American Battlefield Trust
Civil War Battle Strategy
But for a fluke, 1862 could have gone differently during the Civil War. When Union troops found Robert E. Lee's battle plans for critical engagements in Maryland wrapped around cigars and tossed aside, history changed forever. Class...
Curated OER
Post-1865: Effects of the War
An engaging lesson focuses on the impact of the war and Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction had on the United States. Historians analyze primary documents, such as Constitutional Amendments and newspaper experts. They also participate in...
Center for History Education
Did Southern Free Men of Color Fight for the Ideals of the South?
Much of history is distasteful. Primary sources often reveal attitudes acceptable at the time that no longer are. But to understand controversial historical events, historians must examine primary sources that represent a wide variety of...
Curated OER
Civil War Time Line
Learners develop time lines of various events that took place during the Civil War. They sequence events in chronological order and demonstrate research skills using the Internet and library sources.
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils
Eighth graders are introduced to the novel "Across Five Aprils" written by Irene Hunt. They become familiar with the people, places, and events referenced in the story and comprehend the story of the Civil War. Students are given a...
Curated OER
Southern Support During the Civil War
Students investigate primary documents to help them answer the question of whether of southern soldiers and citizens abandoned the Confederate cause as the war progressed.
Curated OER
Using Maps to Uncover a Soldier's Life
Students investigate maps to examine the life of a Confederate soldier based on troop movements as well as letters and diaries.
Curated OER
Civil War Bookmarks
In this Civil War worksheet, students cut out bookmarks they can use that have the American and Confederate flags on them and say The Civil War. Students cut out 5 bookmarks.
Curated OER
What was life like for the Civil War Soldier?
Students view various primary sources and complete a worksheet about the sources. They choose at least three sources: a print, a letter and a newspaper article and record relevant information. They write a journal response about life as...
Curated OER
History Biographies
Students explore the life and the contributions of five people from U.S. history in the five lessons of this unit. james Madison, Dolly Madison, Sequoyah, Harriet Tubman, and Clara Barton are presented to students for exploration and...
Curated OER
You Ain't Whistling Dixie
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Civil War. They identify the factors that led to the Civil War, develop and perform a skit, research and write a report, or create a replica of art from Civil War period.
Curated OER
Did Southern Free Men of Color Fight for the Ideals of the South?
Students explore how to read and interpret various primary and secondary sources and how to use them to draw conclusions about motivations of African American soldiers in the Civil War. They evaluate the quality of primary sources as...
Curated OER
The Civil War Experience
Eighth graders study the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, 8th graders read and analyze primary sources. Students complete handouts in relation to the primary sources.
Curated OER
Reconstruction on Life in Virginia
Eighth graders study the life style of Virginians during the Reconstruction Period after the Civil War. They examine how the infrastructure, the economy, and the agricultural status of Virginia and the other Confederate states changed...
Curated OER
The Civil War Soldier's Experience
Students examine the social experiences of the soldiers on the battlefield. Using various viewpoints, they compare their daily life experiences and motives for fighting for the Confederate, Union and African-American soldiers. They...
Curated OER
Role of Arkansas women in the Civil War period
Eighth graders, in groups, describe the activities of Arkansas women during the Civil War.
Curated OER
Historical Perspective and the contributions to the development of national and world-view of Arkansas
Students study the development of national and world-views of Arkansas. They discuss how people and events have shaped the image of Arkansas.
Curated OER
Exploration of Civil War Webquest
Students use the internet to research what life was like for Confederate and Union soldiers in a specific battle of interest to them. In groups, they complete a webquest on the battle in which one represents a Confederate soldier and the...
Curated OER
The Burning of Chambersburg
Students research primary documents to identify when Confederate troops burned the city of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. They describe how the city was damaged and create a fictionalized newspaper account of the city's burning.
Curated OER
Lambdin Milligan and the Writ of Habeas Corpus
High schoolers research the case of Lambdin Milligan, a confederate supporter who was sentenced to death in Indiana during the time of the Civil War. They investigate the need to suspend civil liberties during the time of war.
Curated OER
Confederation Politicians
Students explore the production of newspapers about Confederation. The students are organized into groups and are asked to take on the roles of newspaper staff members. Their first assignment is to write a story based on an interview...
Curated OER
Morgan's Raid in Ohio
Learners examine the cause, effect, and impact of Morgan's Ohio raid during the Civil War. They complete unit sections on the raid, dates, viewpoints, results, and historic markers.
Humanities Texas
A President's Vision: Abraham Lincoln
Invite your learners to take a close look at Abraham Lincoln's presidency through analysis worksheets of several images and primary documents, presented on an educational poster entirely dedicated to this great United States president.
Curated OER
The Civil War: A Nation Divided
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...