Lesson 8: Civil War and Reconstruction
An entire class could focus on the Civil War and still not cover everything that happened. Here, you will only get a brief overview of what happened, a few of the battles and a few political events. Read an overview of the Civil War here: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/overview.html
The lines between the those who wanted to leave the United States (or Union) were pretty much north and south. Not all the "northern" states were free states (no slaves), but all the southern states were slave states. The North (Union or Billy Yankees) included Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia (broken off from Virginia), Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware. The last four states were known as border states. They didn't want to leave the Union but they had laws against slavery. The Southern state (Confederates or Jonny Rebels) included Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The northern states' economies were based in industry, while the southern states' economies were based in agriculture. This meant that the north made far more money than the south (similar to the economic relationship between the colonies and England prior to the Revolutionary War).
The lines between the those who wanted to leave the United States (or Union) were pretty much north and south. Not all the "northern" states were free states (no slaves), but all the southern states were slave states. The North (Union or Billy Yankees) included Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia (broken off from Virginia), Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware. The last four states were known as border states. They didn't want to leave the Union but they had laws against slavery. The Southern state (Confederates or Jonny Rebels) included Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The northern states' economies were based in industry, while the southern states' economies were based in agriculture. This meant that the north made far more money than the south (similar to the economic relationship between the colonies and England prior to the Revolutionary War).
Battles
Fort Sumter was where the fighting began. The Battle of Bull Run would come next. The Battle of Bull Run is also known as the First Manassas. Many of the battles of the Civil War have two names - the name given by the North and the name given by the South. Though the fighting between the North and South was the first battle of the Civil War, many people felt that the first true battle was at Bull Run. Everyone knew where the battle was going to take place, so families all came to see the battle, bringing their picnics and such, setting up on the hill nearby. It was as if the battle was going to be a ball game or play. As the battle began, however, the townspeople began to realize that the battle was for real, as soldiers on both sides were killed and wounded. Here, a Confederate officer, named Thomas Jackson, would hold his men in one place, despite many waves of Union soldiers attacking his position, leading to his nickname "Stonewall".
For two years (summer 1861-1863), the Confederates won battle after battle. By this time, the Confederate army had their chain of command set with Robert E Lee at the head of the Army of Northern Virginia, with James Longstreet and "Stonewall" Jackson leading Lee's divisions. The Union army regularly went through generals at the head of the Army of the Potomac. The Battle of Fredericksburg was a particularly difficult battle for the North. Watch this video about the battle: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-fredericksburg
The Battle of Chancellorsville would be next. Watch the video about this battle here: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-chancellorsville.
The Battle of Gettysburg is often called the turning point in the war. Nearly every victory had gone to the South up to this point. There are many amazing stories that come out of the battle of Gettysburg, but there isn't enough time for you to read or listen to them all. Here, instead, is a summary of the battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZBurSQg-s0
With the Confederate loss of Gettysburg, the war began to turn to the Union's favor. General Ulysses S Grant would be made the head of the Army of the Potomac for the remaining year of the war. Lee's surrender to Grant would take place at Appomattox Courthouse. Watch this video: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history/videos/surrender-at-appomattox-courthouse.
For two years (summer 1861-1863), the Confederates won battle after battle. By this time, the Confederate army had their chain of command set with Robert E Lee at the head of the Army of Northern Virginia, with James Longstreet and "Stonewall" Jackson leading Lee's divisions. The Union army regularly went through generals at the head of the Army of the Potomac. The Battle of Fredericksburg was a particularly difficult battle for the North. Watch this video about the battle: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-fredericksburg
The Battle of Chancellorsville would be next. Watch the video about this battle here: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-chancellorsville.
The Battle of Gettysburg is often called the turning point in the war. Nearly every victory had gone to the South up to this point. There are many amazing stories that come out of the battle of Gettysburg, but there isn't enough time for you to read or listen to them all. Here, instead, is a summary of the battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZBurSQg-s0
With the Confederate loss of Gettysburg, the war began to turn to the Union's favor. General Ulysses S Grant would be made the head of the Army of the Potomac for the remaining year of the war. Lee's surrender to Grant would take place at Appomattox Courthouse. Watch this video: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history/videos/surrender-at-appomattox-courthouse.
Politics
Politics continued as the nation was broken into war. The south had declared itself sovereign from the north. They created the Confederate States of America. The function of their "federal" government was similar to the Articles of Confederation, where each state could be separate from the others. They considered the northern states to be a foreign nation who was overrunning their freedoms, similar to how the colonies felt about England.
The north, on the other hand, still considered the southern states to be part of the United States. They said that they were defending the nation from rebels, not a foreign nation. Here are a few things that the north did (particularly Abraham Lincoln and his administration) to keep the Union together and work for the end of slavery.
1. Emancipation Proclamation - This executive proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate states. It focused the war to be a war to free slaves rather than a fight over state and federal rights and jurisdiction. Read about some of the limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation here: https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
2. Gettysburg Address - Although President Lincoln was not the key-note speaker at the dedication of Gettysburg National Cemetery, his two minute remarks are far more well known than the two hour speech before him. Read the address here: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/gettyb.asp or listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TCMHVmNc5w
3. Thirteenth Amendment - Read about it here: http://www.history.com/news/congress-passes-13th-amendment-150-years-ago
The north, on the other hand, still considered the southern states to be part of the United States. They said that they were defending the nation from rebels, not a foreign nation. Here are a few things that the north did (particularly Abraham Lincoln and his administration) to keep the Union together and work for the end of slavery.
1. Emancipation Proclamation - This executive proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate states. It focused the war to be a war to free slaves rather than a fight over state and federal rights and jurisdiction. Read about some of the limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation here: https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
2. Gettysburg Address - Although President Lincoln was not the key-note speaker at the dedication of Gettysburg National Cemetery, his two minute remarks are far more well known than the two hour speech before him. Read the address here: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/gettyb.asp or listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TCMHVmNc5w
3. Thirteenth Amendment - Read about it here: http://www.history.com/news/congress-passes-13th-amendment-150-years-ago
Reconstruction
Reconstruction was meant to be exactly what the word says - rebuilding the South so it would survive and thrive without the institution of slavery. The majority of people in the south were against Reconstruction. Those from the South, willing to help with Reconstruction, were called scallywags. Northerners who came south to help with Reconstruction were called carpetbaggers because their luggage was carried in carpet bag, not unlike Mary Poppins' carpetbag. Watch this video and read the article: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction
Unit 1 Final
1. Where were Europeans hoping to get to when they found the Americas?
2. What event marked the ending of Reconstruction?
3. What was Jacques Cartier trying to find?
4. Who is the commander in chief of the military?
5. What was a "Northwest Passage"?
6. What is the Great Awakening?
7. What is the supreme law of the land?
8. What was the main weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
9. What group moved from England to the Netherlands, to England, and then to the Americas?
10. What type of government is a dictatorship?
11. Which colony was settled by John Withrop?
12. Who originally settled Georgia?
13. What is a scallywag?
14. Where (which colony) did the Salem which trials take place?
15. At least how many world wars have occurred?
16. What is salutary neglect?
17. What was the Missouri Compromise?
18. What was George Washington's role in the French and Indian war?
19. Describe what The Prince teaches about governments.
20. What was the deal the Sons of Liberty had, where they wouldn't buy English goods, called?
21. What is a border state?
22. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
23. What does John Locke say about freedom?
24. What type of government do we have today in the United States?
25. What is a carpetbagger?
26. What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
27. Where did the Puritans settle?
28. Who ratifies treaties?
29. What are the names of the branches of government?
30. Who is responsible for bills dealing with money?
31. What are the first three words of the Constitution?
32. What were the breadbasket colonies called?
33. What were the three main causes of the Civil War?
34. Which colony was settled as a haven for Catholics?
35. How did Abraham Lincoln's election affect the beginning of the Civil War?
36. What did John Brown do?
37. Which act was passed by Parliament to appease the colonists' objections to taxes?
38. What is Manifest Destiny?
39. What is the significance of Appomattox Courthouse?
40. Describe the limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation.
41. What is Reconstruction?
42. Who started the Boston Massacre?
Congratulations, you have finished Unit 1!
2. What event marked the ending of Reconstruction?
3. What was Jacques Cartier trying to find?
4. Who is the commander in chief of the military?
5. What was a "Northwest Passage"?
6. What is the Great Awakening?
7. What is the supreme law of the land?
8. What was the main weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
9. What group moved from England to the Netherlands, to England, and then to the Americas?
10. What type of government is a dictatorship?
11. Which colony was settled by John Withrop?
12. Who originally settled Georgia?
13. What is a scallywag?
14. Where (which colony) did the Salem which trials take place?
15. At least how many world wars have occurred?
16. What is salutary neglect?
17. What was the Missouri Compromise?
18. What was George Washington's role in the French and Indian war?
19. Describe what The Prince teaches about governments.
20. What was the deal the Sons of Liberty had, where they wouldn't buy English goods, called?
21. What is a border state?
22. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
23. What does John Locke say about freedom?
24. What type of government do we have today in the United States?
25. What is a carpetbagger?
26. What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
27. Where did the Puritans settle?
28. Who ratifies treaties?
29. What are the names of the branches of government?
30. Who is responsible for bills dealing with money?
31. What are the first three words of the Constitution?
32. What were the breadbasket colonies called?
33. What were the three main causes of the Civil War?
34. Which colony was settled as a haven for Catholics?
35. How did Abraham Lincoln's election affect the beginning of the Civil War?
36. What did John Brown do?
37. Which act was passed by Parliament to appease the colonists' objections to taxes?
38. What is Manifest Destiny?
39. What is the significance of Appomattox Courthouse?
40. Describe the limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation.
41. What is Reconstruction?
42. Who started the Boston Massacre?
Congratulations, you have finished Unit 1!