Civil War Herald 
WebQuest
Introduction
It is June 1, 1865, and the war has been over for about a month. You are newspaper reporters working for the finest paper in your state, the Herald. The publisher of your newspaper has called a meeting the newspaper staff. He said, “We do not want people to forget what has happened during the past fifteen years. We must record the truth as we know it about the war and what led up to it so that others will remember.”Task Your class will form different groups representing the staffs of newspapers in various cities. Some newspapers will represent the Southern point of view and others will represent the Northern point of view.Guidelines
Story Assignments for the Staff of The Herald Editor-in-Chief War News People Section Political Report On
the Home Front Health and Technology
News
This section should reflect the opinions of the editor of the newspaper. Your opinions will be based on research and will represent the prevailing attitude of the time period and reflect the side of the conflict that you represent. Illustrate your articles with a picture or drawing or graph. The editor's other task is to coordinate the work of the rest of the newspaper staff, offering suggestions, and ensuring that deadlines are met. In addition to checking on the progress of your staff of reporters, write an editorial entitled, “Did the war help or hurt the country?” Soldiers' Letters - letters from soldiers of a MA regiment, providing insight into what life was like for soldiers serving with the regiment. Financing the Civil War - strategies and statistics of the North and the South. (Courtesy of the internet archive) Two Towns; Two Views - opinions in two towns on opposite sides in the War. Civil War Women - views of women of the North and South. The Women of Ante-bellum Richmond - the lives and expectations of Southern women. Letters and Diaries of Augusta County in the Civil War and Letters and Diaries of Franklin County in the Civil War describe the lives and feelings of people close to the war. Harriet Beecher Stowe - "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!" said President Abraham Lincoln on meeting Mrs. Stowe. Documenting the American South Main Page - authentic primary sources that document the American South from the viewpoint of Southerners. Strong focus on women and colored people. The American Immigration Home Page - history of immigration broken into time periods and topics. Transcribed Newspaper Articles--Franklin County - German and Irish immigrants. History of the United States Colored Troops -from the start of the Civil War. History of African-Americans in the Civil War - includes Medal of Honor winners. Free at Last - a documentary history of slavery, freedom, and the Civil War. Judgment Day - documents and first hand accounts of slavery from 1831 - 1865. Use Resource Bank links.
This section will focus on the military conflict. You should convey to your reader what went on, where it took place, when it took place, who was involved, and the significance of the conflict. The visual you use could be a map or a drawing or a photograph. Try to bring the conflict to life for your reader. What were the most important battles of the war? Include a brief description of the events of the battle. Why were they important? You must report on at least five significant battles.Maps of National Historic & Military Parks, Memorials, and Battlefields - Many detailed maps Civil War Maps - from the Library of Congress listed alphabetically The American Civil War Homepage - Battles -Fantastic site with comprehensive information and links to battles, regiments, and other military information. Crisis at Fort Sumter - Complete analysis of this conflict from the causes to the aftermath. Battles, Battlefields, and Historic Sites -Extensive links to all major battles of the Civil War. The American Civil War Overview -In depth analysis, with timelines, of the major military campaigns of the war. Naval War - American the Civil War with statistics and information on the Monitor and Merrimac. Battles -Extremely comprehensive site with numerous links to battle summaries, maps, and other military information. Andersonville Prison - What happened to the men who were captured?
This section puts the spotlight on the people who contributed significantly to the war effort. Your articles should not only reveal facts about the people and evaluate their role in the conflict, but also reveal the human side of their personalities. Include some visual material as well - a picture or drawing. Identify individuals who were important to the period. Why were they important? Were their deeds heroic or shameful? Why? You must report on at least five people who made a significant contribution during this time. At least two of the five people should be from the categories of women, colored people, or immigrants.Abraham Lincoln Research Site - written by a history teacher; a very student-friendly, thorough study of Lincoln's life and times. IPL POTUS -- Presidents of the United States - in-depth analysis of all US presidents. Presidents in American Memory - papers of Lincoln in the Library of Congress. Duke Women's Archives: On-Line Collections - two Civil War female spies are featured. Civil War Nurses - Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton are featured. Harriet Beecher Stowe - "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!" President Abraham Lincoln on meeting Mrs. Stowe. Civil War Generals - information of men who held general officer rank in the armies of the Union and the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Generals of the American Civil War - has information and photographs. The American Civil War Homepage - wonderful site with information about every aspect of the Civil War, but you will have to search for what you want. Stratford Hall Plantation, Birthplace of Robert E. Lee - good site, with photos and historical background. Abraham Lincoln Online - extensive information! Everything you want to know about Lincoln and more! Jefferson Davis - background on this southern leader. More information Jefferson Davis information here. Lincoln's War Cabinet - features Lincoln's cabinet members. Find more Cabinet information here. Spotlight: Biography - The Civil War - biographies of numerous people who were important in the Civil War, from political leaders to military leaders. Clara Barton - life and accomplishments of the famous Civil War nurse. Frederick Douglass Comes to Life - excellent comprehensive site with photos.
What were important political issues (disagreements) which lead to the war? What were issues that came up during the war.Origins of the Conflict - an overview of some reasons for secession. War Between the States I - causes of the war - if you are in a classroom or lab, you may want to mute the volume. Compromise of 1850 - another compromise about the slavery question. A Divided Nation - describes the decade (1850-1860) of failure to compromise. The Kansas-Nebraska Act - changed the Missouri Compromise. Lincoln, Douglas and Brown - Brown confirmed Southerners' worst fear. Secession and Civil War - the effect of Lincoln's election on the nation. A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union - reasons for Mississippi's succession. The Iron Horse - information on the role of the railroad. Section 5 and Section 10 have most information about the period, but all of it is interesting reading. Historical Texts of the Civil War of the United States of America - has links to original documents and newspaper editorials about John Brown's raid into Harper's Ferry. Emancipation Proclamation - gives some of the background for the Emancipation Proclamation The Secession Crisis and Before - information about the causes of succession. Augusta, Virginia and Franklin, Pennsylvania newspaper articles about race relations. The Dred Scott Decision - the Supreme Court makes a ruling on slavery. The Impact of Dred Scott - contains reactions from both the South and North. Crisis at Fort Sumter - complete analysis of this conflict from the causes to the aftermath. Chronology of Emancipation during the Civil War - important events in the history of emancipation during the Civil War
This section will focus on how the war was reflected in the day-to-day lives of the citizens -- the stories, letters, and poems that people wrote, the pictures they painted and photographed, the songs they played and sang, and the clothes they wore.Newspaper articles about daily life, trade, activities, etc. before and during the war from Augusta, VA and Franklin, PA Civil War Women and the Home Front - what the war was like from the point of view of those who stayed at home. Civil War: The Wisconsin Home Front Public Documents - speeches, reports, and personal accounts. Letter from a Soldier - correspondence from soldiers in the War. Soldiers' Letters - a sampling of letters. Women' s Revolt Rowan County, North Carolina - what happened at home when soldiers went off to war. Civil War Cartoons - explanation and examples of political cartoons. Images of Wartime - links to photographs, drawings, and other images. Library of Congress Civil War Images - Matthew Brady Collection Library of Congress Civil War Images - New York Historical Society Collection Fashion - links to styles and manners of the time. Two Towns; Two Views - life in two towns on opposite sides in the War. Arts/Entertainment/Leisure - two counties on different sides in the War. Music of the Civil War - presented in categories. Civil War Music - from the National Park Service. Civil War Poetry and Music - poems listed by type.
What technological advance affected the period the mostCivil War Battlefield Medicine Civil War and 19th Century Medical Terminology - helps you understand the language. Basic Facts Concerning Artillery - describes improvements in canons. Weapons of the Civil War - includes railroads and other technology
The following sites have much information about the period. Please use them only if you cannot find enough information in the library resources or Internet links provided. Selected Civil War Photographs from the Library of Congress Timeline for the Civil War from the Library of Congress The American Civil War Homepage Home Page: American Memory from the Library of Congress
Teacher's Guide- This page contains materials and directions for implementation of this unit.
Copyright © 1999-2006 Richard Levine, Lana Brozik, and Kathleen Kaup This site is for non-profit, educational use only. If you have any
comments, questions or resources you would like to see added to this page,
contact Richard
Levine, Cool Lessons Educational Consulting, or
Lana Brozik,
Eastview Middle School, Bartlett IL.
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On the Home Front 
