8th Grade U.S. History Activity  

INTRODUCTION

We begin our study of the Civil War in the cemetery because hundreds of thousands would lose their lives fighting for constitutional principle, sectional differences, economic self-interest, and moral righteousness. As a defining moment in United States history, our Civil War has no equal, which is why it remains such a fascinating subject even today.

TASK

Your task is to wear the boots of an American citizen between 1861 and 1865.  Today they are found in cemeteries, in books, on film and on the World Wide Web.  You will choose a role from the list below and visit related Web sites to learn details of their lives.  You will write a seven day first-person diary from the frame of reference of the role you choose or create an oral presentation and computer animation that will share much of the same information.

OPTIONS:

OPTION 1: Use the guidelines listed below to complete your project, creating a fictional Civil War diary that depicts what it would have been like to serve in the Civil War in one of the roles listed.

OPTION 2: Use a 30-45 second animation using the Alice software as a part of a five-minute oral presentation which describes what life would have been like serving in the Civil War in one of the roles listed for Option 1. (NOTE: Please turn in a list of all sources used for this option.)

ROLES

• African American Slave
• African American Freeman
• Army Chaplain
• Army Doctor
• Army Nurse
• Confederate General
• Confederate Infantry Soldier
• Prisoner of War
• Union General
• Union Infantry Soldier
• War correspondent/photographer

 

PROCESS

1. Select your role. No more than four people in the class may share the same role.
2. Visit Web resources listed below to find information about your character.
3. Research the role you have chosen including the following focus questions:

•               What is your name? Your family background?
•               What city and state are you from?  Are you for the North or South?
•               What work are you doing in the Civil War?  What tools do you use?
•               Why do you think this work is important?
•               What beliefs form your support of your side of the war?

Look for details that differentiate your "life" in the 1860s from similar roles today. Find photographs that illustrate the clothing , weapons, and housing of the times. Feel free to copy and paste these images into your final document.

      4.  Write a 7-day diary of your life.  These days do not need to be consecutive, but they do need to match up with specific days and events during the Civil War. List all resources you  use during  your research -- web sites, books, encyclopedias, videos, etc.

     5. Feel free to add images to your diary if they help explain some point that is being made.

    6. Please list the sources you used in compiling this diary. Copy and paste web addresses where appropriate, and include them in your final project. 

    6. DUE DATE: Monday, May 14th, 2007

 

RESOURCES

Each of these will have information about your role.  Do not stop with just one.  Look at three, minimum.  Make notes so you can tell where you found your information.

Home Page: American Memory from the Library of Congress

The American Civil War Homepage

Civil War Electronic Text Center

Camp Life: The Daily Routine of Soldiers

Civil War Potpourri: Great information about the Civil War that fits no particular category.

The Civil War Home Page

U.S. Civil War Center