Download questions - Boise State University

Civil War Battles
Directions: Complete this sheet as you look at the different websites so you can familiarize
yourself with the selected Civil War Battles.
Battle of Bull Run
1. What pressure was put upon Lincoln that led to him press General McDowell to attack at
Manassas?
2. Why was Manassas seen as a vital place to attack the South?
3. How long did it take the Union soldiers to reach their location? Why?
4. Were there spectators at the Battle of Bullrun? Why?
5. Who won this battle?
6. Read through Samuel J. English’s account of the battle. What can we learn from his
recounting of the battle to his mother?
Battle of Antietam
1. Why was invading Maryland important to the Confederate army?
2. What risk did General Lee take with his forces stationed at Harpers Ferry before the battle
began?
3. How many people died during this battle? Why is this number significant?
4. Who won this battle? Why was this significant to the issue of slavery?
5. Compare and contrast Davis’s and Lee’s quotes on the top with those of McClellan and
Lincoln on the bottom. What do these quotes tell us about these four men?
Battle of Gettysburg
1. How did the Confederate soldiers discover where the Union (Federal) troops were?
2. What were examples of differences of opinion among the southern generals during the battle?
Do you think this helped or hurt the Confederate’s chances? Why?
3. Who won this battle?
4. Why did General Lee want to win this battle so badly?
5. Click on the Gettysburg Address in the second to last paragraph. What is Lincoln saying in
this speech?
Battle of Atlanta and Sherman’s March to the Sea
Click on the Interactive of Sherman’s March and then click on “Explore March.” Look at the
Atlanta Campaign first.
1. How many troops did Sherman take into the march of the South?
2. Why was the Battle of Atlanta important to Lincoln’s reelection?
3. Click on the factoid that says “Atlanta Burns”. Describe the events that occurred in Atlanta.
4. Click on the Savannah Campaign at the bottom of the map. Why was Sherman obsessed with
March to the Sea?
5. Click on “Fort McAllister”. When did Sherman complete his March to the Sea? How long
did it take him?
6. Click on the Campaign of the Carolinas and read the overview. What would be a tactic used
by the Confederates to try to slow the Union troops?
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
1. Why does Robert E. Lee realize the “game is up”?
2. What was Lee wearing at the courthouse? What was Grant wearing?
3. Why do you think that Grant offered generous terms at Appomattox? Would you have done
the same?
4. What is the significance of the house that the final terms were agreed upon?
5. When did the war officially end and how many men died?
6. Look at the picture of the surrender. Comment on what you see and how it represents the
details you heard in the video clip.
Reflection
Go to your history blog and create a post on one of the battles or generals you read about in your
research. Comment on their role in the war and how you might have done things different and/or
what you saw that they did that was successful.