The debate over slavery contributed to the Civil War, but it didn't stop African Americans from joining the military. Academics complete a series of worksheets, read original letters, and analyze a photo of an African American soldier to understand the experiences of African American troops during the Civil War. Scholars analyze maps to explore the African American demographic during the Civil War and demonstrate their understanding in group discussions. The lesson also provides a good opportunity for young historians to practice analyzing primary sources. 

Concepts

primary sources, primary source analysis, primary source images, skills review, american history, the united states civil war, african american history, military history

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have pupils find images of African American troops that fought during the Civil War
• Assign students to create military recruitment posters geared toward African Americans. 

Classroom Considerations

• Consider changing the word colored troops to African American troops 

Pros

• Provides modifications to ensure the success of all learners 
• The lesson includes a script to assist instructors in the execution of the material 

Cons

• None