The History Channel’s Civil War 150 Investigation Worksheet

Instructions: Using the ‘Civil War 150’ website, complete the following questions and activities. If you do not finish this in class, it is homework to access this website on your own and complete it. It is located at:

Hints: Read everything carefully. Whenever you see the little ‘i’ with a circle around it, float your cursor over it for more information. Some of these questions require more than just copying information; they ask you to draw conclusion and make inferences based on what you already know about the civil war.

  1. 150 Civil War Topics: choose one topic from each category (Technology, Union, Confederate, Battles, Places/Events, Culture). Describe each topic and why it was important in the war
  2. Technology: Topic______
  3. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Union: Topic______
  2. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Confederate: Topic______
  2. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Battles: Topic______
  2. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Places/Events: Topic______
  2. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Culture: Topic______
  2. Description:
  1. Importance:
  1. Who They Were: Explore this page to find answers to the following questions
  2. Describe the average soldier- list at least 3 things
  3. What minorities participated in the war? List at least 2 examples and specific facts about them
  4. Describe army salaries in the North and South. How were they different/similar?
  1. Create a chart/graph to represent the makeup of each army or navy- you choose which side.
  1. Describe the supplies and rations of an average soldier- you choose which side.
  1. Weapons of War
  2. Create a timeline for the weapons of war
  3. Which do you think was the most useful or important? Explain your answer.
  1. How They Died
  2. How many amputations were performed in the civil war?
  3. Which were you most and least likely to die from?
  4. What were your odds of surviving a wound?
  5. What could be 1 reason why the black fatality rate was so much higher?
  1. Which disease was the most dangerous?
  2. What is 2% of today’s population?
  1. 5 deadliest Battles
  2. Create 2 graphs/charts (1 union and 1 confederate) to represent 1 chosen statistic from these battles (example: chart representing casualties in each battle, how many were killed, etc.)
  1. Why do you think these battles were so bloody?
  1. Paying for the War
  2. What were the differences in how the 2 sides paid for the war?
  1. Whose money was more valuable? Why?
  1. What was the total cost of the war then and today?
  2. Give 2 differences between Northern and Southern currencies
  3. Why did Confederate prices go up so much by the end of the war?
  1. West Point Warriors
  2. Look at where the top generals graduated in their West Point classes. Is this a good indication of their success or failure? Why or why not?
  1. What was George Armstrong Custer’s experience at West Point like?