The Civil War: the sides, the turning points and the Emancipation Proclamation

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Card A (November 19, 1863): "The Gettysburg Address". Who made it: President Abraham Lincoln. For whom: the crowd at the new soldiers' cemetery, and the nation. Why: to honor those who gave their lives and to say what the war was for. Excerpt (as printed in 1900 and 1922; the surviving copies differ slightly, so only shared words are quoted): "...a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. ... government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." What it changed for people: It tied the Union cause to the founding idea that all men are created equal. How far can I trust it? For: Lincoln's own words, printed again and again. Against: It is a short speech meant to inspire; the copies differ slightly. Card B (today): "From Union to nation". Who made it: James McPherson, a Princeton University historian, for the National Park Service. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain how the war changed the country. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In his first message to Congress in July 1861, Lincoln used the word Union 49 times and nation only 3 times. In the Gettysburg Address he used nation 5 times and Union not at all. By 1863 or 1864, ending slavery had become a Northern war aim. What it changed for people: Americans began to speak of one nation instead of a union of states. How far can I trust it? For: A leading historian counted Lincoln's own words. Against: Word counts show how Lincoln spoke, not what every American believed. Card C (April 9, 1865): "Surrender at Appomattox". Who made it: historians at the National Park Service. For whom: visitors and readers. Why: to explain the end of the war. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at the McLean House in Appomattox Court House, Virginia. This signaled the effective end of the war. What it changed for people: The fighting ended, and the Union was kept whole. How far can I trust it? For: The surrender is well recorded. Against: Other Confederate forces surrendered later, so one date simplifies the end. Below the strip: The 13th Amendment, passed by Congress in January 1865, would end slavery in the whole nation once the states ratified it.

3. 1.

   In card A's lines, to what was the new nation dedicated, Ari asks?

   • The idea that all men are created equal
   • A new capital city
   • The Union's victory at Vicksburg in July 1863
   • The rule of one king
4. 2.

   In card A's second line, what must not perish, Bo asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Slavery in the border states of the Union
   • The Confederate government
   • Government of, by and for the people
   • The army at Gettysburg
5. 3.

   By card B, which word did Lincoln use more at Gettysburg, Esme asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Territory
   • Union
   • Nation
   • Confederacy
6. 4.

   By card B, how many more times did Lincoln say Union than nation in 1861, Jun asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • 56 times
   • 52 times
   • 49 times
   • 46 times
7. 5.

   What does card B's trust line warn Luz about?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Lincoln gave no speech at Gettysburg in November 1863
   • Word counts don't show what everyone believed
   • The historian wrote in 1861
   • The counts were made up
8. 6.

   By card A's trust line, why are only shared words quoted, Milo asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • The surviving copies differ slightly
   • Lincoln gave it in another language
   • The speech was not written down by anyone
   • It was first printed in 1922
9. 7.

   Which card best shows how the war ended, Noah asks?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Card A, the Gettysburg Address
   • Card C, on Appomattox
   • Card B, the word count
   • No card shows it
10. 8.

    A note says, 'The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery everywhere.' What fix does Pia make?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • The 13th Amendment ended it nationwide
    • Change everywhere to the border states in 1861
    • Change Emancipation to Gettysburg
    • Keep it; the note is right
11. 9.

    A note says, 'Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg before the battle there.' What fix does Ren make?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • Change Lincoln to Davis
    • Keep it; the note is right
    • Change Gettysburg to Vicksburg
    • He spoke in November, after the July battle
12. 10.

    Which claim uses cards A and B carefully, Tala asks?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • Lincoln wanted to keep slavery after 1863
    • Card B was written by Lincoln
    • Lincoln came to speak of one nation and of freedom
    • Lincoln did not use the word Union in 1861