American Civil War (1861-1865)

Slavery in the United States first began in Virginia in 1619. By the end of the American War of Independence, most northern states had abandoned the institution while it continued to grow and flourish in the plantation economy of the South.

Throughout the first half of the 19th century, Southern politicians sought to defend slavery by retaining control of the federal government. As new states were added to the Union, a series of compromises were arrived at to maintain an equal number of "free" and "slave" states. The Compromise of 1850 strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act which was a federal law providing for the return of escaped slaves to their owners regardless of where the slaves were captured.

The widening of the gap between slave and free states was symbolic of the changes occurring in each region. While the South was devoted to an agrarian plantation economy with a slow growth in population, the North had embraced industrialization, large urban areas, infrastructure growth, as well as was experiencing high birth rates and a large influx of European immigrants. This boost in population doomed Southern efforts to maintain balance in the government as it meant the future addition of more free states and the election of a Northern, potentially anti-slavery, president. When Lincoln finally entered office on March 4, 1861, he inherited a collapsing nation.

After Abraham Lincoln, a foe of slavery, was elected president, 11 states declared their secession from the Union and proclaimed themselves an independent nation, the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War began.

The Confederate Army did well in the early part of the war. But the Union had superior manpower and resources to draw upon. In the summer of 1863 at Gettysburg the largest battle ever fought on American soil ensued. After three days of desperate fighting, the Confederates were defeated. Two years later, after a long campaign the Confederates surrendered. The Civil War was the most traumatic episode in American history. But it resolved two matters that had vexed Americans since 1776. It abolished slavery, and it decided that the country was not a collection of semi-independent states but an indivisible whole.

Task 1. Complete each group of synonyms with a word from the text:

prosper , thrive , blossom

protect, guard, secure

contain , hold

uphold, support

runaway, escaped

breach, discrepancy

inflow, incursion

enemy, opponent

separation , withdrawal

better, higher, advanced

hopeless, frantic

yield, give in

painful, distressing

settle, solve

inseparable, indissoluble

annul, liquidate

Task 2. Choose the best alternative according to the text:

1) Slavery in the United States first began …

• in Georgia in 1700

• in Virginia in 1619

• in New-York in 1754

2) Southern politicians sought to defend slavery by …

• imposing taxes on cotton

• developing industry

• retaining control of the federal government

3)The Fugitive Slave Act  was …

• a federal law imposing heavy taxes on rich landowners

• a federal law abolishing slavery

• a federal law providing for the return of escaped slaves to their owners

4)The South was devoted to …

• an agrarian plantation economy

• rapid industrial development

• developing international trade

5) When Lincoln entered office, he inherited …

• a prosperous nation

• a collapsing nation

• a unified nation

6) Abraham Lincoln was …

• a foe of slavery

• a supporter of slavery

• a plantator

7) … states declared their secession from the Union

• 13

• 14

• 11

8) The Confederate Army … in the early part of the war.

• surrendered

• did well

• negotiated

9) The North had … manpower and resources.

• inferior

• equal

• superior

10) The largest battle of the American Civil War was fought …

• at Gettysburg

• at Saratoga

• at Atlanta

11) The American Civil War resolved the problem of …

• economic development

• political stability

• unity of the state

Task 3. Define whether the statements below are true or false. Ground your choice.

1. The Fugitive Slave Act provided for the return of escaped slaves to their owners only if the slaves were captured in Southern states.

2. The Missouri Compromise permitted slavery in the new state of Missouri and the Arkansas Territory but barred everywhere west and north of Missouri.

3. Abraham Lincoln was elected president in1860.

4. After Abraham Lincoln was elected president, 13 states left the Union and proclaimed themselves an independent nation, the Confederate States of America.

5. During the Civil War Lincoln’s main priorities were to get territories of the Confederate States.

6. The North did well in the early part of the Civil War.

7. The North had superior manpower and resources in the Civil War.

8. The Civil War was not a traumatic episode in American history.

9. The Civil War put an end to feudalism.

10. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1867.

11. The 13-th amendment to the US Constitution guaranteed the right to vote to every American citizen.

12. The Ku Klux Klan supported the rights of black Americans.

TEXT 3. Read the text and answer the questions given after it.