The Main Idea #1: Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the war in Virginia.
The Main Idea #2: The Battle of Antietam gave the North a slight advantage. The Main Idea #3: The Confederacy attempted to break the Union naval blockade. The Big Idea: Confederate and Union forces faced off in Virginia and at sea. |
Learning Outcomes:
-> Students will analyze 4 major battles in the East and complete a graphic organizer. -> |
War in the East
Watch the 4 minute video on War in the East
Use Section 2 Notes, the information below and/or the textbook to complete the graphic organizer.
Civil War BattlesFort Sumter The battle at Fort Sumter was the first military action of the Civil War. Unlike future battles, there were no direct casualties here.
Bull Run I The Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run proved that to Washington that the war would be long and deadly. Peninsula Campaign- Union general George McClellan’s ill-fated Peninsula Campaign was the first of many missteps and opportunities lost for the Union Army. Trent Affair- The Trent Affair nearly resulted in the Union fighting both the Union and England! Ironclads- Click here to learn how the Battle of the Ironclads changed naval warfare forever. Winchester- The Battle of Winchester was one of several victories for Confederate forces in or near the Shenandoah Valley. |
Bull Run II- The Second Battle of Bull Run was three times as violent as the First Battle of Bull Run, but the result was the same – a decisive Confederate victory.
Harper’s Ferry- Little did Confederate or Union forces know that by 1863, this Virginia city and Confederate stronghold would be part of West Virginia – and the Union. Antietam- The Battle of Antietam represented the bloodiest one-day battle of the entire Civil War. Although it was considered a draw, the Confederate army was forced back into Virginia. Stones River- The Union victory at Stones River in resulted in its control of middle Tennessee including Nashville. Fredericksburg- The Confederate victory at Fredericksburg was one of the most one-sided battles of the entire war and resulted in a shake-up of Union leadership. Chancellorsville- The Confederate victory at Chancellorsville was Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory of the Civil War and prompted him to invade the North for a second time. |
Fort SumterBattle of Bull Run |
Battle of ChancellorsvilleBattle of Antietam |
Assessment- Newscast on the major battles of the war.
Directions: Each group is going to make a video of a news report about one of the major battles in the East. You are going to pretend like there were TV's back in the 1860's and your boss has asked you to educate the people on the battles that were going on at that time. Your news report should educate the viewers on all of the important information needed to completely understand that battle.
Some basic information should include:
Who? Leaders: Who were the Union and Confederate leaders that were in charge of the forces that fought in the battle. Some battles will have generals, while others may have lower ranking officers.
What? What happened during the battle? Explain how the battle unfolded in great detail. If the battle took place over several days, you should have information on each day.
Where? What was the location of the battle? Was that where the battle was planned to take place or was it a suprise skirmish? If the battle was fought over several days, did the location change? How did geography play a role in the battle? Were their mountains, hill, ridges, etc., that gave the high ground to one side during the battle?
When? What was the date(s) that the battle took place?
Why? Why did the battle take place? Were the Confederated trying to attack and bring the war to the North? Was the Union trying to defend a certain railroad to prevent the Confederates from using it. Were the Confederates trying to prevent the Union from reaching its capital?
How? How did the winning side gain the victory?
Some basic information should include:
Who? Leaders: Who were the Union and Confederate leaders that were in charge of the forces that fought in the battle. Some battles will have generals, while others may have lower ranking officers.
What? What happened during the battle? Explain how the battle unfolded in great detail. If the battle took place over several days, you should have information on each day.
Where? What was the location of the battle? Was that where the battle was planned to take place or was it a suprise skirmish? If the battle was fought over several days, did the location change? How did geography play a role in the battle? Were their mountains, hill, ridges, etc., that gave the high ground to one side during the battle?
When? What was the date(s) that the battle took place?
Why? Why did the battle take place? Were the Confederated trying to attack and bring the war to the North? Was the Union trying to defend a certain railroad to prevent the Confederates from using it. Were the Confederates trying to prevent the Union from reaching its capital?
How? How did the winning side gain the victory?