American Civil War Vocabulary

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'before the war', typically used to refer to the period before the American Civil War

• The museum houses a collection of ante bellum artifacts.
• My grandma has a bunch of ante bellum furniture in her house.
• I love the vibe of ante bellum style homes.
• The town's architecture has a certain ante bellum charm to it.

noun a surprise attack from a concealed position

verb to ambush or attack someone by surprise from a hidden location

• The soldiers had to bushwhack through the dense forest to reach their destination.
• We decided to bushwhack our way through the overgrown trail for a shortcut.
• Let's bushwhack through this field to get to the other side quicker.
• She had to bushwhack through all the obstacles in her path to achieve her goals.

noun A Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War who ambushed Union soldiers and sympathizers in the southern states.

• The bushwhacker was known for his skill in navigating through dense forests.
• I heard that old man is a real bushwhacker, always out in the woods hunting.
• That guy is a total bushwhacker, always finding his way through the toughest terrain.
• She's a real bushwhacker when it comes to solving complex problems.

noun a person one works with, especially in something secret or illegal; an ally

verb to unite in a league, alliance, or conspiracy

adjective united in a league, alliance, or conspiracy

• The confederate army fought against the Union during the Civil War.
• My great-great-grandfather was a confederate soldier.
• I can't believe he's still flying that confederate flag.
• The two companies were like confederates in their efforts to dominate the market.

verb to discharge or release from military service

adverb used to describe the action of mustering out

• After completing their service, the soldiers were mustered out of the military.
• Once they were done with their time, the soldiers got mustered out.
• The troops finally got to peace out after mustering out.
• She decided to muster out of the toxic relationship for her own well-being.

verb to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union, a religious organization, etc.

• The region attempted to secede from the country, but faced strong opposition from the government.
• Some people think it would be cool if California tried to secede from the US.
• If they don't agree with the decision, they can just secede and do their own thing.
• It's like trying to secede from your own thoughts - sometimes you just can't break free from them.

noun a strong devotion to the interests of one's own region or section of the country, often at the expense of the national interest

• Sectionalism was a prominent factor in the division of the country during the Civil War.
• People's sectionalism often leads to heated debates about regional differences.
• The sectionalism between the East and West Coasts is real.
• In a figurative sense, sectionalism can be seen as building walls between different groups of people.

noun the direction that is the opposite of north

adjective relating to or characteristic of the southern part of a region or country

• The company has plans to expand its operations in the South region.
• Let's head down South for the weekend getaway.
• I heard the party down South was lit last night.
• She always knew how to navigate through the ups and downs of life by following her moral compass pointing South.

noun a type of defensive barrier typically made of stone, used for protection in warfare

verb to obstruct or hinder progress by refusing to communicate or cooperate

• The stonewall surrounding the garden has been standing for over a century.
• I like to sit on the stonewall by the pond and feed the ducks.
• Let's go hang out by the stonewall and chill for a bit.
• Despite the criticism, she continued to stonewall any attempts to change her mind.

noun a member of the American Civil War Round Table, an organization dedicated to the study of the American Civil War

• The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is a prestigious organization that promotes collaboration among universities worldwide.
• I heard that ACW is hosting a conference next month, are you attending?
• I can't believe ACW won the basketball tournament, they were the underdogs!
• The ACW of the company, the administrative team, works behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly.