Great for overall Civil War information / facts: http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/facts.htm
More: http://www.history.com/news/10-surprising-civil-war-facts
And: http://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/2014/05/21/12-stunning-civil-war-facts/
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Pages 454-465
Chapter 15: The Nation Breaking Apart
Section 1: Growing Tensions Between North and South
Section 2: The Crisis Deepens
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Before Reading:
1. The largest event in the entire history of the United States was the _____________________________
2. The “Main Idea” and “Why it Matters Now” on page 462: Turmoil over slavery led to acts of _______,
and violence can make ___________________________ more difficult.
3. From the maps on the top of page 464, there were ____ different types of areas in the country by 1854.
4. Why were the Northern and the Southern economies so different in the period before the Civil War?
5. What were some ways racism was common in both the North and South?
6. How did the war with Mexico lead to conflict between the North and South (over places like California)?
7. Why did people from the North AND people from the South resent “Uncle Tom’s Cabin?”
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
8. How did northerners react to the beating of Charles Sumner? How did that represent what was going on
in the nation at that time?
9. Why do you think people felt so strongly about slavery?
9. If you’re taking an ACT Test on a Saturday and you see someone you know is from another school and
you catch them cheating, and you get asked about it, do you say you didn’t see anything (and get no
money), say you know they weren’t cheating, and get $25.00, or report them for cheating and get $50.00?
(they won’t ever know what you said).
10. Do you think debates can help solve issues, or do you believe they cause people to get angrier. Why?
10. What would you have done to prevent/stop the violence in Kansas?
8 Types of Reading Comprehension Questions
(There are eight basic types of questions to test reading comprehension skills)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Facts and details / looking for specific information.
Point of view / the author’s attitude and tone.
Main ideas / themes / major points.
Comparisons and analogies / relating 2 passages.
Cause and effect
Character generalizations / themes and arguments.
Vocabulary / using words in context
Drawing inferences / implied information.
Following, are described each of these eight question types and provide examples of each. The examples
should familiarize you with the most common ways that people phrase their questions, and get you thinking
about what sort of understanding each question tests.
1. Facts and details / looking for specific information
Refers back to the reading passage. Often looks for details about a reading passage. Watch out for answers
that may only be partly correct. May ask what order things occurred in. Sometimes may ask: all of the
following are true except… Questions on specific information ask you to find precisely that specific
information. The questions will indicate a section of the passage, usually through the use of line numbers,
and ask a question about the information presented within that specific area. The specific information that
these questions ask about varies widely
Examples:
 All of the following were clearly identified in the passage EXCEPT…____________________
 According to the passage, in which order did the following occur:
1. In the section on Anti-Slavery and Racism (on pages 458 and 459), all of the following are true except:
(this question is worth 1 point)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The issue of slavery increased tension between the North and the South.
Many slaveholders argued that whites were superior to Blacks.
Because of their opposition to slavery, most Northerners were not racist, even by today’s standards.
Some Northern workers were afraid freed slaves may end up taking their jobs.
2. (Making your own question is worth 3 points – 1 for the question, 1 for the answers, and 1 for circling the
correct answer).
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 15: The Nation Breaking Apart
Section 3: Slavery Dominates Politics
Section 4: Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession
Pages 466-475
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Before Reading
1. Main Idea – 466: Disagreements over slavery led to the formation of the ___________________ Party.
2. Why it Matters Now – page 471: The Civil War was the only time in U.S. history that states
___________________________ from the Union.
3. From the map on page 473, how many votes did Lincoln get in the Election of 1860? ________
(The answer is not 1,865,593)
4. Why was the Republican Party formed?
5. Why was Dred Scott not given his freedom?
6. From the painting on page 470, how did the artist portray John Brown? Was the artist a slavery supporter
or anti-slavery supporter?
7. What did southerners fear Lincoln would do right after the election?
8. John Brown was compared to Moses freeing his Hebrew people (from Egypt) in the Bible. Compare
someone around today or someone from the recent past who did similar things – helped “their people.”
8. What do you think Lincoln sounded like during his debates? How do you think he wanted to sound to the
people listening to him?
9. If you lived in the south in the 1850s and you could afford some slaves, do you think you would have
owned slaves? Why or why not?
9. Do you think the southern states seceded more to protect slavery, or state’s rights?
10. Besides secession (leaving the Union), what alternatives did the South have?
10. What could have been done by the North to keep the South from seceding?
2. Author’s point of view or the author’s attitude and tone
Asks you to think from the writer’s point of view. How does the author view the subject? This type of
question tests whether you understand how the author views the subject about which he or she writes.
Attitude and tone questions will ask you for a description of the author’s feelings about the subject. As you
read these kinds of passages, think to yourself about whether the argument the writer is making seems to
support or attack his subject. Also pay attention to the language the author uses, which will help you to
determine tone. If you have one answer choice that describes the author as feeling positive about his subject
and one as feeling negative, then you know one must be wrong. If you are unable to figure out the definitive
answer to this type of question, you may still have a good chance of eliminating some answers so that you
can guess.
Examples:
 The passage is written from the point of view of …____________________________.
 In the author’s view, which of the following would be true
…________________________________.
 The narrator’s point of view is …_______________________________________.
1. After reading “A Voice from the Past” on page 475, the speaker’s point of view is that:
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
The South and North are going to have to fight to resolve their conflict.
The North is right, and the South will have to learn to accept their way of thinking
The South is right, and the North will have to accept their way of thinking.
The North and South are going to have to figure out how to get along with each other.
The Confederacy
Abraham Lincoln
-Lost job in 1832.
-Defeated for state legislature in 1832.
-Failed in business in 1833.
-Elected to state legislature in 1834.
-Sweetheart died in 1835.
-Had nervous breakdown in 1836.
-Defeated for Speaker in 1838.
-Defeated for nomination for Congress in1843.
-Elected to Congress in 1846.
-Lost re-nomination in 1848.
-Rejected for land officer in 1849.
-Defeated for U.S. Senate in 1854.
-Defeated for nomination for Vice President in 1856.
-Again defeated for U.S. Senate in 1858.
-Elected President in 1860.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Highlight Lincoln’s victories and defeats
= Victories
= Defeats
11.
From: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/10-facts-about-the-civil-war/
10 Facts About The Civil War
The Civil War profoundly shaped the United States as we know it today. Nevertheless, the
war remains one of the most misunderstood events in American history. Here are ten facts
you need to know about America's defining struggle.
1. The Civil War was fought between the Northern states and the Southern states from
1861-1865.
2. Abraham Lincoln was the President of the United States during the Civil War.
3. Before the United States was formed, many different civilizations existed on the
American continent.
4. The issues of slavery and central power divided the United States.
5. The Civil War began when Southern troops bombarded Fort Sumter, South
Carolina.
6. The North had more men and war materials than the South.
7. The bloodiest battle of the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
8. The North won the Civil War.
9. After the war was over, the Constitution was amended to free the slaves, to assure
“equal protection under the law” for American citizens, and to grant black men the
right to vote.
10. Many Civil War battlefields are threatened by development.
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 16: The Civil War Begins
Section 1: War Erupts
Pages 478-487
Before Reading:
1. From the picture on pages 478/479, it looks like there were times people might actually _____________
some of the battles during the civil war.
2. Page 482: Abraham Lincoln: Early in his presidency, he was widely _____________ and ___________.
Critics labeled him __________________, ___________________, and __________________________ .
3. Where did the Civil War start?
4. Why was Virginia such an important state to secession?
5. Which were at least 3 of the Northern advantages?
6. What were at least 3 of the Southern advantages?
7. Why was the Battle of Bull Run so significant?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
8. How was the South‘s situation in the Civil War like the situation of the Patriots in the Revolutionary War?
8. People in the North generally think quite highly of Abraham Lincoln. What might some people think of
him in the South (either today or in the 1860s)?
9. Why might citizens in the Union and Confederacy both be eager to fight the war?
9. Why might a civil war be worse than other wars?
10. How would your life be affected in the next 12 months if Illinois and Wisconsin suddenly went to war
with each other, and no-one was able to stop it?
10. Lincoln’s formal education was less than one year in a one-teacher school. Is that a good idea to elect a
president like that today?
3. Main ideas / themes / major points
Could be the whole passage or just one section. Ask yourself: what did the author accomplish with this?
Main theme, idea, or point questions test your understanding of the entire passage. The questions do not
provide line numbers or specific quotations to focus your search. Instead, they ask broad questions that focus
on the passage’s primary issues. Main idea questions come in a variety of forms.
Examples
 The main point of the 4th paragraph is…
 The function of the 2nd paragraph in relation to the passage as a whole is….
 Which of the following descriptions most accurately represents the passage?
 The authors purpose in writing this passage ….
1. The main point of the profile of Abraham Lincoln on page 482 is that:
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
While he was president, Abraham Lincoln was often ridiculed and criticized.
Abraham Lincoln was a great president.
Abraham Lincoln wanted Americans to “do their duty.”
Although he was often criticized at first, Abraham Lincoln later gained many people’s respect.
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 16: The Civil War Begins
Section 2: Life in the Army
Section 3: No End in Sight
Pages 488-497
Before Reading
1. Main idea – page 488: The sides endured many _______________________ serving in the Civil War.
2. Main idea – page 493: In the first two years of the war, _________________________side gained a
decisive victory over the other.
3. On page 492: During the Civil War, for the first time, ______________________________ were used.
4. What were the characteristics and background of a typical soldier?
5. How did scientific ignorance contribute to the spread of disease during the civil war?
6. What changes in military technology had an effect on the average soldier and why?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
7. Why was controlling the rivers important (such as at the Battle of New Orleans)?
8. If you’re in charge during the war, what would be one of the things you want to make sure you protected
and what would be one thing of the enemies really want to go after?
8. If you’re in charge of troops, would you rather fight with a defensive strategy or would you rather be in
aggressor and invade the other side…. and of course, why?
9. Which hardships would have been the most difficult to endure and why?
9. What are some similar characteristics between someone wanting to fight in the Civil War
and someone wanting to fight the war today?
10. What are some motives for an individual to want to fight in a war?
10. Even if they heard it was horrible at times to be a soldier why would somebody sign up to fight in the
Civil War?
4. Comparisons and analogies / relating 2 passages
Nonfiction articles often have you compare facts. Many compare different viewpoints or data. Watch for
similarities and differences. May test your ability to understand the passages in relation to each other. The
three most common types of question are:
Relating Main Ideas.
Which statement best describes a disparity between the two passages?
Relating Arguments.
How would the author of passage 2 react to the concept described in passage 1?
Relating Specific Information.
Which piece of information in passage 2 provides the best support for passage 1?
While thinking about these questions, you can often uncover a clue to the answers by thinking of the general
relation between the passages. For example, if you know the passages disagree completely, you can use that
knowledge to assume that the author of passage 2 will feel negatively about the writing described in passage
1.
Examples:
 This passage likens a forest fire caused by lightning to….
 In the 2nd paragraph, what is the main difference between xxx and yyy?
 In the last paragraph, a comparison is made between _________ and ___________. Why did…..
1. In “A Voice from the Past” on page 497, the author is comparing:
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
The battlefield to a bloody hailstorm.
The soldiers to athletes.
The battle field to a corn field.
The Civil War to an athletic contest.
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 17: The Tide of War Turns
Section 1: The Emancipation Proclamation
Section 2: War Affects Society
Pages 500-511
Before Reading
1. Why it matters now / page 503: The Emancipation Proclamation was an important step in ending
_______________________ in the United States.
2. Why it matters now / page 507: Some changes affected Americans __________________ the end of the
Civil War.
3. Drawing on page 509: One of the big problems during many wars is ________________________
4. What did the Emancipation Proclamation accomplish and why was it important?
5. How did discontent with the war affect the Confederate soldiers?
6. Why were economic problems particularly bad in the South? How did the war affect their economy?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
7. How were prisoners of war treated? What conditions at prison camps caused so many to suffer behind
enemy lines?
8. What might be one of your actions as a soldier that may affect the rest of your life? It could be either a
positive or negative thing.
8. What are some reasons you’d give yourself to “stick with it” and keep fighting – even under the most
horrible of conditions?
9. We are in a war right now that many people don’t believe we should be fighting. Should it be an option
for soldiers to refuse to fight they don’t believe in the cause? Why or why not?
9. What could you do if your country was fighting for something you didn’t believe in?
5. Cause and effect
There are lots of cause and effect questions in Science and Social Studies. You may have to identify how
one thing affects another.
Examples:
 Which of the following happened to the people of _________ because of________________?
 According to the passage, ________________ is necessary because____________________.
 Problems involved with __________________ likely stemmed from ________________________
1. According to the passage, “One American’s Story” on page 507,
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
The Civil War caused many children to be orphaned.
A constant demand for men and resources caused the South to lose the Civil War.
The threat of force caused many riots during the Civil War.
Shortages of resources caused many riots during the Civil War.
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 17: The Tide of War Turns
Section 3: The North Wins
Section 4: The Legacy of the War
Pages 512 - 525
Before Reading
1. One of the most important battles in the Civil War (and in our nation’s history was the battle at
_______________________________ (on pages 514 and 515)
2. Page 520 – Why it Matters Now: The most important change after the Civil War was the liberation of
_____________________ enslaved persons.
3. Page 516: Two of the main generals during the civil war were ______________________ (Union/North)
and _____________________________ (Confederacy/South)
4. Why was the Battle of Gettysburg the turning point in the civil war?
5. How did Grant treat Confederate soldiers after the surrender at Appomattox Court House?
6. What were the economic costs of the war?
7. What were the physical costs of the war?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
8. What do you think were some challenges the country faced after the Civil War?
8. It’s not easy to get back together after a war or a battle or big argument. What’s a situation where you
took a long time to get back together with someone after a major problem (maybe you still haven’t)?
9. What was Sherman’s concept of total war? Are you for total war or a controlled series of battles?
9. What do you think caused Sherman to destroy all the southern (Georgia’s) land and property?
10. What are two ways the sudden and unexpected death of a president can affect the nation?
10. How do you feel the 13th Amendment is different than the Emancipation Proclamation?
6. Character generalizations / themes and arguments
The right answers may not necessarily be perfect answers. Watch for whose point of view the question
requires. Often the questions may be about a character’s attitude or emotional state.
Examples:
 As he_____________________, this president can best be characterized by….
 John’s emotional state during the visit may best be described as………………………
1. In “The Gettysburg Address” on page 513, Lincoln’s feelings during this speech must have been…
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
that he was a complete failure.
pride that he had led the North in their defeat of the South.
sadness that so many people died trying to “preserve the Union.”
that the country needed to forget the past on move on to new things.
The following chart compares the amazing coincidences
in the deaths of Lincoln and Kennedy.
Lincoln
Kennedy
Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846
Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946
He was elected President in 1860
He was elected President in 1960
His wife lost a child while living in the White
House
His wife lost a child while living in the White
House
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.
He was directly concerned with Civil Rights
He was directly concerned with Civil Rights
Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy who
told him not to go to the theater
Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln who told
him not to go to Dallas
Lincoln was shot in the back of the head in the
presence of his wife
Kennedy was shot in the back of the head in the
presence of his wife
Lincoln shot in the Ford Theatre
Kennedy shot in a Lincoln, made by Ford
He was shot on a Friday
He was shot on a Friday
The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was known
by three names, comprised of fifteen letters
The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was known by
three names, comprised of fifteen letters
Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and fled to a
warehouse
Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and fled
to a theater
Booth was killed before being brought to trial
Oswald was killed before being brought to trial
There were theories that Booth was part of a
greater conspiracy
There were theories that Oswald was part of a
greater conspiracy
Lincoln's successor was Andrew Johnson, born
in 1808
Kennedy's successor was Lyndon Johnson, born in
1908
John Wilkes Booth was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939.
Lincoln had a son who died while he lived in
the White House
Kennedy had a son who died while he was living
in the White House
Lincoln had 2 sons named Robert and Edward.
Edward died young and Robert lived on.
Kennedy had 2 brothers named Robert and
Edward. Robert died young and Edward lived on.
The Gettysburg Address…
… is a speech by Abraham Lincoln and is one of the most well known speeches in United States history. It was delivered at the dedication of the
Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War,
four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg.
Abraham Lincoln's carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, came to be regarded as one of the greatest speeches in
American history. In just over two minutes, Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and
redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as "a new birth of freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens,
and that would also create a unified nation in which states' rights were no longer dominant.
Beginning with the now-iconic phrase "Four score and seven years ago," Lincoln referred to the events of the Civil War and described the
ceremony at Gettysburg as an opportunity not only to consecrate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to dedicate the living to the struggle to
ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Despite the speech's prominent place in the history and popular culture of the United States, the exact wording of the speech is disputed. The five
known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address differ in a number of details and also differ from contemporary newspaper reprints of the speech.
“
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on
this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that
nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can
long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final
resting place for those who here gave their lives that that
nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we
should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not
consecrate...we can not hallow this ground. The brave men,
living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far
above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little
note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought
here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be
The only confirmed photo of Abraham Lincoln
at Gettysburg (circled), taken about noon,
just after Lincoln arrived and some three hours
before the speech.
To Lincoln's right is his bodyguard.
here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that
from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that
cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—
that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 18: Reconstruction
Section 1: Rebuilding the Union
Pages 530-539
Before Reading
1. After looking at the picture on pages 530 and 531: Two words that describe what many parts of the South
looked like after the Civil War: ___________________ and ___________________
2. Why it matters now / page 533: Reconstruction was an important step in the African-American struggle
for ____________________.
3. How does the man look in the picture on page 536? ______________________________________
4. What was “reconstruction?”
5. What was the reason many states passed new “black codes?”
6. What political gains did African-Americans gain during Reconstruction?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
7. Why was President Johnson impeached? Was Congress justified in doing so?
8. After we defeated Iraq in the Persian Gulf War, we stayed to help them rebuild their country. Should we
have done that? Why or why not?
8. What should the U.S. government done (if anything) to help the newly freed African-Americans after the
Civil War?
9. If you had two friends who got a big disagreement/argument/fight… and you want them to get along
again, what would be two things you might try to get them to start to be friends again?
9. What do you think may have still been some issues after the Civil War that might have continued to
divide the nation?
7. Vocabulary / using words in context
Often, there are multiple meanings for words, so decide the best use of the word in this context. The word is
often highlighted or italicized and a line number may be provided. Often, if you can’t eliminate wrong
answers, the longest answer is most likely correct.
Examples:
 As it is used in line 37, the word _____________________ most nearly means
___________________.
 In the context of the passage, ______________ means _____________________.
1. As it is used in the passage on page 534, the word “Radical” in Radical Republicans means:
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
favoring major changes
far-reaching, searching, or thoroughgoing
excellent, admirable, or awe-inspiring
the most important of the group
Unit 5: A Nation Divided and Rebuilt
Chapter 18: Reconstruction
Section 2: Reconstruction and Daily Life
Section 3: End of Reconstruction
Pages 540-549
Complete all these questions (1 point each)
Before Reading:
1. Why it Matters Now – page 540: Many important African American institutions, including
________________ began during reconstruction.
2. Why it Matters Now – page 545: Reforms made during reconstruction made later
________________________ gains possible.
3. On the top of page 543: This is a time in our history when _______________________________ began.
4. What were some of the first and most basic needs for African-Americans after slavery?
5. How did the contract system and sharecropping operate? What were their drawbacks?
6. Despite greater civil rights, why did African-Americans still face difficulty in improving their lives?
7. Why did some women protest the passing of the 15th Amendment?
8. What obstacles did African-Americans still face after the end of reconstruction (2)?
Answer only one of each set of these questions
(2 points each)
9. What lasting gains did African Americans make during reconstruction (3)?
10. Pick one of the Civil War Amendments (13, 14, or 15) and tell me how it promoted greater equality for
African-Americans… and one way that amendment may have still been limited in it’s power.
10. Why do you think education was so important to most ex-slaves?
11. What might be one obstacle African-Americans faced during Reconstruction that may still be an issue in
some way today?
11. What was a solution to the problem of Ku Klux Klan violence?
8. Drawing inferences / implied information
You have to note what is implies or suggested, not directly stated. Questions may be about the
author’s style or tone. You’ll have to figure out the answer from evidence. Questions on implied
information are quite similar in form to those on specific information. Just as in specific information
questions, these questions will identify and inquire about a particular section of the passage. However,
whereas specific information questions ask about concrete information contained in the text, implied
information questions ask about the less obvious information contained “between the lines” of the text.
Often, you will be able to identify these questions through the use of words such as “inferred,” “implied,”
“indicated,” or “suggested.”
Examples:
 The passage implies that ……………………
 On the whole, the tone of the selection appears to be …………
 It can be inferred from the passage that …………………..
1. In the section on “Black Colleges” on page 541, it can be inferred that:
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
There are still some African-American colleges and universities in the South today.
Many Southern African-American colleges and universities are teacher schools.
The only place African-Americans could go to college during reconstruction was in the South.
Many African-Americans colleges and universities were forced to accept ex-slaves.