The Civil War: the beginning of the war

The American Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865. What is a civil war?

• a war between people of the same country

• a war against a foreign invader

• a war fought only by professional soldiers

• a war fought with words, not weapons

The Confederacy was made up of a group of ____________ states.

• Northern

• Southern

• Western

According to the map above, which of the following statements are true? Select all that apply.

• Lincoln did not win any states in the Northwest

• Lincoln won a majority of electoral votes

• Lincoln won a majority of the popular vote

• Lincoln did not win any states in the South

On March 1, 1861, a few months after the Southern states seceded, Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office to become president. The passage below comes from the speech Lincoln gave right after taking the oath of office. In the speech, Lincoln addressed the people of the seceded states. He described to them what he saw as his primary duty as president.

Select the phrase or sentence that states that duty.

momentous: important

assail: attack

solemn: serious

• In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war.

• The government will not assail you.

• You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors.

• You have no oath... to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect, and defend it.

Historians use a variety of sources to understand the past. Some of these sources are primary sources, which are sources made during the time period being studied. Historians also use secondary sources, which are sources made after the time period being studied.

Below are some sources that have to do with Southern secession in 1861. Historians might use some of these sources to understand how people reacted at the time. Sort the sources into primary and secondary sources.

A diary from 1861

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

Historians use a variety of sources to understand the past. Some of these sources are primary sources, which are sources made during the time period being studied. Historians also use secondary sources, which are sources made after the time period being studied.

Below are some sources that have to do with Southern secession in 1861. Historians might use some of these sources to understand how people reacted at the time. Sort the sources into primary and secondary sources.

a memoir from 1896

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

Historians use a variety of sources to understand the past. Some of these sources are primary sources, which are sources made during the time period being studied. Historians also use secondary sources, which are sources made after the time period being studied.

Below are some sources that have to do with Southern secession in 1861. Historians might use some of these sources to understand how people reacted at the time. Sort the sources into primary and secondary sources.

A newspaper from 1861

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

Historians use a variety of sources to understand the past. Some of these sources are primary sources, which are sources made during the time period being studied. Historians also use secondary sources, which are sources made after the time period being studied.

Below are some sources that have to do with Southern secession in 1861. Historians might use some of these sources to understand how people reacted at the time. Sort the sources into primary and secondary sources.

a history book from 2009

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

On March 1, 1861, a few months after the Southern states seceded, Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office to become president. The passage below comes from the speech Lincoln gave right after taking the oath of office. Use it to answer the question below.

In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath . . . to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect, and defend it.

important

momentous: important

assail: attack

solemn: serious

• The legislative branch

• secessionists

• himself

• antislavery leaders