This document contains assignments and materials for lessons on the US Civil War and Reconstruction era. It includes discussion questions, pre-tests, group assignments, and individual projects. Some of the key topics covered are Sherman's March to the Sea, the end of the war at Appomattox, the Reconstruction Amendments, and debates around Confederate imagery and monuments in the South. Students are asked to analyze primary and secondary sources, consider different historical perspectives, and communicate their understanding in various written and visual formats.

1. Assignment #1
Read the historical fiction from
1870
1. What are 3 differences to the
world the article mentions?
2. How would your life have
changed if the South would
have won the war?
3. Based on the changes in
technology, do you think the
South would have abolished
slavery on its own without the
Civil War?
4. Do you agree with the
conclusion at the end of the
article? Explain

3. Civil War pretest
½ sheet of paper
Don’t use your book or ask any of the
junior historians, if you don’t know
its ok
1. When was the US Civil War?
2. What were two names for each
side of the US Civil War?
3. Which side won?
4. How was the US Civil War viewed
in Europe?
5. Name two important generals and
their side
6. Describe as many important
battles as you can from the war.
Start Project @
12 noon
Project due Thurs

4. Agree right
Armies should use whatever means
necessary to win wars
Disagree left

5. Agree right
Armies should never attack civilians
during wars
Disagree left

6. Agree right
Armies try their best to not destroy
property of civilians
Disagree left

7. Agree right
People who lose property during wars
should get $$$ from the winning side
Disagree left

8. Agree right
Veterans of the Union and Confederate
armies should get pensions
Disagree left

9. Agree right
Slaves should get money after being
released, even if it comes from Northern
taxpayers
Disagree left

10. Today: How the war ends and how to
move on as a country
Historical time: Reconstruction

12. (Gen.) Sherman’s March to the Sea
Why this
strategy?
“scorched Earth”
Looting homes
and burning
cities
Atlanta Nov.

13. Appomattox, Virginia
• April 26, 1865

14. Appomattox,
Virginia
• April 26, 1865

15. End of the Civil War
• Sherman’s March, page 347
• Page 348, Appomattox
Courthouse
• More deaths?
• 13th Amendment
• Arlington National Cemetery

16. Abraham Lincoln
• Reelected in 1864
• Unpopular with Irish
• John Wilkes Booth
• US marshals chase Booth
• Jefferson Davis

18. Also
• The plan was to kill Lincoln,
VP Johnson & Secretary of
State Seward
• Comedy central version

19. Appomattox,
Virginia
• April 26, 1865

20. Questions for back of cartoon
1. Was the Civil War a “good war”?
2. Were the Union troops “the good guys”? Give at
least two historical reasons
3. What role should the rebel flag play in our
modern society? (Banned, used in history class,
used in South?)
4. Why do you think many historians consider Abe
Lincoln to be one of the best presidents?

21. Next Assignment:
Put the “Reconstruction” Amendments in
your notes
Amendments 13, 14, & 15
1. Page 372, why was the Emancipation
Proclamation huge for the Union war effort?
2. If you were a free black person living in Boston at
the time would you have joined the Union army?
Explain
3. For each amendment summarize what it does
4. Small picture
5. Historical background, chapter 12
6. Why does it help you today?

22. 13th Amendment
• Abolishes slavery in the United States!!
• “Juneteenth” -- June 19, 2010

24. Next Reconstruction assignment
One paper per group
1. Besides protecting the country, why do people join the US
military?
2. What are some positive things about being in the military?
3. What are some negative things about being in the military?
4. What does it mean if something is “questionable”. Give 1
example

25. 2008 Election

26. President Ulysses S. Grant
• 1869-1877
• Republican
• Civil War hero

27. Group Assignment
1. Which 2 wars produced the most US presidents?
2. Which two presidents had the longest military careers?
3. Which presidents lacked military experience?
4. Which presidents have questionable military experience?
Explain why.
5. Two potential benefits about presidents with military
experience
6. Two potential issues that might come up with presidents
with military experience
7. How was the South politically organized in 1867?
8. What did President Grant do with the KKK?
9. Why is U. S. Grant considered one of the worst
presidents?
10. Does your group feel that a presidential candidate needs
to have military experience in order to be successful?

28. Next Assignment
1. At least two reasons Ole Miss
should ditch this mascot. His
name is “Colonel Reb”
2. One argument to keep him
Need 2 public speakers for tmw
Star wars clip

29. Southern
Problem

31. Southern
Problem
Read the article
# 3 What is happening to confederate images all over the South? Give 2
examples
# 4 Why might some people want to keep those images?
#5 Why might some people want rename the parks in the South?
Skim Chapter 12
#6 Who were the scalawags and carpetbaggers, why were they helpful to the
South, why hurtful.
#7 Why might some people view the Freedman’s Bureau as a long run failure?
#8 Why do you think freed slaves didn’t get any land or property?
#9 Compare and contrast slavery with sharecropping.
#10 How did Reconstruction end? (Corrupt Bargain)
#11 In order to pay for the expensive war, Congress passed the first income
taxes, how do you think people in the North felt about this?

32. Civil War Projects
• Subjects:
• Advancements in
Technology
• Famous Generals
• Military Life & Medicine
• War in the South –
Economics
• Blacks and Female
Experience
• Textbook, or additional
sources cite page
numbers, MLA if you use
non-textbook source
• Your Choice:
• 5 paragraph essay
• Board game
• 5 letters home from
soldiers
• Youtube puppet
show
• 8-12 page comic
book
5 bonus pt in class
assignment
presentation