sentence. South Carolina seceded from the United States after Abraham Lincoln was elected president.

6. Border State Definition: A slave state between the North and the South that remained in the Union during the Civil War. Example of border state in a sentence. During the Civil War, Missouri, Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky were border states. They were slave states that did not secede from the Union.

7. The Union / Union Army Definition: 1. A term used to describe the United States during the nineteenth century. The United States was a union of states. 2. A term used to describe the United States Army during the Civil War. Example of Union in a sentence. The Union Army defeated the Confederate Army at the Battle of Gettysburg.

8. The Confederacy / Confederate Army Definition: 1. A group of slave states that seceded from the United States and formed a “new country.” 2. A term used to describe the southern Army (example: The Confederate Army) during the Civil War. Example of Confederacy in a sentence. The Confederacy started the Civil War on April 21, 1861 when the Confederate army attacked Fort Sumter.

9. United States Constitution Definition: The laws and plan of government for the United States. Example of U.S. Constitution in a sentence. President Abraham Lincoln stated that a state does not have the right to secede from the Union, it is against the United States Constitution to do so.

10. Casualty Definition: A soldier who has been killed or wounded in battle. Example of casualty in a sentence. There were more casualties at the Civil War Battle of Shiloh than in the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Mexican- American War combined.

11. The Gettysburg Address Definition: A speech made by President Abraham Lincoln to honor Union soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. The speech redefined the Civil War for Union citizens, they were fighting a war to defend and save democracy. Example of Gettysburg Address in a sentence. The Gettysburg Address is considered to be one of the most important speeches ever made by a United States president.

12. Democracy Definition: A political system in which citizens elect the individuals who represent them in government. (i.e., the president, senators, congressmen) Example of democracy in a sentence. The United States Constitution is one of the greatest examples of democracy in human history.

13. Copperheads Definition: Northern citizens who opposed the Civil War and wanted to see it ended by a peace treaty between the Union (the North) and Confederacy (the South). Example of Copperheads in a sentence. Many Copperheads wanted President Lincoln to the end Civil War, they believed the war was not worth all the casualties produced by the fighting.

14. The Emancipation Proclamation Definition: A law made by President Abraham Lincoln that freed all African American slaves in the Confederacy (the South). Lincoln made the law for two purposes. 1. To free African American slaves. 2. To hurt the Confederate (the South) economy. Example of Emancipation Proclamation in a sentence. The Emancipation Proclamation freed African American slaves in the Confederate states. It was the first time a federal law was passed to end slavery in America.

15. Emancipation Proclamation Definition: To be set free. Freeing someone from the control of another. Definition: An official announcement. An very important public statement. Emancipation Proclamation

16. Discrimination Definition: To treat a person or group of people unfairly because of the color of their skin, their gender, their religion, etc. Example of discrimination in a sentence. African American soldiers faced many forms of discrimination while serving in the Union Army.

17. Segregation (Segregate) Definition: To legally separate a group of people from another due to their skin color, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Example of Segregation in a sentence. During the Civil War, African American soldiers were segregated and kept in separate units from white soldiers.

18. Total War Definition: The destruction of food, equipment, and anything else of use to soldiers and civilians in a war. Example of total war in a sentence. General Ulysses S. Grant and General William Sherman used the military strategy of total war to defeat the Confederacy (the South).