Thesis Statements for 8th Grade US History Research Papers Civil War 1. John Brown proved to be a hero in his raid on the US arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. 2. John Brown was seen as a villain in the South because of his raid on the US arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. 3. The election of 1860 began a chain of events that culminated with the Civil War. 4. In the first years of the war, secession caused Abraham Lincoln to wage war against the South more so than the issue of slavery. 5. Mississippi and other southern states seceded from the Union because of the issue of slavery, not just state’s rights. 6. The primary cause of the Civil War was the issue of states’ rights and the preservation of the Union rather than the issue of slavery. 7. The South had the best military officers at the beginning and throughout the Civil War. 8. The South had a superior commander but lost because their army could not replenish their supplies. 9. Although the Northern army was better supplied, they could have lost the war early on due to inept generals. 10. Changes in technology during the Civil War changed the way that wars were fought and the way people lived. 11. Changes in weapons during the Civil War led to higher death rates. 12. Medical advancements during the Civil War led to a decrease in infections and diseases. 13. Both the Union and Confederate armies demonstrated that they were not ready for war during the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). 14. If night had not fallen on April 6, 1862, the South would have won the Battle of Shiloh. 15. Although neither the North nor the South won the Battle of Antietam, Abraham Lincoln claimed victory and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 16. The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was a turning point in the war for the North. 17. The year 1863 was a major turning point in the Civil War. 18. The North showed prejudice against African Americans during the Civil War. 19. Harriet Tubman did not limit herself to the traditional roles of women during the Civil War or to her role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. 20. During the Civil War, African American soldiers were in more danger than their white counterparts. 21. When given the opportunity, African American soldiers fought bravely for the North. 22. Clara Barton was critical to both health care and record-­‐keeping caused by disasters, both natural and man-­‐made. 23. Women were given new opportunities during the Civil War. 24. The South’s economy was doomed from the start of the Civil War. 25. Despite advantages over the South, the North’s pre-­‐war economy was insufficient to meet the needs of the Civil War. 26. The surrender of Vicksburg ended one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the Civil War. 27. With the Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln redefined the purpose of the Civil War. 28. The South lost the Battle of Gettysburg due to its own mistakes. 29. Sherman designed his “March to the Sea” to break the Southern people’s spirit. 30. The National Cemeteries system established at Gettysburg did not include burial and honors for most Confederate soldiers. 31. As President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln had to address various interrelated issues in order to ensure a Union victory. 32. US President Abraham Lincoln was a better leader than Confederate President Jefferson Davis. 33. Confederate President Jefferson Davis was a better leader than US President Abraham Lincoln. 34. Although revered by his men, George McClellan was an ineffective general. 35. General Ulysses S. Grant’s leadership helped the North ultimately win the Civil War. 36. Under Robert E. Lee’s command, the Army of Northern Virginia became the most successful of the Confederate armies. 37. The terms of surrender at Appomattox Court House supported President Lincoln’s desire for a united and peaceful Union. 38. Although John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln, he did not achieve his desired outcome. 39. John Wilkes Booth’s deed was the greatest tragedy that could have befallen both the North and the South. 40. Women spies contributed to the war effort of both the North and the South. -­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐ During the week of March 24-­‐28, students will complete typed research papers. Students will complete research and type their papers during class time, but students may need to complete some work outside of class. While students conduct research and type papers, class attendance and diligence in class will be vital to student success. Student signature: ___________________________________________________________________ Parent/guardian signature: _________________________________________________________