A collection of inquires related to the American Civil War
The American Civil War
African Americans and the Civil War
Compelling Question
How did African Americans experience the Civil War?
About the inquiry
This inquiry examines the experiences of African Americans during the Civil War, those who served in the Union army and enslaved, formerly enslaved, and freed blacks in the south and north. The contributions of African Americans to the war effort were considerable. About 179,000 black soldiers (10% of the Union Army) served in the U.S. […]
1 Summative Performance Task
4 Supporting Questions
The Telegraph in the Civil War
Compelling Question
Did the telegraph make a difference in the Civil War?
About the inquiry
This inquiry provides students with an opportunity to examine the role that the telegraph played in the Civil War. The telegraph system used in the Civil War emerged over two decades in the 1830s and 1840s as inventors and businessmen worked to find a way to send electronic messages over wires. Samuel Morse cracked the […]
1 Summative Performance Task
3 Supporting Questions
Lincoln and McClellan
Compelling Question
How did the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan affect the Civil War?
About the inquiry
This inquiry focuses on the relationship between President Abraham Lincoln and his commanding General George McClellan and the impact of their relationship on the Civil War. President Lincoln and General McClellan knew each other long before the Civil War having worked together on the Illinois Central Railroad in the late 1850s, where McClellan was the […]
1 Summative Performance Task
3 Supporting Questions
Telegrams and the Battle of Gettysburg
Compelling Question
What do telegrams tell us about the Battle of Gettysburg?
About the inquiry
Students will examine eighteen telegrams to learn more about troop movements, battles, victories, and defeats, as well as other information communicated in telegrams in order to respond to the compelling question, “What do telegrams tell us about the Battle of Gettysburg?” The range of telegrams in this inquiry allows students to examine different perspectives on […]