American Civil War Lesson Plans

Eleventh graders explore the decade-and-a-half prior to the Civil War, the United States saw dramatic changes in industrialization in the North, and a rapid increase in transportation (rail and steamship) all over the country.

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American Civil War lesson, students research the technological advances that impacted American before the war. Students also examine the cultures of the North and the South prior to war.

Students explore development of battlefield medical care during the Civil War, particularly in the Union Army, and then gather information on experiences of members of volunteer service organizations or medical professions in the community who deal with t

Fourth graders discover details about the American Civil War. In this historical analysis lesson, 4th graders research photographs and maps from the Library of Congress. Students submit a written analysis of the documents to their instructor.

Discuss the differences between the North and the South and how those differences led to the Civil War. Middle schoolers examine and analyze a famous speech or writing by President Lincoln in order to better understand the speaker's argument and discuss the conflicting opinions of the President during the war. After analyzing the speech or writing, students write an essay in which they briefly summarize the speech.

Students examine the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They analyze the role of religion and cultural identity in shaping governments. They also examine the United States foreign policy.

Students research, examine and explore the how the Civil War shaped Tennessee's history. In this Civil War lesson, students will brainstorm, choose images and write about important people, events, and places in Tennessee. Students will then design and create an online exhibit. This lesson includes several websites, a rubric, brainstorming topics, and ways to actually post their exhibit online.

Students sort Civil War primary documents into those of the North and the South. In this Civil War lesson, students choose an item to write about and put it in a PowerPoint.  Students become familiar with viewpoint of North and South.

Students analyze the causes and effects of the Civil War and Resonstruction. In small groups they conduct research and use Adobe Illustrator to create a historically accurate children's picture book focusing on slavery, secession, or individual leaders of the Civil War.

Young scholars analyze photographs of the American Civil War. They analyze other images and use them to develop links between the Civil War era and the Industrial Revolution.