Understand the military events and strategies employed by the North and South during the Civil War; evaluate the role of technology, such as the telegraph and railroads, in the outcome of the war; analyze conditions that contribute to conflicts within nations.

Upon the secession of the eleven southern states, the newly formed Confederate States of America employed a war strategy that required that it defensively hold on to its territory until the world recognized its right to exist. However, the federal government maintained that the United States was one nation; it adopted an offensive military strategy to break up the Confederacy and preserve the Union. One Northern strategy was the Anaconda Plan—a three pronged military incursion that divided southern territory and denied the Confederacy access to resources through its ports, along rivers, and over rail and road ways. Although stunned by defeats at Manassas in 1861 and Fredericksburg in 1862, Union armies were encouraged by victories at Antietam in 1862, and Vicksburg and Gettysburg in 1863. The fall of Atlanta in 1864 helped Lincoln win a second term. When Petersburg and Richmond fell into Union hands on April 2, 1865, General Robert E. Lee finally conceded defeat.

• CA  11.1:4 Historical Interpretation: 2
• TX  113.32 (24): a-d, h; 113.32 (25): a-d; 113.38 (1): b
• FL  SS.A.4.4:6
• NCSS  II (HS): a, b, c, d, e; VI (HS): b, c, f, g; VII (HS): a; X (HS): a, h

2 class periods

• Activity Sheet, How the North Won the Civil War
• Timeline, Chronology of Daily Life in Civil War America 
• Graphic Organizer, Main Idea and Details Chart
• Research Report Rubric

Use the instructions below to guide students in writing a Research Report.

How did factors such as military strategy, technology, and resources affect the outcome of the Civil War?

Cause and Effect Students will write a Research Report in which they explore the ways in which effective use of technology and resources contributed to Northern victory in the American Civil War. Students will also research the military strategies of the North and South, as well as identify specific turning points in the War.

Have students research the topic using the provided links. Encourage them to use the suggested graphic organizers as they read the articles.

These locomotive engines were produced by the U.S. Military Rail Road during the Civil War.

To start students thinking about the impact of technology and resources on the course of the Civil War, have them examine the illustration.

Key questions students should answer are:

• What does this image suggest about transportation technology in the mid-19th century?
• How might strategic use of rail transport have contributed to the war effort?

Distribute the Student Activity sheet. Tell students that they will research the following topics to gain background information and gather facts for their report.

• Pre-War America
• North-South Differences
• Slavery
• Soldiers
• Southern Nationalism
• Organization of Armies
• Development of Corps
• Strategies of North and South
• Geographic Considerations: Terrain and Waterways
• Use of Roads
• Railroads
• Technology, Weapons, Supplies

Remind students that they should consider the ways in which each of the listed items played a part in determining the outcome of the war. Their reports should focus on the importance of resources and technology, organization and mobilization of troops, and planning and execution of strategy. Students should cite specific battles and events as evidence.

Use the Research Report Rubric to assess students’ performance.

Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Ask students: Which factor or resource was most important in determining victory in the Civil War?

Personal Letter Have students use Daily Life through History to conduct research and write a personal letter in which an American soldier in World War II describes to family members how access to resources is affecting the war effort.

Critical Thinking: APPLY