American Battlefield Trust
Gettysburg Address: Abraham Lincoln's Greatest Speech
Most Americans have heard of the Gettysburg Address, but may not know what it means and why is it so important. Following guidance and scaffolded prompts, scholars analyze the short document that left an undeniable impact on the American...
American Battlefield Trust
The Common Civil War Soldier
If it were possible to step back in time, what would learners want to know about the Civil War? With the aid of discussion prompts, they now have that chance. Invite a Civil War re-enactor to your classroom and have all their questions...
American Battlefield Trust
Joshua Chamberlain Lesson Plan
While Joshua Chamberlain's name is not as iconic as Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee, he still played a pivotal role in the military engagements of the Civil War. Using two secondary sources—including one that draws heavily from his...
American Battlefield Trust
The Home Front
Women and children played key roles during the Civil War, even if their voices are often lost in history. By studying letters and personal testimony from them, budding historians get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of civilians during...
American Battlefield Trust
Civil War Play
Everyone has a role to play. Young scholars step into history by taking on the roles of soldiers—both male and female—during the Civil War using a fictionalized play of what life was like on the battlefield. Pupils also examine the roles...
American Battlefield Trust
1861: The Country Goes to War
What was it like to know the Civil War was coming? Using a graphic timeline activity and excerpts of speeches from Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, learners consider the early days of the conflict. The resource includes prompts for...
American Battlefield Trust
Jeremiah Handley
Designed for middle school scholars, a instructional activity explores the life of Jeremiah Handley, a young man when the Civil War broke out. Pupils read Handley's personal story, accounts of battles, and view images to understand what...
American Battlefield Trust
Emancipation 1861 to 1863
Academics read newspaper articles from 1861 to 1863 regarding Emancipation and answer questions to understand how public opinion changed over time and why. The activity provides scholars with good historical context and the vocabulary...
American Battlefield Trust
John Brown
How did the raid on Harper's Ferry contribute to the start of the Civil War? Curated for high school historians, the activity explains John Brown's contribution to the start of the Civil War by using violence to demand an end to slavery....
American Battlefield Trust
Life at War
It looks like a cracker, but hardtack was anything but. The staple of the Civil War soldier's diet is one of many aspects of military life that scholars consider using letters from soldiers back home and images from slavery. A PowerPoint...
American Battlefield Trust
1862: Antietam and Emancipation
The Emancipation Proclamation shifted the tone and purpose of the Civil War. Using a primary source analysis, pupils consider the significance of the document. A second activity investigates the founding of the United States Colored...
American Battlefield Trust
Gettysburg Virtual Tour
Step into one of the most iconic battlefields of the American Civil War with an educational interactive resource. Young historians learn about key moments, locations, soldiers, and turning points in the battle with a clickable map and...
American Battlefield Trust
Pre-1861: Disunion
Nat Turner, John Brown, and Abraham Lincoln all played a key role in the run-up to the bloody American Civil War. Using a PowerPoint, timeline activity, and essay prompt, young historians consider the roles of these men and more to...
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Fort Sumter
Animated map tells the story of the events that led up to the first shots of the Civil War fired at Fort Sumter. [7:31]
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Fort Sumter April 12 14, 1861
Extensive information about the Battle of Fort Sumter. Includes maps, battle facts, biographies of the commanders, articles, historical resources, historic images, and even a 3-D photo presentation (which requires special 3-D glasses).
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Palmito Ranch
Describes the battle and skirmishes that took place at Palmito Ranch, which was the final land battle of the Civil War. Includes links to articles on the battle, and biographies of the Union Commander, Col. Theodore H. Barrett, and the...
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Sabine Pass: Second Battle of Sabine Pass
A short description of the Second Battle of Sabine Pass. Includes links to a variety of resources, including articles, a battle map, images of the battlefield, biographies of the commanders, and more.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Fredericksburg
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the battle of Fredericksburg.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Seven Days in History
Noted Civil War historian Gary Gallagher offers this informative analysis of the Seven Days' Battles, the end of the Peninsula Campaign. Read about Robert E. Lee's strategy and the Confederate protection of their capital, Richmond.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: The Battle of Antietam
Watch this animated Civil War simulation depicting the The Battle of Antietam of 1862.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Gettysburg Address Lesson Plan
A great lesson plan that examines Abraham Lincoln's greatest speech, the Gettysburg Address. Help students understand the speech in context and why it is relevant today. The lesson plan objectives, video, power points, and a thorough...
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Battle of Antietam: Facts & Summary
A large collection of resources for learning about the Battle of Antietam.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Chantilly
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the battle at Chantilly, in Virginia, in 1862.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Franklin
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the Civil War battle at Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864.