The Civil War
Aligned to C3.D2.His.6 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
The Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (Southern states that seceded), primarily over slavery and its expansion. It became the deadliest war in American history, killing an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers.
Worked example
In January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in Confederate states to be free and allowing Black men to join the Union Army. That July, the Union victory at Gettysburg marked a turning point in the war.
Practice questions
- Which sides fought in the Civil War?
- Explain what the Emancipation Proclamation did and why it mattered.
- Analyze why the Battle of Gettysburg and the Emancipation Proclamation together shifted the war toward Union victory.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Guerra Civil
La Guerra Civil (1861-1865) se libró entre la Unión (el Norte) y la Confederación (los estados del Sur que se separaron), principalmente por la esclavitud y su expansión. Se convirtió en la guerra más mortífera de la historia estadounidense, con una cifra estimada de entre 620,000 y 750,000 soldados muertos.
Ejemplo: En enero de 1863, el presidente Abraham Lincoln emitió la Proclamación de Emancipación, declarando libres a las personas esclavizadas en los estados confederados y permitiendo que los hombres negros se unieran al Ejército de la Unión. Ese julio, la victoria de la Unión en Gettysburg marcó un punto decisivo en la guerra.
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