Curated OER
Civil War Sites and Battlefields in Arkansas
Modern day and historic images grace an informative presentation. Learners can review multiple battles and effects of the Civil War on the state of Arkansas. Major sites and battle fields are shown as they looked in the past and as they...
Newseum
Civil War: Encoding the News
Young journalists learn to appreciate the advantages of how modern media technology enables rapid news delivery as they compare today's media revolution to how the telegraph and Morse Code revolutionized news coverage during the Civil...
Curated OER
Post-Civil War American History
Fifth graders examine significant events in Post-Civil War America. In this Post-Civil War lesson, 5th graders investigate the important events after the war in 19th century America. They read primary source documents about six topics...
Curated OER
Trains, Telegraphs, and Steamships: War’s New Weapons
Young scholars examine the technological weapons of the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plan, students research the use of trains, telegraphs, and steamships in the war. Young scholars write newspaper articles pertaining to the new...
Curated OER
Fredericksburg Quiz
For this online interactive Civil War worksheet, students respond to 15 multiple choice questions about the Battle of Fredricksburg. Students may check their answers immediately.
Curated OER
Was There an Industial Revolution? Americans at Work Before the Civil War
Students tabulate the First Industrial Revolution where a significant number of inventions and innovations appeared transforming American life. Cite examples of change (ex. telegraph) in the lives of Americans during the era of question....
Curated OER
Chalkboard Challenge: Social Studies Online
If used as an independent review, this presentation could be a quick way for students to study U.S. History facts. Since it only presents a few simple facts, it would not be adequate for a comprehensive review, but a teacher could...
Curated OER
Was There an Industrial Revolution? Americans at Work Before the Civil War
Learners investigate the First U.S. Industrial Revolution. They identify positive and negative effects of early industrialization, read first-hand accounts, role-play and interview individuals, and participate in a debate.
Curated OER
Deciphering Morse Code
Students write and decode messages using Morse code, as Civil War soldiers might have done. They use a worksheet imbedded in this activity to help them experience morse code.
Curated OER
Reporters at Gettysburg A WebQuest
High schoolers create newsletters about the Battle of Gettysburg. In this Civil War lesson plan, students create a webquest based on the battle. High schoolers use the information and sources to create a Gettysburg newsletter.
Curated OER
Role of Arkansas women in the Civil War period
Eighth graders, in groups, describe the activities of Arkansas women during the Civil War.
Curated OER
Morse Code, Telegraph, and West Virginia
Students prepare for a visit to the West Virginia State Museum. For this West Virginia history lesson, students research the Morse Code and telegraph. Students create their own Morse Code and discuss communication history prior to...
Curated OER
Was There an Industrial Revolution? New Workplace, New Technology, New Consumers
Students examine the changes in the U.S. in the period of industrialization before the Civil War. They analyze census data, list/describe inventions and innovations, explore various websites, conduct a Factory Simulation activity, and...
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Narrative Prompt
Reading about history is nothing like experiencing it firsthand. Encourage your eighth graders to do the next best thing with a historical narrative prompt, in which they describe the experience of a first-time traveler on the...
Curated OER
Lincoln: The Man Who Needed Nevada
Students understand how Nevada became a state and the role of Abraham Lincoln in Nevada's statehood. In this Nevada statehood activity, students listen to background information, primary sources and research about Nevada's statehood....
Other
History News Network: How the Telegraph Helped Lincoln Win the Civil War
Abraham Lincoln participated in battle strategy in real time thanks to the telegraph. Read the fascinating story of how Abraham Lincoln was intimately involved in the course of the Civil War due to the increased use of the telegraph.
Central Intelligence Agency
Cia: Intelligence in the Civil War [Pdf]
A multi-topic look at intelligence gathering, the tools used, and the people involved in both the North and the South during the Civil War. Comprehensive, interesting coverage from the CIA.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Military Telegraph Service
Ciphers, codes, and wiretaps were all part of the telegraph service in both the Union and Confederacy. Read about the importance of the telegraph in relaying information and obtaining plans surreptitiously. From "Photographic History of...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Decoding the Civil War
This is a rich learning module where students explore the use of telegraphs and of Union codes during the Civil War. Both topics have an "Explainer" to introduce it, pre- and post-activities, and primary and secondary source materials to...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Civil War: The Nation Moves Toward War
Examine the causes of the Civil War using primary source documents. This lesson plan gives background on the Civil War, includes a timeline, and a bibliography for further reading. Primary source documents include music, newspapers,...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Transportation and Commerce in the Civil War
From "The Civil War Day by Day" by E.B. Long comes this informative article about the different types of transportation that were used in the Civil War and why each had its importance.
US Army Center
U.s. Army Center of Military History: Getting the Message Through: Civil War Organization and Training
An exhaustive look at the Signal Corps, the legislation behind its formation, and its many uses during the Civil War. Find the equipment used, the code for the signal flags, and pictures of the troops. This is a very detailed and...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Lincoln's High Tech War
Describes the weaponry used during the Civil War, and some of the innovative technology that the Union's military forces employed. These included the minie ball, rifles, underwater torpedoes, the use of hot air balloons, and improved...
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society: Waging War: The Battlefront: The First Modern War?
Discusses some of the new military and other technologies that were used during the Civil War in Virginia.