Civil War Historical Figures Activity Sheet
Historical Figure: __________________________________________________________________________
Part I: Investigating the Secondary Source
Date of Birth _________________________________ Gender: _________________ Race________________
Status: Free or Slave ________________
Regional Identity__________________ Class: _______________
What did this person do before the Civil War? (jobs?)
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List your family members: Did you marry? How many children did you have (if any) Who were your parents?
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Were you educated? Where? When? _________________________________________________________
Did you have any military training? If yes, how did you do at West Point? ___________________________
What did this person do during the Civil War?
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Supported which side during the Civil War? ____________________________________________________
Three facts about this person NOT already mentioned:
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Part II: Read the primary sources and fill in this information.
List the three most important main ideas from the primary sources. (What they might mean) Rewrite these main
ideas in your own words.
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What was the perspective of your historical figure?
Historical Context: When was the primary source(s) written ________________________________________
What was happening around your historical figure at the time the primary source(s) were written?
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Select a quote or except from the primary source(s) that
represents your person, and explain the importance of the
quote: ____________________________________________
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Describe your historical figure’s perspective. Would they consider the Civil War a War for Freedom? Why or
Why Not?
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Answer with your opinion (not your persons!): Was the Civil War a war for freedom? (freedom for who?
Why or Why not? RDF format)
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