Leisure Activities of Civil War Soldiers

The video, presented by Jason Brown, explores the life of Union soldiers during the Civil War, focusing on their camp life, communication through letters, and the rise in literacy. It highlights the importance of letter-writing, with soldiers valuing letters from home more than material possessions. The video also covers the various forms of entertainment soldiers engaged in, such as games like checkers and chuckle luck, as well as music and singing. The impact of the war on literacy is discussed, with soldiers reading a wide range of materials, from the Bible to novels. The video concludes with a demonstration of the soldiers' musical activities.

What was one of the main ways Union soldiers communicated with their families during the Civil War?

• Telephone

• Letter writing

• Radio

• Telegraph

In the letter read by Jason Brown, what activity did the soldier describe as bringing joy after a hard march?

• Writing letters

• Playing cards

• Shouting for joy

• Singing songs

How did the Civil War affect literacy rates among Northern soldiers?

• Literacy rates were unaffected

• Literacy rates increased

• Literacy rates remained the same

• Literacy rates decreased

What type of literature did soldiers read that was considered morally questionable at the time?

• The Bible

• Shakespeare

• Scientific journals

• Yellow back novels

What game did soldiers often play using a board drawn on their gum blanket?

• Checkers

• Chess

• Monopoly

• Backgammon

What was the favorite game of soldiers on payday, often leading to gambling?

• Baseball

• Euchre

• Chuck-a-luck

• Poker

What was a common material used by soldiers to create game boards?

• Wood

• Paper

• Gum blanket

• Metal

What was a common pastime for soldiers that involved singing?

• Marching

• Playing cards

• Sitting around the fire

• Reading

What was the objective number to reach in the card game 'quince'?

• 15

• 25

• 21

• 10

Which song was popular among Union soldiers and often sung during marches?

• Dixie

• The Battle Cry of Freedom

• The Star-Spangled Banner

• Yankee Doodle