The Civil War
Civil War Leaders
The Union and Confederacy both saw the emergence of great leaders who all had different roles. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Union and Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy.Other than Abraham Lincoln of the Union and Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy, do you know other key leaders who played roles in the Civil War? In this interactivity, learn about five Civil War leaders and their accomplishments. Click the player button to begin.
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Frederick Douglass was a former slave who escaped and became a leader for the Abolitionist Movement. Soon after his escape, Douglass became a speaker for the Anti-Slavery Society, led by William Lloyd Garrison. It was through his speaking that Douglass urged President Lincoln to recruit former slaves to fight against the Confederacy. View Frederick Douglass from eMediaVASM to learn more about the slave turned abolitionist who became a key leader in the Civil War era.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Armies
The Union Army had many advantages over the Conferacy during the Civil War. The population of the Union in 1860 was approaching 29 million people. The population of the Confederacy was only 5 million. Naturally, the size of the Union Army was larger than the Confederacy by 400,000 soldiers. The Confederate Army had the advantage of fighting in the South. The Union had to devise a strategy to conquer the Southern states that included blocking the Southern ports, using the Mississippi River to split the Confederacy, and capturing the Capital of Richmond, Virginia. In order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and Confederate Armies, hover your cursor over the images below.
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Major Military and Political Events of the Civil War
The Civil War took place between 1861 and 1865. During the four year span, there were over 8,000 reports of conflict between the Union and Confederacy. While both sides had hoped for a very short war, the opposite occurred. Due to the large number of conflicts during the Civil War, you will examine only the major military and political events. Click the player button to begin.
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Photography of the Civil War
Photography was a new technology used to document the Civil War. While limited photographs of earlier conflicts exist, the Civil War was a time when adventurous photographers entered the battlefield. Taking pictures during battle was no easy task. Photographers would have to carry heavy equipment during battle. The photographs would be developed in a wagon, protected from light. View Civil War Overview from eMediaVASM to observe some of the photographs taken during the Civil War while the narrators explain some of the major events that took place during the war.
The Civil War Review
Now that you have explored the major military and political events of the Civil War, complete this activity to check your knowledge. In this non-graded activity, read each statement and select the correct response. Click the player button to get started.