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Civil War Events and People - Printable Social studies Worksheets 8th Grade - Wayground

Civil War Events and People

Dorothy Garcia

Created by Dorothy Garcia

21 questions

8th Grade

Social studies

Updated May 2026

This Grade 8 Social Studies worksheet helps students review major Civil War leaders, battles, events, and turning points. Across 21 questions—20 multiple-choice items and 1 multiple-select item—students identify Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee; connect battles such as Fort Sumter, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg to their significance; and recognize events including the Emancipation Proclamation and the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Several questions also ask students to interpret images and identify the Civil War era. The worksheet supports review of how specific people and events shaped the conflict, including Vicksburg’s effect on Confederate territory, Gettysburg’s significance as a turning point, and the Union’s railroad advantage. Use it as guided practice, an independent review, or a formative assessment after instruction on the Civil War. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for efficient checking and feedback.

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Civil War Events and People

Total questions: 21

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who was the President of the Union?

a)

Jefferson Davis

b)

Abraham Lincoln

c)

Robert E. Lee

d)

Ulysses S. Grant

2.

Who was the President of the Confederate States of America (South)?

a)

Ulysses S. Grant

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Jefferson Davis

3.

Who was the General of the Union Army?

a)

Robert E Lee

b)

Ulysses S. Grant

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Jefferson Davis

4.

Who is the General of the Confederate Army?

a)

Robert E. Lee

b)

Ulysses S. Grant

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

Jefferson Davis

5.

How did the siege at Vicksburg disrupt the balance during the war?

a)

Union troops were pushed back across the Ohio River.

b)

Cut the Confederacy land in HALF

c)

It freed the slaves in the South.

d)

Several important Confederate generals were killed.

6.

Which proclamation encouraged African Americans to fight alongside the North during the  CW?

a)

Gettysburg Address

b)

The Emancipation Proclamation

c)

13th Amendment

d)

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

7.

This battle had the bloodiest single day battle & led to the Emancipation Proclamation.

a)

Battle of Antietam

b)

Vicksburg

c)

Gettysburg

d)

Bull Run

8.

What was an advantage that the North had over the South?

a)

Networth of Railroads

b)

Lots of plantations

c)

Lots of slaves

d)

Causes of the Civil War

9.

Where did General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, which ended the Civil War?

a)

The Capitol Building

b)

The Governor’s mansion in Richmond, Virginia

c)

Ford's Theatre

d)

Appomattox County, Virginia

10.
Which era is represented?

Which era is represented?

a)

Civil War

b)

Early Republic

c)

Age of Jackson

d)

American Revolution

11.

Why do most historians consider the Battle of Gettysburg as the turning point in the Civil War?

a)

Because of the battle, the Confederacy was able to break through the Union blockade of its ports.

b)

The failure of the Union army to defeat the South set off riots in New York City.

c)

The outcome of the battle discouraged the British and French governments from supporting the South.

d)

The South suffered heavy losses, preventing it from making any future advances into the North.

12.
Which event is this image representing?

Which event is this image representing?

a)

Inauguration of Robert E. Lee

b)

Surrender at Appomattox Court House

c)

Treaty of Ghent signing

d)

Emancipation Proclamation speech

13.
Which battle initiated the Civil War?

Which battle initiated the Civil War?

a)

Fort Sumter

b)

Gettsyburg

c)

Antietam

d)

Vicksburg

14.
Which event is this image representing?

Which event is this image representing?

a)

Inauguration of Robert E. Lee

b)

Surrender at Appomattox Court House

c)

Treaty of Ghent signing

d)

Emancipation Proclamation speech

15.
Which battle was when the Mississippi River was captured by the Union which split the Confederacy land in half

Which battle was when the Mississippi River was captured by the Union which split the Confederacy land in half

a)

Gettysburg

b)

Antietam

c)

Vicksburg

d)

Fort Sumter

16.
Which battle initiated the Civil War?

Which battle initiated the Civil War?

a)

Fort Sumter

b)

Gettsyburg

c)

Antietam

d)

Vicksburg

17.

Which person received the Congressional Medal of Honor for protecting the flag?

a)

William Carney

b)

Crispus Attucks

c)

Philip Bazaar

d)

Ulysses S. Grant

18.

Which of the following was considered the turning point of the war?

a)

Gettysburg

b)

Antietam

c)

Fort Sumter

d)

Appomattox

19.

Which of the following was a cause for the Civil War? (check all that apply)

a)

Slavery

b)

Sectionalism

c)

Sedition

d)

State's Rights

20.
What was the results of the events shown on the map?

What was the results of the events shown on the map?

a)

The bloodiest one day battle occurred

b)

General Grant surrendered

c)

General Lee surrendered

d)

The war had a turning point

21.
What made the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg different?

What made the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg different?

a)

They were victories for the Confederacy

b)

They were battles fought in Union territory

c)

They were attempts to keep Virginia in the Union

d)

They were battles defending the Confederate capital

WaygroundAnswer Key

Civil War Events and People

Total questions: 21

1.
b)

Abraham Lincoln

2.
d)

Jefferson Davis

3.
b)

Ulysses S. Grant

4.
a)

Robert E. Lee

5.
b)

Cut the Confederacy land in HALF

6.
b)

The Emancipation Proclamation

7.
a)

Battle of Antietam

8.
a)

Networth of Railroads

9.
d)

Appomattox County, Virginia

10.
a)

Civil War

11.
d)

The South suffered heavy losses, preventing it from making any future advances into the North.

12.
b)

Surrender at Appomattox Court House

13.
a)

Fort Sumter

14.
b)

Surrender at Appomattox Court House

15.
c)

Vicksburg

16.
a)

Fort Sumter

17.
a)

William Carney

18.
a)

Gettysburg

19.
b)

Sectionalism

, a)

Slavery

, d)

State's Rights

20.
c)

General Lee surrendered

21.
b)

They were battles fought in Union territory

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FAQs

What does the Civil War Events and People worksheet cover?

This 21-question worksheet builds students’ ability to identify key Civil War leaders, battles, and events and connect each one to its historical significance. The 20 multiple-choice and 1 multiple-select questions include leader-role identification, image-based event recognition, and cause-and-effect review such as Vicksburg splitting Confederate territory and Gettysburg limiting future Confederate advances.

How can I use this worksheet to teach Civil War events and people?

Begin by having students create a quick reference chart with the Union and Confederate presidents and generals named in the worksheet. Then use the battle and event questions to build a timeline from Fort Sumter through Antietam, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Appomattox. Ask students to explain why each answer fits and why the other choices do not, especially for questions about turning points and wartime advantages.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this Civil War worksheet?

Students may confuse political leaders with military commanders, such as selecting Lincoln or Davis when a question asks for Grant or Lee. They may also mix up the purposes and outcomes associated with Antietam, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg, or choose an event from the wrong era when reviewing the image-based questions. Check that students read the multiple-select directions carefully and support each selected answer with evidence from the question.

How do I assign and grade the Civil War Events and People worksheet?

On Wayground, this worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz, and it includes a complete answer key. Printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app. The printable format also gives schools an option for reducing screen time while students review Civil War leaders and events.

How can I differentiate this Civil War worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or increase the font size when students need more room to read the leader, battle, and image-based multiple-choice items. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language to make its Civil War review questions more accessible.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across all subjects. Teachers can browse downloadable PDFs with answer keys at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets to find additional practice for essential skills and concepts.

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