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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Civil War Through a Child's Eye

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Historical fiction and primary texts provide students with new perspectives on the Civil War era, specifically through the eyes of a child who lived during this time.
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Website
Other

Civil War Rosters: Rhode Island Links

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains links information about Rhode Island's involvement in the Civil War. Includes links on the First Rhode Island Light Artillery and the Second Rhode Island.
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Website
Other

Civil War Rosters: Missouri Links

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains links to information about Missouri regiments and Missouri's involvement in the Civil War. Links to other states in addition to those pertaining to Missouri are also provided.
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Website
Kidport

Kidport Reference Library: Uniforms of the Civil War

For Students 3rd - 8th
Shows actual photographs of the uniforms of the Union and Confederate soldiers in the Civil War.
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Primary
University of Michigan

Making of America: The Spirit of the South Towards Northern Freemen and Soldiers

For Students 9th - 10th
The full text of a William Lloyd Garrison's compilation of newspaper articles and letters of Southerners railing against the North in the Civil War. There is no commentary, only the primary source documents.
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Primary
Wisconsin Historical Society

Turning Points in Wisconsin History: Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
A treasure trove of articles, artifacts, and books dealing with Wisconsin soldiers in the Civil War. Included is a picture of a feather from Old Abe, the bald eagle mascot of the 8th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Many...
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Article
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: Waging War: The Battlefront: The Deadliest Enemy?

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses how bacteria and viruses killed many more Civil War soldiers than wounds from weaponry. Presents some of the medical instruments used by military doctors, and an artificial leg invented by the first amputee of the war, James E....
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Graphic
Digital History

Digital History: Water Color Sketchbook by Private Henry Berckhoff

For Students 9th - 10th
What did the Civil War look like to the soldiers who fought in it? The pictures in this exhibition were drawn by a young Union soldier, Henry Berckhoff, during the war. His drawings allow us to see the Civil War through a soldier's eyes.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: A War to End Slavery: Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Children at War [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that takes students through an investigation of two key battles of the Civil War--Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Students determine why these battles...
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Website
University of North Carolina

Documenting the South: John H. Worsham

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from the University of North Carolina there is a firsthand account from a foot soldier who fought under the command of "Stonewall," Jackson during the Civil War. Download the full text of John H. Worsham's text, which was...
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Handout
Other

Hart Island History: Ny State's Civil War "u.s. Colored Troops"

For Students 9th - 10th
After a brief history of African-American regiments from New York, you can read about the United Stated Colored Troops in general, where they fought, how they were paid, and the number of casualties among the troops.
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Primary
Other

Connecticut Historical Society: Civil War Manuscripts Project

For Students 9th - 10th
A vast listing of manuscripts available from the Connecticut Historical Society. Included are letters, records of military service, and regimental indexes. The documents themselves cannot be viewed, but there is a summary of what is...
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Graphic
Curated OER

A View on Cities: Philadelphia: Civil War Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial

For Students 9th - 10th
Civil War Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial (Philadelphia)
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Handout
Son of the South

Son of the South: Civil War Medicine

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the poor state of medical knowledge and expertise during the Civil War and how this impacted soldiers who were injured or sick.
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Website
Siteseen

Siteseen: Civil Conflict: Cost of the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion of the cost of the Civil War which is estimated at 15.5 billion dollars. Provides a chart detailing the cost to the North and the South with statistics and facts about the population, the number of soldiers, and the number of...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Civil War@smithsonian: Le Mat Revolver

For Students 9th - 10th
Photo and description of the LeMat revolver, which was a popular sidearm used by soldiers of both the Union and Confederacy.
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Handout
Other

Historynet: William H. Carney: 54h Massachusetts Soldier

For Students 9th - 10th
A dramatic summary of Carney's heroic actions during the Battle of Fort Wagner as well as a brief recount of his life following the Civil War.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: War Dept General Order 143: Creation of Us Colored Troops (1863)

For Students 9th - 10th
Original document that permitted the recruitment of black troops during the Civil War. Read about events and issues leading up to and following the 1863 establishment of the Bureau of Colored Troops.
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Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: The Frontier Forts of Texas

For Students 4th - 8th
The system of frontier forts in Texas was established to protect Anglo settlers as well as those moving on westward. This article details the observations of Lt. Col. William Grigsby Freeman, who set out in 1853 to inspect a series of...
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Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman: Private

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical profile on Private Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Civil War.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids History: Life as a Soldier During the Civil War

For Students 3rd - 8th
A webpage where students can learn what life was like as a soldier during the Civil War. Find out what they ate, how much were they paid, and what was a typical day like.
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Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: John Clem: Drummer Boy of Chickamauga

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical profile of a boy soldier of the Civil War, John Clem, who went on to have a lifelong career in the U.S. military.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids History: Civil War Uniforms

For Students 3rd - 8th
Kids learn about soldier's uniforms during the Civil War. The Blue and the Gray worn by the Union and the Confederates.
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Unit Plan
Other

Civil War Homepage: "Recollections of a Private"

For Students 9th - 10th
This Civil War Homepage site provides some of the text to Goss's published account of the life of a soldier in the Civil War. Part I is a good second-hand look at the Battle of Bull Run. Part II, a march from Washington to Harper's Ferry...

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