Download Practice for Test - Madison Public Schools

Document Based Questions - Practice for Test
“A cruel, crazy, mad, hopeless panic possessed them. . . . The heat was awful . . . the men were
exhausted—their mouths gaped, their lips cracked and blackened with the powder of the cartridges they
had bitten off in the battle, their eyes staring in frenzy.”
–Representative Albert Riddle, observing the First Battle of Bull Run
_____1. This excerpt describes _____ at the battle of First Battle of Bull Run.
a. terrified observers of the battle
b. courageous Confederate soldiers
c. retreating Union soldiers
d. civilians fleeing to Washington, D. C.
“For my loyalty to my country I have two beautiful names—here I am called “traitor,” farther North a
_____
–Elizabeth Van Lew, Richmond
_____2. What word best fills in the blank in this quote by Elizabeth Van Lew, who secretly sent information
about Confederate activities to President Lincoln?
a. “teacher”
b. “spy”
c. “nurse”
d. “conductor”
.
“If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the
slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.”
–August 1862
_____3. Who took this position on the issue of slavery?
a. Jefferson Davis
b. Abraham Lincoln
c. William Lloyd Garrison
d. Frederick Douglass
“[They] will make good soldiers and taking them from the enemy weakens him in the same proportion they
strengthen us.”
_____4. In this excerpt from a letter General Grant wrote to President Lincoln, to whom does “They” refer?
a. Native Americans
b. Female spies
c. African Americans
d. slaves on Southern plantations
“July 29, 1864—Sleepless nights. The report is that the Yankees have left Covington for Macon, . . . to
release prisoners held there. They robbed every house on the road of its provisions [supplies],
sometimes taking every piece of meat, blankets and wearing apparel, silver and arms of every
description. They would take silk dresses and put them under their saddles, and many other things for
which they had no use. Is this the way to make us love them and their Union? Let the poor people
answer [those] whom they have deprived of every mouthful of meat and of their livestock to make any!
Our mills, too, they have burned, destroying an immense amount of property.”
–from the diary of Dolly Sumner Lunt
_____5. During General Sherman’s March to the Sea, described in this excerpt, the object of this destruction
was _____.
a.
b.
c.
d.
to destroy the Confederate army
to find supplies for the Union army
to encourage freeing the South’s slaves
to break the South’s will to fight
“Can you imagine a fellow’s feelings about that time, to have to face thousands of muskets with a
prospect of having a bullet put through you? If you can, all right; I can’t describe it. I’ve heard some
say that they were not _____ going into a fight, but I think it’s all nonsense. I don’t believe there was
ever a man who went into battle but was _____, more or less. Some will turn pale as a sheet, look wild
and ferocious, some will be so excited that they don’t know what they are about while others will be as
cool and collected as on other occasions.”
–George Sargent, Union soldier
_____6. Which word best fill in the blanks for this passage about facing battle?
a. confused
b. curious
c. scared
d. calm
_____7. Based on the circle graphs, which of the following statements is true?
a. African Americans accounted for 18% more of Union sailors than they did Union
soldiers.
b. African Americans were better represented in the Union Army than in the Union
Navy.
c. African Americans accounted for 8% more of Union sailors than they did Union
soldiers.
d. Large numbers of African Americans were pressed into service by the Union
Navy.
_____8. The greatest difference between resources of the North and South in this graph is in which category?
a. manufactured goods
c. number of farms
b. exports
d. population
_____9. Based on the graph, the South was most nearly equal to the North in which of the following resources?
a. railroad mileage
c. exports
b. number of farms
d. manufactured goods
10. Which resource do you believe provided the greatest advantage during the war? Provide two reasons to
support your answer. Answer using complete sentences.
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“In the time that I am writing, every stalk of corn in [cornfields to the north] was cut as closely as could
have been with a knife, and the slain lay in rows precisely as they had stood in their ranks a few minutes
before.”
–a Union officer
11. This is an excerpt by an observer of the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. What
battle is described here?
“[The Confederate soldiers] carried dress suits with them, and any quantity of fine linen. Every soldier,
nearly, had a servant with him, and a whole lot of spoons and forks, so as to live comfortably and elegantly
in camp. . . .”
–observer’s account of July 21, 1861
12. From this description of Confederate soldiers going off to the First Battle of Bull Run, what outcome
from the battle did they probably expect? Explain why you believe this to be so citing examples from the
quote. Answer using complete sentences.
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“My shoes are gone; my clothes are almost gone. I’m weary, I’m sick, I’m hungry. My family have been
killed or scattered, and may be now wandering helpless and unprotected in a strange country. And I have
suffered all this for my country. I love my country. I would die—yes, I would die willingly because I
love my country. But if this war is ever over, I’ll . . . [n]ever love another country!”
–Confederate soldier, 1863
13. Discuss what this passage suggests about Southerners’ courage during the Civil War and their devotion to
the South. Answer using complete sentences citing examples from the quote in your answer.
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“At night we destroyed the city by fire. A grand and awful spectacle it presented to the beholder… The
heaven was one expanse of the fire; the air was filled with flying, burning cinders. Buildings, covering two
hundred acres, were in ruins or in flames; every instant there was the sharp detonation of the smothered,
booming sound of exploding shells and powder concealed in the buildings, and the sparks and flames would
shoot up into the black and red roof, scattering cinders far and wide… I heard the real fine band of the
Thirty-third Massachusetts playing. “John Brown’s soul goes marching on,” by the light of the burning
buildings.”
14. What battle strategy is this quote describing?
14. What was the purpose of this strategy? Answer using complete sentences.
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July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington
My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able
to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .
I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not
halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how
great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am
willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay
that debt . . .
Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could
break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these
chains to the battle field.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to
God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the
hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown
up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but
something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved
ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes
me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you.
How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little
spot upon your happiness . . .
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be
near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon
your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . .
Sullivan Ballou
Answer using complete sentences.
15. Was this man a Confederate soldier or Union soldier? What details led you to this conclusion?
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16. Why did Sullivan choose this time to write this letter to Sarah? What details led you to this conclusion?
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17. What message was he trying to communicate to her? What details led you to this conclusion?
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18. What battle might he be leaving for? What details led you to this conclusion?
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