The Civil War

Introduction

The Civil War is a central event in America's history. While the Revolution of 1776-1783 created the United States, the Civil War of 1861-1865 determined what kind of nation it would be. Fought 1861-1865, the American Civil War was the result of decades of sectional tensions between the North and South. Focused on slavery and states rights, these issues came to a head following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Over the next several months eleven southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. During the first two years of the war, Southern troops won numerous victories but saw their fortunes turn after losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in 1863. From then on, Northern forces worked to conqueror the South, forcing them to surrender in April 1865.

Task

You will be learning about the Civil War. You should understand the causes of the war, and the reasons both sides believe the war is necessary. Furthermore, you will research a state and explain its role in the war.

It is April 15th, 1861. Fort Sumter has just been attacked, and you a citizen of a frontline state. The Confederacy has been formed since February, comprising the southern states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisianna, and Texas. Some of the states in the upper south hear President Lincoln calling for troops to invade those states and are making declarations to either join up or secede:

You will do the following:

  1. Use the provided links to do background research on the causes of the war, the institution of slavery, and the war itself.
  2. Using the background research conducted, you will then choose a state from the provided list under the process tab.
  3. After you have chosen your state, you will present that state's decision and importance.

Keep the following questions in mind when completeing your presentation:

  • Why did the states secede from the Union?
  • Is the war just about slavery, or does the fight encompass more than that?
  • Is the North's incursion an invasion or a just cause?
  • Do states have the right to secede from the constitiution they signed?
  • Why is your state doing the right thing?
  • Where is your state located?
  • What does your state have that both sides want?
  • What important people were from your state?
Process

Step 1: Find classmates to work with. Groups should be either 3 or 4 people. 

Step 2: Your group must do background research on the Civil War using the links provided below. You will need to find out what the major causes were, why the country was fighting itself, and the reasons people were willing to fight. 

Links:

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/overview.html

http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/statesrights.html

http://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm?id=205

http://www.nps.gov/cwindepth/abcivwarStateByState.html

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/index.htm

Step 3: Your group will then choose a border state from the provided list:

1. Virginia

2. Tennessee

3. North Carolina

4. Arkansas

5. Delaware

6. Maryland

7. Kentucky

8. Missouri

9. West Virginia

Step 3: Using the information you have learned, you will act as the states governor, and create a presentation in which you argue both why your state's allegiance was important to both sides, and why your state ended up choosing the side that it did. Remember to be as persuasive as possible, you want your fellow citizens to understand your decision and your importance.

Step 4: You will present to your classmates. 

Evaluation

You will be evaluated by the rubric linked below:

Scoring Rubric

 

4

3

2

1

Visual Aid

PowerPoint contained helpful information, and contributed greatly to the presenters’ argument.

PowerPoint contained some helpful information, and contributed to the presenters’ argument.

PowerPoint lacked helpful information, and did not contribute to the presenters’ argument.

 PowerPoint was not present or available.

Information

All information presented is accurate and relevant.

Some information presented is not accurate or relevant.

Majority of the information is not accurate or relevant.

All Information presented is false or irrelevant.

Presentation

Argument was persuasive and very clear. Students clearly understood their position. 

The presentation is delivered, but lacks persuasive arguments or knowledge of the position.

Presentation is hardly delivered, and lacks any persuasive arguments or any knowledge of the position.

No Presentation given.

Group Work

All group members participated in presentation and all members submitted group assessment.

One of more group members did not participate, but all members still submitted group assessment.

 One or more group members did not participate, and one or more did not submit group assessment

Group did not present, and no group assessment was submitted.

 

*Note*

The rubric includes:

  1. Handing in the group assessment
  2. Completeing a PowerPoint
  3. Presenting to the class
Conclusion

Congratulations on completeing the Civil War webquest! I hope you have learned not only about your paticiular border state, but also about the War and its general causes and consequences. The Civil War was a pivotal time for our country, and has implications that impact our lives even today. You should now understand these some of these issues, and even possibly contribute knowledgably to the people around you. This knowledge will also be applied to later time periods and history classes, and will help you understand them more clearly.