5th Grade Civil War Study Guide

5th Grade Civil War Study Guide The American Civil War A Nation Divided The American Civil War fought from 1861 to 1865 was a dark chapter in American history It pitted brother against brother and left a lasting impact on our nation What Caused the War Slavery The biggest issue was slavery The South depended on enslaved people for its economy while the North was against it States Rights Southerners believed states should have more power than the federal government while Northerners thought the federal government should have more power Economic Differences The North was industrial while the South was agricultural They had different economic interests which led to conflict The Two Sides The Union The North also called the Union fought to keep the country together and end slavery Their president was Abraham Lincoln The Confederacy The South also called the Confederacy fought to break away from the Union and keep slavery Their president was Jefferson Davis Important Battles and Events Fort Sumter The first shots of the war were fired here in 1861 The Battle of Gettysburg A turning point in the war where the Union won a major victory The Battle of Antietam The bloodiest singleday battle in American history The Emancipation Proclamation A proclamation issued by President Lincoln in 1863 declaring that all slaves in Confederate states were free The Siege of Vicksburg A Union victory that gave them control of the Mississippi River Shermans March to the Sea General William Tecumseh Shermans famous march through Georgia destroying Confederate supplies and infrastructure Appomattox Courthouse The place where General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S Grant effectively ending the war Key Leaders Abraham Lincoln The president of the United States during the war who fought to preserve 2 the Union and end slavery Jefferson Davis The president of the Confederacy Ulysses S Grant The Union general who led the North to victory Robert E Lee The Confederate general who commanded the Army of Northern Virginia The End of the War and Its Legacy The war ended with the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865 The Union was preserved and slavery was abolished The war had a profound impact on the United States It led to the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians It also sparked major social and political changes including the passage of the 13th 14th and 15th Amendments which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans Understanding the Civil War The American Civil War was a complex and tragic event in our nations history Learning about it can help us understand the challenges we face today and the importance of unity and freedom Remember The Civil War was a turning point in American history It is important to learn about the war so we can appreciate the sacrifices made by those who fought in it It is also important to remember that the war was about more than just slavery It was also about states rights economic differences and the future of the nation Further Exploration Visit a Civil War battlefield or museum to learn more about the war firsthand Read books and watch movies about the Civil War Talk to your family members about their experiences with the war The Civil War was a difficult time in American history but it ultimately led to a more just and united nation By learning about this chapter in our past we can better understand our present and work towards a brighter future 3