What were the technological advances in the American Civil War?
Name ____________________
After reading informational texts, you will write an essay in which you analyze the positive and negative outcomes from
those technological advances, providing examples to clarify over your analysis.
Day 1
Discuss the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Union and Confederate Army using PowerPoint.
Task Engagement:
1. List five facts you know about the Civil War.
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2. List three specific fighting strategies or weapons used in the Civil War.
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Task Analysis:
-In your own words, what are important features to successful military campaigns?
Day 2
Continue with PowerPoint discussion through uniforms
Show the beginning of America Story of Us: Civil War (10-15 min)
Student Task:
Choose 2 of 3 articles on advancements in the Civil War.
List advancements and impacts they had on the war while reading in the space below.
Day 3
Discussed Goals of North and South at the beginning of the war, life as a prisoner
Showed a clip from the movie Andersonville
Student Task:
While in groups, discuss the different articles you read yesterday in class. Complete the “T” chart comparing and
contrasting how weapons in Civil War helped to change the way wars are fought today.
Civil War
Modern Weapons
Day 4
Read the article: “Was the American Civil War the First Modern War?”
Student Task:
Read the article and take notes to citing key points from the article justifying your answer to the above question. List at
least 5 points from the article.
Day 5
Discuss Ft. Sumter, Battle of Bull Run, and Battle of Antietam
Show Ft. Sumter Photo story
Student Task:
You will be given a map of the United States from 1861 showing how states were divided between the North and South.
You are to plot a strategy for the North on how they could use land and geographical features along with the weapons
to defeat the opposing side.
Day 6
Discuss Vicksburg and Emancipation Proclamation
Show America Story Us: Civil War (10-15 min)
Student Task:
You will be given a map of the United States from 1861 showing how states were divided between the North and South.
You are to plot a strategy for the South on how they could use land and geographical features along with the weapons to
defeat the opposing side.
Day 7
Discuss the ironclad battle of Monitor vs. Merrimac.
Show America Story Us: Civil War (10-15 min)
Student Task:
Read article from the book A History of Us: “The War at Sea” (pgs. 94-96)
Answer the following question: How did ironclad ships revolutionize naval warfare? Be sure to use information in the
article in your justification.
Day 8
Discuss the Battle of Gettysburg
Show clip from the movie “Gettysburg”
Task Engagement:
Students will analyze current pictures from the Gettysburg battlefield and map from the three days of fighting. As a
group, students will determine the best course of action for the Confederate and Union armies for July 3, 1863. Should
either side be in attack mode, defense mode, or retreat mode? Choose your strategy and explain in detail how your
strategy would be carried out.
Day 9
Discuss Sherman’s March to the Sea
Primary Source documents – Letters from Sherman and Southerner’s Perspective
Task Engagement:
After reading the letter from General Sherman and the article from a Southerner’s Perspective of Sherman’s March to
the Sea and “Scorched Earth Campaign,” how would the perception from the North and South be different in regards to
this campaign? Take the side of a Northerner or Southerner, using the primary source documents, list 3-5 points that
demonstrate whether they felt Sherman’s March to Sea was a necessary or unnecessary tactic used for that point in the
war. Pull quotes and information from the documents to prove your stance on this campaign.
Day 10
Discuss the Surrender of the South at Appomattox Courthouse
Pass out terms of surrender from 2-3 U.S. Wars.
Task Engagement:
Pretend you were Ulysses S. Grant meeting with Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865 at Wilmer McLean’s house negotiating
the surrender of the Confederate States of America. After analyzing previous terms of surrender from wars the United
States has had involvement in, list 3 to 5 terms of surrender you think Grant should have requested from Lee and C.S.A.
Day 11
Discuss the Lincoln Assassination
Show Ford’s Theater Pictures on PowerPoint
Show a Clip of the Assassination
*B.Y.O.D. Day for student research
Task Engagement:
Students will analyze different conspiracy theories connected to the Lincoln Assassination. Students will then choose
one of the conspiracy theory that they feel is the most likely to have been connected to the assassination. Then
students will explain why they feel this conspiracy was plausible. Pull information from sources using your technology
device. (5-10 sentences with your explanation)