A Civil War Curriculum that brings history to life…

The Civil War is a vital time in our American culture in which the tides of civil liberties turned. Fresh off the Revolutionary War, the country wanted independence. Although there were concerns about President Lincoln leading the country, there was also a deep conflict between the North and South regarding slavery and industry booming.

Since I wanted to teach our son the Civil War but make it unique to his age, I decided to use materials that would provide some reading challenges and begin the process of teaching him high school critical thinking.

Unit 3 Curriculum: Battles Continue

A pivotal time in American history continues with battles that cause leadership changes, and the beginnings of the Emancipation Proclamation. How the leaders changed the course of the Civil War in small and significant ways across Virginia and Tennessee in particular.

The Lesson Breakdown

• Key Terms
  • Emancipation Proclamation
  • Stonewall Jackson
  • Gettysburg
  • Robert E. Lee
  • Chickamauga
  • Vicksburg
  • Atlanta
  • Ulysses Grant
• Key Leaders
  • Stonewall Jackson
  • Robert E. Lee
  • Jeb Stuart
  • Joseph Hooker
  • Ulysses Grant
  • General Meade
  • Braxten Bragg
  • William Rosencrans
• Major Battles
  • Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
  • Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
  • Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
  • Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
  • Battle of Atlanta, Georgia
• Maps (East Coast map)
  • Mark Pennsylvania battle
  • Mark Mississippi battle
  • Mark Georgia battles
  • Mark Virginia battle
  • Mark each battle as C for Confederate Win and U for Union Win
• Cause-Effect Charts/Activities
  • Essay Questions
  • Battles Chart
  • Confederate & Union Members Chart Continued
  • Key Terms Match Up Sheet
  • Documentaries (MagellanTV)

Reading Material:

1. Read Battlefields of Civil War by Bowen p. 31-34
2. Read Atlas of Civil War by Kagan p. 134-143
3. Read Abraham Lincoln by Bracken p. 75-85
4. The Battle of Gettysburg by DeAngelis p. ALL
5. Read Southwestern Advantage p. 128-130
6. Read Atlas of Civil War p. 154-156
7. Read Atlas of Civil War p. 204-205
8. Read 200 Years p. 30-32

Additional Reading Resources

1. Civil War Encyclopedia
2. History of Key Battles

Full Unit 3 Week 1 & 2 Below: FREE FULL LESSON

Week 1: Reading

1. Read Materials above: Mix of online articles that are free and books available online or at library.
2. Take Notes on Notes Outline (included in full lesson here)

Week 2: Activities

1. Answer Essay Questions (included in full lesson)
2. Complete match up with keywords (included in full lesson)
3. Mark East Coast map with battles (included in full lesson)
4. Confederate & Union Chart (included in full lesson)
5. MagellanTV Documentaries (HERE) or if you don’t have subscription try Free PBS videos (HERE)
   • MagellanTV Documentaries for Civil War The Untold Story and Battlefield America (the ratings are because the episodes depict war scenes but all are appropriate for 12+ age and not aggressive or frightening for most viewers)

Final Thoughts

This units goal is to depict more battles and the significant battles that were turning points. Focus is primarily on Battle of Vicksburg and Gettysburg which are the commonly and most widely known battles from the Civil War. In addition to learning some major details to these battles, watch documentaries, study the leaders and learn about the Emancipation Proclamation.