Download NCSS Lesson Plan: Civil War Leaders

Title:
Who’s Who of the Civil War
Lesson Author:
Dave Childress
Key Words: Abolitionist, Preservation
Grade Level: 6th Grade United States History Part I
Time Allotted: 50 minutes
Rationale/ Purpose (so what?)
This lesson will introduce students to the main figures of the Civil War. These are some
of the more important figures in American history and it is imperative that students
know who these people are and what they did.
Key Concept(s) include definition:
Abolitionist- a reformer who favors abolishing slavery
Nature of the Union- ideas on how powerful the national government was. Northern
states thought the national government had the final say while southern states thought
that they could override laws they did not like.
NCSS Standard(s)
SOL Information (As written in the Virginia SOL “Curriculum Framework”
for the grade level)
NCSS Theme (s) with indicators:
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
People, Places, and Environments
SOL:
USI.9 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the causes, major
events, and effects of the Civil War by:
d) describing the roles of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee,
Thomas ―Stonewall‖ Jackson, and Frederick Douglass in events leading to and during the war.
Essential Knowledge
(minimum for SOL Resource Guide)
Roles of Civil War leaders
• Abraham Lincoln
– Was President of the United
States
– Opposed the spread of slavery
– Issued the Emancipation
Proclamation
– Determined to preserve the
Union—by force if necessary
– Believed the United States was
one nation, not a collection of
independent states
– Wrote the Gettysburg Address
that said the Civil War was to
preserve a government ―of the
people, by the people, and for
the people.‖
• Jefferson Davis
– Was president of the
Confederate States of America
• Ulysses S. Grant
– Was general of the Union
army that defeated Lee
• Robert E. Lee
– Was leader of the Army of
Northern Virginia
– Was offered command of the
Union forces at the beginning
of the war but chose not to
fight against Virginia
– Opposed secession, but did not
believe the union should be
held together by force
– Urged Southerners to accept
defeat at the end of the war
and reunite as Americans
when some wanted to fight on
• Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
– Was a skilled Confederate
general from Virginia
• Frederick Douglass
– Was a former slave who
escaped to the North and
Essential Skills
(minimum for SOL Resource Guide)
Identify and interpret primary and
secondary source documents to
increase understanding of events and
life in United States history. (USI.1a)
Sequence events in United States
history. (USI.1c)
Interpret ideas and events from
different historical perspectives.
(USI.1d)
Guiding Question(s):
Who were the important leaders in the Civil War and what roles did they
fill?
Assessment Tool(s):
In class pasting assignment for notebook
Homework assignment: who is your favorite Civil War leader?
Background: How does this lesson fit into a unit of study?
Looking backwards,
looking forwards
This lesson will be the fourth lesson in the introduction to the Civil War. The students will
already know the background leading up the Civil War, and now will learn some of the most
important people involved in the conflict. This is the last bit of background and framing
information the students need before diving into the conflict itself. This will occur after
taking a quiz the following class period to make sure students fully comprehend the
introductory material.
Lesson Objective(s) (Please number):
1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of Civil War leaders through
pasting activity and active involvement in lecture
Procedure/Process:
Obj #
See
above.
Hook
Intro.
Processing Activity and Procedure include directions, question frames,
assignment detail to be given to
students (these should all be made
into explicit materials (e.g. see
material A), and time estimates
Check for Evidence of
Understanding
-Either Formal or Informal(Checks Essential Knowledge
and Skills)
Just Do It on the board: Have Students
name any leaders they already know from
the Civil War. Have students raise hands
and write down all names on board that
are said.
Informal- this will get
students thinking about what
they already know and get
them prepared to engage in
class for the day
Transition: Pass out activity and explain the instructions of what to do.
Objective
1
Students will receive the handout provided
below. They will get this into their
Make sure all students are
staying on task and getting
notebook and be looking this over while
everyone finishes up before the lecture
starts.
Transition:
Objective
1
this assignment into their
notebook. It is extremely
important as these are the
only real notes they will have
on these leaders unless they
write something down on
their own.
Student will prepare to discuss these people as the PowerPoint
presentation begins.
We will discuss the leaders in depth as a
class. A lot of these students did these
leaders for their bio projects previously, so
they have a lot of prior knowledge. After
finishing this presentation, we will answer
any last minute questions or clear up any
misconceptions. With time remaining,
students will begin their homework where
they will answer who their favorite Civil
War leader is and why. They must write
at least 4 sentences.
Students will be evaluated on
whether they have completed
their homework and if it
follows the guidelines of the
assignment.
Modifications/Accommodations for Diverse Learners:
-Make sure diverse learners receive necessary help to get everything down
and in their notebooks.
-Make sure and speak clearly so that the interpreter can clearly sign for
hearing impaired students.
Civil War Leaders and Figures
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln
• Was President of the United States
• Opposed the spread of slavery
• Issued the Emancipation Proclamation
–Freed all slaves in the Confederacy
• Determined to preserve the Union—by
force if necessary
Other Lincoln Facts
More Lincoln
• Believed the United States was one nation,
not a collection of independent states
• Assassinated 6 days after the
Confederacy surrendered by John
Wilkes Booth
• Wrote the Gettysburg Address that said the
Civil War was to preserve a government “of
the people, by the people, and for the
people.”
• Lost Illinois Senate race…twice!!!
• Tallest President at 6’4”
Jefferson Davis
• President of the Confederate States
of America
Jefferson
Davis
• Born in Kentucky and grew up in
Mississippi
• Only President Confederacy had
Ulysses S. Grant
GRANT
• General of the Union army that
defeated Lee
• He was the SEVENTH union
commanding officer appointed by
Lincoln after: McDowell, McClellan,
Pope, Burnside, Hooker and Meade
More Grant
Robert E. Lee
• Kind of a loser…failed at everything
he did as a civilian. (sorry, it’s true)
• Not the greatest soldier, but willing
to fight
• Oh, but he later became President 
LEE
• Was leader of the Army of Northern
Virginia
• Was offered command of the Union
forces at the beginning of the war
but chose not to fight against Virginia
Other facts
• Became President of Washington
University…later Washington and Lee
• Died in 1870, five years after the war
ended
• Regained U.S. citizenship in 1975
More Lee
• Opposed secession, but did not believe
the union should be held together by
force
• Urged Southerners to accept defeat at
the end of the war and reunite as
Americans when some wanted to fight
on
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
Jackson
• Skilled Confederate general from Virginia
• Taught at VMI before the war started
• Killed at Chancellorsville by his own men
in May of 1863
Douglass
• Former slave who escaped north to
become an abolitionist
• Traveled and gave lectures on
abolition
• We already know Freddy pretty well
Frederick Douglass