Introduction
You are on the battlefield. It is the summer of 1865 in Maryland, and you have been marching for three weeks. You are nervous and scared because you know that the battle ahead is going to be fierce and deadly. Bullets and canon balls begin to fly. There are shouts and screams everywhere as bullets whistle overhead. You begin to shoot across the battlefield in the direction of the enemy, your aim is shaky. As you look through the sights of your gun to choose a target, you see something that makes your heart skip a beat-and then race as if it will jump right out of your chest. Just opposite of you is a face you know almost as well as your own! It is your brother.
What could have caused you and the brother you loved so much growing up to become enemies on the battlefield?
In this Webquest, you and your team will investigate the American Civil War. You will analyze the issues that were involved that caused families to be divided and go to war against one another. Each of you will take the side of a soldier in the war fighting for what you believe in. What issues do you feel strongly about? Do you understand why your opponent is fighting on the opposite side?
Task
Day 1:
What were 5 of the main causes of the Civil War, explain?
What were economic, cultural, and constitutional differences between the North and the South.
| North | South | |
| Economic Differences | ||
| Cultural Differences | ||
| Constitutional Differences |
What was tried to prevent the war? (I.e., Look at the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850 and what they tried to do).
What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act and what did it try to accomplish?
Who was the president during the Civil war? What did he say he was trying to do by going to war with the South?
The South started to attack the North at a fort; this was the first battle of the Civil War. When and where was this battle? Also, how many casualties were there and how did they die?
Day 2:
Homefront
What was life like on the homefront in the North AND South?
Click here for Southern Homefront
Click here for Northern Homefront
Who was Clara Barton?
What was a typical day for a soldier like?
What were some problems with the medical conditions?
Use Same Resource as above
How old were the soldiers? What did they make?
Use Same Resource as above
Gather 5 facts from the following websties about the life of a soldier.
Day 3/4:
You and your best friend have enlisted in different armies to fight in the American Civil War. However, as you are best friends you decide to write to each other during the war.
You and your partner will pick a battle and write each other a letter. This letter will tell your partner about the battle from your perspective as either a Confederate or Union soldier.
Each letter should include the following from YOUR perspective:
- Are you a Confederate or Union soldier in the battle?
- The name of the battle you are fighting, its leaders, and the military units involved.
- Where you lived and what kind of shelters you lived in.
- What you ate and what kind of uniforms you wore.
- What kind of weapons you have access to.
- Whether you agree or disagree with the cause you are fighting for and whether you would change sides.
- Do you believe there is another way that this conflict could be solved besides war?
- If given the chance would you change sides in the war?
Process:
1. Decide what battle you are going to be fighting in. You may choose from the following:
• Fort Sumter
• First Bull Run
• Shiloh
• Second Bull Run
• Antietam
• Fredericksburg
• Gettysburg
• Chattanooga
2. Go to any of the following websites to find information on your battle. You may also use other sites found through a search engine such as Google (ask).
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war-battles.htm
http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/#fort_sumter
You may Also use your book.
3. Answer the questions on the corresponding sheet.
4. Write your letter, including all of the above information.
Process
Day 1: