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Webquest

Riley Crowford

Grade 11

Civil War Webquest

Objective: This Webquest will give students a better understanding of the causes of the Civil War, the logistics of some of the major battles and the ramifications they had on each society, and an understanding of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Step one: Leading up to the War

Go to http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ and answer the following questions leading up to the Civil war.

1. Who stated, “Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free…”?
2. Which State was first to secede from the Union?
3. What happened on February 9^th, 1861?
4. On March 4^th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as what number president of the United States?
5. Which side fired the first shots at Fort Sumter, Confederate or Union?

Step two: The two sides leaders

Go to http://www.us-civilwar.com/leaders.htm and identify whether each listed individual was for the Union or the Confederacy.

1. Abraham Lincoln
2. Jefferson Davis
3. Robert E. Lee
4. Ulysses S. Grant
5. Stonewall Jackson
6. William T. Sherman

Step three: Reasons for fighting

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25IzGDvL5oM watch the video and then list 3-5 causes of the Civil War.

Step four: First Bull Run

Go to http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bullrun.htm and read the account of Samuel J. English, imagine that you were fighting at the battle of Bull Run, write a brief letter to a member of your family, as English did, describing the events that took place.

Step five: Shiloh

Go to http://www.civilwarhome.com/shilohdescription.htm and answer the following questions.

1. What was the date of the battle of Shiloh?
2. How many men were killed, wounded or missing?
3. Who won the battle?
4. What did this battle make both sides realize?

Step six: Second Bull Run

Go to http://americancivilwar.com/manassas2_travelbrains.html study the four maps leading up to Union General Pope’s retreat.  Some argue his retreat was cowardly and put the entire war in jeopardy, others say it was a justified attempt to save as many soldiers’ lives as possible.  Imagine you are Pope writing to your superior officer.  Write a brief paragraph justifying your retreat, use evidence from the maps to construct your response.

Step Seven: Gettysburg

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4bM9geY0do and watch the video of the Gettysburg address.  In many of the battles the Confederate dead as well as the Union dead were buried side by side.  Do you think this is justified?  Why or why not?

Step Eight: Sherman’s March to the Sea

Go to www.history.com/interactives/shermans-march and explore the interactive map.  Sherman was ordered to march to the Atlantic Ocean and destroy everything in his path, imagine you are a plantation owner and are at the mercy of the Union Army, would you cooperate with the soldiers or keep fighting, why?

Step nine: Appomattox Courthouse

Go to http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm and read about the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, then complete the crossword puzzle below.

Appomattox Crossword

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACROSS 4. The Month of the surrender 5. The best history teacher in the world 6. Confederate General 8. Union General 9. The terms of the surrender

DOWN 1. Side that surrendered 2. Court house where surrender took place 3. President of the United States of America 7. The process of rebuilding after the Civil War 10. President of the Confederate States of America

Step ten: Lincoln Assassination

With a partner go to http://www.history.com/topics/abraham-lincoln-assassination/interactives/john-wilkes-booth-timeline-and-map watch the intro and explore the interactive map. Lincoln has been viewed as the last casualty of the Civil War, and some argue that the course of Reconstruction was severely altered by his death.  With your partner hold a dialectic regarding this issue, one of you discuss if Reconstruction was altered by his death and give points to back it up, while the other takes the opposite side of the issue.  You may be asked to present in front of the class.

Answer Sheet

Step one: Go to http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/ and answer the following questions leading up to the Civil war.

6. Who stated, “Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free…”?
1. Abraham Lincoln
7. Which State was first to secede from the Union?
1. South Carolina
8. What happened on February 9^th, 1861.
1. Jefferson Davis became the President of the Confederate States of America (Confederate Sates Formed).
9. On March 4^th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as what number president of the United States?
1. 16th
10. Which side fired the first shots at Fort Sumter, Confederate or Union?
1. Confederates

Step two: The two sides leaders

Go to http://www.us-civilwar.com/leaders.htm and identify whether each listed individual was for the Union or the Confederacy.

7. Abraham Lincoln
1. Union
8. Jefferson Davis
1. Confederate
9. Robert E. Lee
1. Confederate
10. Ulysses S. Grant
1. Union
11. Stonewall Jackson
1. Confederate
12. William T. Sherman
1. Union

Step three: Reasons for fighting

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25IzGDvL5oM watch the video and then list 3-5 causes of the Civil War.

Answers may vary and may include but are not limited to; Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, The Election of Abraham Lincoln, slavery, states rights vs. national rights, the Secession Crisis, etc.

Step four: First Bull Run

Go to http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bullrun.htm and read the account of Samuel J. English, imagine that you were fighting at the battle of Bull Run, write a brief letter to a member of your family, as English did, describing the events that took place.

Answers will vary.

Step five: Shiloh

Go to http://www.civilwarhome.com/shilohdescription.htm and answer the following questions.

5. What was the date of the battle of Shiloh?
1. April 6-7 1862
6. How many men were killed, wounded or missing?
1. 23,746
7. Who won the battle?
1. It was basically a draw, with a slight lean toward Union victory.
8. What did this battle make both sides realize?
1. The war would not end quickly.

Step six: Second Bull Run

Go to http://americancivilwar.com/manassas2_travelbrains.html study the four maps leading up to Union General Pope’s retreat.  Some argue his retreat was cowardly and put the entire war in jeopardy, others say it was a justified attempt to save as many soldiers’ lives as possible.  Imagine you are Pope writing to your superior officer.  Write a brief paragraph justifying your retreat, use evidence from the maps to construct your response.

Answers will vary.

Step Seven: Gettysburg

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4bM9geY0do and watch the video of the Gettysburg address.  In many of the battles the Confederate dead as well as the Union dead were buried side by side.  Do you think this is justified?  Why or why not?

Answers will vary.

Step Eight: Sherman’s March to the Sea

Go to www.history.com/interactives/shermans-march and explore the interactive map.  Sherman was ordered to march to the Atlantic Ocean and destroy everything in his path, imagine you are a plantation owner and are at the mercy of the Union Army, would you cooperate with the soldiers or keep fighting, why?

Answers will vary.

Step nine: Appomattox Courthouse

Go to http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm and read about the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, then complete the crossword puzzle below.

Appomattox Crossword

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACROSS 4. The Month of the surrender  APRIL 5. The best history teacher in the world CROWFORD 6. Confederate General  LEE 8. Union General GRANT 9. The terms of the surrender  UNCONDITIONAL

DOWN 1. Side that surrendered CONFEDERATE 2. Court house where surrender took place  APPOMATTOX 3. President of the United States of America  LINCOLN 7. The process of rebuilding after the Civil War  RECONSTRUCTION 10. President of the Confederate States of America  DAVIS

Step ten: Lincoln Assassination

With a partner go to http://www.history.com/topics/abraham-lincoln-assassination/interactives/john-wilkes-booth-timeline-and-map watch the intro and explore the interactive map. Lincoln has been viewed as the last casualty of the Civil War, and some argue that the course of Reconstruction was severely altered by his death.  With your partner hold a dialectic regarding this issue, one of you discuss if Reconstruction was altered by his death and give points to back it up, while the other takes the opposite side of the issue.  You may be asked to present in front of the class.

Answers will vary

10 Reasons Webquests are effective teaching tools
1. Involves students in the learning process.
2. Teaches students internet navigation.
3. Change from the day to day lessons.
4. Helps prioritize information.
5. Interactive.
6. Involves critical thinking.
7. Caters to different learning styles.
8. Provides structure.
9. Students take an active role in the learning process.
10. Easy to put together.