Civil War Sesquicentennial
April 12, 2011 will mark the 150th anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter, SC, launching the beginning of the long and bloody American Civil War. The war that pitted family members against each other ended in the loss of over 600,000 lives, making it the deadliest war in US history. For the next four years, reenactments of battles, commemorations at battlefields and new exhibitions will take place across the country. These events will create excellent teachable moments to provide lessons about the war, as well as the economic and social impact it placed on the country. There will be numerous opportunities for students of all grade levels to explore this significant part of our history. There will be opportunities to focus not just on maps and dates, but music and literature as well.
There is also an abundance of information available through the Internet. A good place to start is the site
One of the most outstanding web sites that I have reviewed has been created by The National Archives. The site www.Docsteach.org has a wealth of primary sources that can be used with the readily available tools to create specific lessons that address such learning skills as sequencing of events, data interpretation, as well as map reading and interpretation skills. You should spend a great deal of time with this site (5 stars).
Planning a field trip? The web site www.civilwartravelers.com is an excellent source of information about battlefield, historical monuments and markers as well as forts. The information is organized by state. A great resource if you and your students are up for a planning an excursion.
Books to Read
If you are to read only one book about the Civil War, I would strongly recommend James McPherson’s Pulitzer Prize winner, Battle Cry of Freedom. Originally published in 1988, this volume is the definitive work on the topic, by one of America’s most notable historians.
( Photo credit- Library of Congress LC B811-465A)
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