If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War (If You)
What I Learned Section 1 -- Answer
the Following Questions:
1. Which states seceded from the Union in 1860
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana,
Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
In November, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was
elected President of the United States. At that time, there were
34 states in the Union. The South depended on farming and crops
as its way of life, and southerners depended on slaves to work
on their plantations. The North, on the other hand, depended on
industry and did not have as many slaves. The southern states
thought President Lincoln would end slavery and destroy the South's
way of life.
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina became
the first state to secede from (or leave) the Union. By February,
1861, six more states had seceded from the Union. They were Mississippi,
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. These seven states
formed the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson
Davis as President.
When Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President
in March, 1861, he faced a possible civil war. On April 12, 1861,
Union-controlled Fort Sumter was attacked by Confederate forces,
and the Civil War began.
Between April and June, 1861, four more
states seceded and joined the Confederate States of America. They
were Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Twenty-three states remained in the Union.
They were Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, California, and Oregon. In
1863, the western part of Virginia broke away from Virginia, and
it became a new state in the Union. It was called West Virginia.
At the start of the Civil War, there were
twenty-two million people living in the North and nine million
people living in the South. Did you know
three million of the nine million people living in the South were
The following is a list of the states and
dates of their secession:
Carolina: December 20, 1860
January 9, 1861
January 10, 1861
January 11, 1861
January 19, 1861
January 26, 1861
February 1, 1861
April 17, 1861
May 6, 1861
Carolina: May 20, 1861
June 8, 1861
2. What happened on
April 12, 1861?
The Civil War began at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded
from the Union. Fort Sumter was a United States military fort
located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and therefore, it
was under the control of Union forces.
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces attacked
Fort Sumter, and the Civil War began. This bombardment lasted
34 hours, until the Union forces surrendered on April 14.
The Civil War lasted four years. It ended
on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered
to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
Did you know
the Civil War was known by different names? Southerners referred
to it as The War Between the States.
3. Was the Northern
Army referred to as the Union Army or the Confederate Army?
The Northern Army was also referred to as the Federal Army, and
the northern soldiers were called Yankees. In general, Union soldiers
wore blue uniforms.
When the Civil War began and states seceded
from the Union, southern soldiers resigned from the U.S. Army
and joined confederate units. Did you
know Robert E. Lee was one of these soldiers? Lee was
born in Virginia. When Virginia seceded on April 17, 1861, Lee
resigned from the U.S. Army because of his loyalty to his home
about Robert E. Lee.
The Union military consisted of men from
the United States, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain, Great Britain,
The Union army signed up 16,000 men for
five years. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln asked for 75,000
volunteers to serve for ninety days. As the war continued and
the volunteers stopped joining the army, the government offered
money to those who volunteered. In 1863, the Union began drafting
men between the ages of twenty and forty five. However, a man
could get out of the draft by either buying a substitute to fight
in his place or paying $300.
Most Union soldiers were between sixteen
and thirty years old. Many were not married. A private was paid
thirteen dollars a month.
The Union flag was called the Stars and
Stripes. It consisted of thirty-four stars to represent all the
states, even the eleven which had seceded. In 1863, a star was
added to the flag to represent the newest state, West Virginia.
Did you know
the North and the South had different names for the same battles?
The North named battles after rivers, and the South named them
after towns. For example, the battle fought on September 17, 1862,
was called Antietam by the North and Sharpsburg by the South.
The battle fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863,
was called Stones River by the North and Murfreesboro by the South.
4. Was the Southern
Army referred to as the Union Army or the Confederate Army?
Confederate Army. The Southern soldiers were called Rebels. In
general, Confederate soldiers wore gray uniforms.
At the beginning of the Civil War, the
southern forces were comprised of small state units. President
Jefferson Davis called for 100,000 volunteers. In 1862, the southern
government drafted men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five.
However, owners of twenty or more slaves did not have to fight.
Although privates earned eleven dollars
per month, many of them were not paid until a year later.
The Confederate flag was called the Stars
and Bars. Later, the Rebel Flag was adopted.
Did you know
the South and the North had a different way to name their armies?
The South named its armies after states (or parts of states),
and the North named its armies after rivers. For example, Southern
armies were called the Army of Northern Virginia or the Army of
Tennessee, and Northern armies were called the Army of the Potomac
and the Army of the Tennessee. Did you notice the Northern army
was called the Army of THE Tennessee, and the Southern army was
the Army of Tennessee (without a "the")? Why? Because the Northern
Army was named after "The Tennessee" as in the Tennessee River,
and the Confederate Army was named after "Tennessee" as in the
state of Tennessee.
Did you know
most of the fighting occurred in the South? The Battles of Antietam
and Gettysburg were two famous battles which occurred in the North.
Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862, in Maryland. Gettysburg
was fought from July 1 - 3, 1863, in Pennsylvania.
5. True or False: During
the Civil War, children in the North had more opportunities to
attend school than children
in the South.
True. Children in the North continued
to attend public schools during the war. A typical school day
was from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They read from a McGuffey Reader,
did "sums," wrote on a slate, and memorized "pieces" to recite.
If a schoolmaster was drafted into the army, women became teachers
or the school closed. Some children did not go to school because
they worked in factories for low wages to help their family. Some
boys visited their fathers in the army rather than going to school.
Before the war, the South had less schools
than the North, and these school were usually private schools.
Wealthy parents would hire a tutor or governess to teach their
children at home. Then the children attended private high schools.
During the war, it became more difficult
for southern children to attend school. First, the tutors left
to fight. Second, children had to help out on the farm or in the
house which left less time to study. Third, many schools were
used as hospitals or prisons.
African-American children in the South
were not taught to read or write. One child, Frederick Douglass,
knew it was important to learn in order to become free. He secretly
learned from neighborhood white boys. Douglass escaped from slavery
and spoke out against slavery as an adult. Some slaves who knew
how to read and write taught others slaves in "pit schools." Pit
schools were hidden holes in the ground so the slaves would not
6. How was the news
spread from the front lines?
Letters, Newspapers, and Magazines.
Before the war in the North, people picked
up their letters from the post office or general store. During
the war, two big changes occurred with the U.S. Mail. One, the
mail was divided into classes. First class was used for letters,
second class was used for newspapers, and third class was used
for magazines. The price of postage depended on the class, rather
than on how far the letter traveled. Two, home mail delivery began
in large cities by "postmen." Later in the war, postal money orders
were used so soldiers could send money safely through the mail.
In the South, it was more difficult to
get the news from the front lines. Sometimes it could take months
or years for the news to spread. Some mail never made it through
the army lines. Often telegraph lines were cut by the Union Army.
The Vicksburg Citizen and the Richmond Enquirer
followed the battles and printed the names of the casualties.
These newspapers were read aloud in a public place because many
people could not read. When the newspapers ran out of newsprint,
they used wallpaper or wrapping paper.
What I Learned Section 2 -- Define the
Plantation: Large farm
Confederacy: A group of states
working together but allowing each state to keep its own laws
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry:
First African-American regiment
Underground Railroad: A secret
route to travel from the South and slavery to the North and freedom
Emancipation Proclamation: Document
signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, which
freed the slaves in the South
Bonus Questions (Answer 1 of the
Following Questions for Your FREE
a. Compare the life in the North and the South
during the Civil War.
Life in the North during the Civil War
People who lived in the North generally continued the same
kind of life during the Civil War. They were not directly affected
by the fighting because most of the battles were fought in the
South. Farming continued in the country, and business continued
in the cities. Women entered the workplace to replace the men
who became soldiers. Children often dressed up in soldiers' uniforms.
People who owned farms or businesses made
more money because they sold their food or goods to the Union
Army. Families who worked for someone else experienced a harder
time because the cost of food and housing increased. Workers worked
about ten to twelve hours a day and earned between $2.50 to $3.00
for the whole day.
At the same time, prices of food increased
up to 75%. For example, a dozen eggs cost as much as $6. Some
foods were difficult to find because they were grown in the South.
These included rice, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, and pecans.
Most families ate meat and potatoes. Lunch was usually eaten at
noon, and supper was eaten at 6 o'clock. During the war, canned
food began so soldiers could carry their food while they marched.
There was canned milk and canned fruit.
People who lived in the city went to the
circus, attended vaudeville shows (shows with dancing, comedy,
and singing), and watched parades as men marched off to battle.
The Sanitary Commission featured exhibits of captured battle flags
and military items to raise money for the soldiers. People who
lived in the country attended farm fairs.
Popular songs in the North included the
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Battle Cry of Freedom."
Did you know
baseball became a popular sport during and after the Civil War?
Soldiers played in between battles to pass the time. When they
returned home, they taught their children how to play.
Life in the South during the Civil War
Life changed dramatically for people living in the South. Most
of the battles were fought in the South. Food and supplies were
limited because the railroad lines were cut by the Union Army
and the ports were blocked by the Union Navy. The people had to
find new ways to make everyday necessities with what they had.
For example, buttons were made out of dried persimmon seeds and
hats were made out of corn husks or grass. Women and children
(even very young children) had to do more chores while the men
went off to fight.
As the war continued, food became more
scarce. Southerners mostly ate what could be grown or gathered.
Meat was difficult to get because it was hunted. Tea was made
from dried berry leaves, coffee was made by boiling grain, and
baking soda was made from corncob ashes. To make the food last,
some families only ate one or two small meals a day.
Although there was little time to play
games, children enjoyed pretending to play war. Boys played a
flute, and girls played with a rag doll. Popular songs were "When
Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Bonnie Blue Flag."
Southerners supported the war by sharing
food and clothing with Confederate soldiers. Homes were offered
to the officers. Families helped the wounded soldiers in nearby
Slave children were put to work by the
time they were six years old. They would put the animals in the
barn, clean the yard, or run errands. When they were older, they
would work in the fields. They did not have much time to play.
Popular songs among slaves were "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and
"Follow the Drinking Gourd."
b. Compare the life
in the North and the South after the Civil War.
Life in the North after the Civil War
During the Civil War, the North suffered about 360,000 casualties.
After the war, there were more factories which led to more jobs.
As former soldiers returned to work, many women left the work
force. The women who continued to work were paid less than the
During the war, many workers had delayed
going on strike because it was considered unpatriotic. After the
war, as the companies grew larger, low paid workers fought for
more money and the end to the fourteen-hour work day. Freed slaves
moved to the North, and they were given low-paying jobs.
President Abraham Lincoln wanted to reunite
the country quickly and peacefully. However, Lincoln was assassinated
on April 15, 1865. This was just three days after the surrender
at Appomattox Court House. Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln as
Life in the South after the Civil War
During the Civil War, the South suffered about 260,000 casualties.
After the war, it took a long time for the South to recover from
the devastation of the war. Cities and towns needed to be rebuilt.
Railroad and telegraph lines needed to be reset. Farms needed
to be replanted without the help of slaves because the Thirteenth
Amendment (ratified in 1865) abolishes slavery.
Life was difficult for freed slaves who
remained in the South. They had little education and money, and
they were discriminated against. Some decided to move to the North.
c. Describe ONE
of the following people from the North:
Abraham Lincoln: He was the President of the United States
during the Civil War. Read
about Abraham Lincoln.
Ulysses S. Grant: He was a Union general. He accepted Confederate
General Robert E. Lee's surrendered at Appomattox Court House,
Virginia, on April 9, 1865. Read
about Ulysses S. Grant.
William T. Sherman: He was a Union general.
George B. McClellan: He was a Union general and fought at
Antietam (September 17, 1862).
Ambrose Burnside: He was a Union general.
George Meade: He was a Union general and fought at Gettysburg
(July 1-3, 1863).
Sojourner Truth: She escaped from slavery and spoke about
Frederick Douglass: He was born a slave in Baltimore. After
learning how to read and write, he escaped from slavery. He became
a well-known speaker against slavery.
Robert Gould Shaw: He was a Union colonel who led the 54th
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African-American army
Harriet Beecher Stowe: She wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin,
a book about the evils of slavery.
Mathew Brady: He was a photographer who followed the armies.
His photographs allowed people far away from the fighting to see
the battlefields upclose.
Thomas Nast: He was an artist who drew a fat, jolly Santa
Claus in a sleigh filled with toys. This began the holiday tradition.
Dorothea Dix: She organized a group of nurses to treat wounded
Clara Barton: She brought food and medicine to the battle
lines, and she organized the American Red Cross in 1881.
Dr. Mary Walker: She became the first woman officer in
the U.S. Army and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
She was an escaped slave from Maryland. She helped other slaves
escape using the Underground Railroad. Did
you know her nickname was Moses?
d. Describe ONE
of the following people from the South.
Jefferson Davis: He was the President of the Confederate
States of America.
Robert E. Lee: He was a general for the Confederate Army.
Did you know his horse's name
was Traveller? Read
about Robert E. Lee.
Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson: He was a general in the
Jeb Stuart: He was a general in the Confederate Army and
led the cavalry.
James Longstreet: He was a general in the Confederate Army.
A.P. Hill: He was a general in the Confederate Army.
John Mosby: He was a raider in the Confederate Army and a
part of Jeb Stuart's cavalry. Did you
know he was known as the "Grey Ghost" because he was
hard to capture?
Nathan Bedford Forrest: He was a general in the Confederate
e. During and after
the Civil War new words were used. Define the origin of ONE of
the following words:
Northern origin. Bushy side whiskers modeled after General Ambrose
Greenbacks: Northern origin. Money printed in 1861, named
because it used green ink on the backside.
Bummers: Northern origin. Soldiers who took food and valuables
from the countryside. Today, the name is shortened to bum.
Mailman: Northern origin. Name became common when home
delivery of mail began.
Shampoo: Northern origin. Women began using this word when
they washed their hair.
Chignon: Northern origin. Women's hair wrapped plainly
into a knot in the back. It became a popular hair style for women
to show support for the war.
Dixie: Southern origin. Nickname for the South before the
Civil War. It may have started from the Mason-Dixon Line (line
dividing Pennsylvania and Maryland) or from the ten-dollar bill
marked Dix. The song "I Wish I Was in Dixie's Land"
was played during Jefferson Davis' inauguration as President of
the Confederate States of America. The song was a symbol for the
Mason-Dixon Line: Southern origin. Line dividing Pennsylvania
Dix: Southern origin. The ten-dollar bill was marked Dix
which means ten in French.
Scalawags: Southern origin. Name used to describe southerners
who worked in the new southern governments set up by the U.S.
Carpetbaggers: Southern origin. Name used to describe northerners
who came to southern states to sell items at high prices or to
control the votes of former slaves. The name came from their traveling
bags made of carpet-like material.
f. Use five of the words
in Section 2 in a sentence.
Answers will vary. Here are sample sentences from our young readers:
Carolina was the first state to secede
from the United States.
I saw a plantation when I
visited my uncle in Georgia.
The Confederate States of America was a confederacy.
Denzel Washington starred in a movie about the 54th
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. It was called Glory.
Harriet Tubman helped slaves escape on the Underground
The Emancipation Proclamation
freed slaves during the Civil War.
g. Have a parent or friend give you
a spelling test with EACH of the words in Section 2.
More Valuable Information about the
American Civil War:
Civil War History
Abe Lincoln Hero History
Robert E. Lee Hero History
Ulysses S. Grant Hero History
IMA Hero Civil War
IMA Hero Civil War
Court House National Historical Park
Sumter National Monument
Gettysburg National Military Park
Civil War Home Page