American Civil War

Introduction

The American Civil War was one of the most significant wars in American history, and lasted from 1861 to 1865. In this WebQuest, you will explore the Civil War, including its causes and important dates. 

Guiding Questions

  • What were the primary reasons for the American Civil War?
  • What were some major events or dates from this war?
  • How has this war and its outcome affected the United States?

Florida State Standards

  • SS.912.A.2.1 Review causes and consequences of the Civil War.
  • SS.912.A.2.4 Distinguish the freedoms guaranteed to African Americans and other groups with the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.
  • SS.912.A.1.3 Utilize timelines to identify the time sequence of historical data.
Task

Your task is to work either alone or as a group of up to three (3) students total in order to create a PowerPoint presentation to be presented to your class on the topic of the American Civil War. The recommended slide count for PowerPoint presentations should be somewhere between 10-15 slides. Some of the topics your presentation should include, but are not limited to, major figures involved with this war, where it and some of its battles took place, reasons for the war, and some major dates and events from the war, plus some of the effects it had on the country, both immediate and lasting.

Process

Once you figure out who you are working with, the process for your project should look something like the following:

  1. Research and organization of info;
    • Use resources like your textbook and/or reputable online sources to gather accurate information regarding the American Civil War.
    • If working in a group, it is recommended to assign different aspects of the presentation (major figures, reasoning for the war, etc.) equally among members of the group.
  2. Presentation creation;
    • Presentation should include 10-15 slides covering the American Civil War, plus a title slide and references slide.
    • Slides should ideally be split evenly between group members, though the title and references slides should have input from all students. All group members should have input on the presentation as a whole, though, ensuring cohesion.
  3. Review presentation;
    • Proofread all information, ensuring that there are no spelling or grammatical errors, and that all information is accurate. Add finishing touches if necessary.
    • This would be a good time to rehearse the presentation, and figure out who will be presenting what. Ideally, all students should present roughly an equal number of slides.
  4. Present;
    • Present your PowerPoint to your class in a professional and timely manner.
Evaluation

Your presentation will be evaluated based on the following categories;

Accuracy of Information

20 Points - Information is completely accurate, and shows a complete understanding of the American Civil War.

15 Points - Information is mostly accurate, but displays minor mistakes.

10 Points - Information is only somewhat accurate, and contains many mistakes.

5 Points - Information is completely inaccurate, and presentation contains little to no truthful material.

Organization and Structure

20 Points - Presentation is well organized, and is easy to understand.

15 Points - Presentation is mostly well organized, but has some minor issues.

10 Points - Somewhat unclear or disorganized information.

5 Points - Presentation is completely disorganized, and is confusing to follow.

Presentation Skills

20 Points - The presenter(s) was/were professional, spoke clearly, and was/were mindful of class time.

15 Points - The presentation was mostly professional, but had minor flaws.

10 Points - The professionalism and skill of presenter(s) were ok, but need major improvement.

5 Points - Presenter(s) was/were very unprofessional/disrespectful.

Conclusion

Congratulations on finishing your American Civil War project. Now that you have completed the project, you should know more about the Civil War, why it started, who was involved, and the effects it has had on this country.

Here is a website that simulates scenarios within the Civil War, and allows you to make decisions: 

https://www.activehistory.co.uk/Miscellaneous/menus/Year_9/american_civil_war/game/frameset.htm