Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-1865) tore the relatively young nation apart. The repercussions of this tragedy are still felt today. This reading set explores the events, the people, and the perspectives of this pivotal time.
Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut (1823-1886) was a prominent woman from South Carolina. Her husband, James Chesnut, was a U.S. Senator before the Civil War. Well-educated, intelligent, and well-connected, Mary understood, as the Civil War began, she had a front row seat to a historic moment in history. She began recording…
Read MoreThis passage is about Eliza, an enslaved woman owned by the Shelby family. Her husband George is owned by a neighboring family. Eliza and George have one child, a small boy named Harry. Harry is charming, smart, and handsome. Earlier Eliza had overheard a slave trader speaking with her owner…
Read MoreBy the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation. WHEREAS, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: “That…
Read MoreIn Stephen Crane’s novel, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming is a young Union soldier in the Civil War. Before he enlisted, Henry had a romantic view of war. This passage takes place before Henry’s first battle as a soldier. —————————– However, he perceived now that it did not…
Read MorePresident Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, on November 19, 1863. At that time, the U.S. was in the middle of the Civil War. Lincoln gave the speech at the dedication of a cemetery for the soldiers who had died during the Battle of Gettysburg. ————————…
Read MoreFrederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895) was born into slavery in Maryland. As an adult, he escaped into freedom. He became a writer, orator and advocate for the abolition of slavery. In 1845, 16 years before the start of the Civil War, Douglass published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick…
Read MoreMary Boykin Miller Chesnut was born into a wealthy South Carolina family in 1823. She married James Chesnut who would later become a Confederate general during the U.S. Civil War. Mary and her husband were well connected, and knew many of the major figures in the Confederacy. As the Civil…
Read MoreClara packed her things at the Patent Office and went to her boss. “It’s been a pleasure working with you, but I’m quitting my job.” She turned and left. “What are you doing home so early?” asked her sister Sally. “The Civil War is taking its toll on the Union…
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