Civil War Take-Home Examination
United States History
Mr. Novick
3rd Quarter
Please answer the following questions in our own words, using your textbook, our class discussions and notes, and films we have studied in class.
Each answer should be written neatly in black or blue ink or typed, with careful attention paid to using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Typed answers must be double-spaced. You have the option of either submitting this exam in class, or e-mailing your answers to me at jnovick@roycemoreschool.org by 10:00 PM the night before it is due. Also, all are invited to submit rough drafts for editing.
DUE DATE IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011
Each question is worth 10 points, on the following scale:
Historical Accuracy/Thought Process: 1-5 Points Possible for Each Question—
5 pts = Demonstrates mastery of all material/concepts
4 pts = Demonstrates mastery of most material/concepts
3 pts = Demonstrates basic understanding of material/concepts
2 pts = Demonstrates some knowledge of the material/concepts
1 pt = Demonstrates little knowledge of the material/concepts
0 pts = Fails to demonstrate any knowledge of the material/concepts
Writing (organization, neatness, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.): 1-5 Points Possible for Each Question—
5 pts = Excellent writing: clear, cohesive, and well-organized. No grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes.
4 pts = Very Good writing: clear, cohesive, and organized, but one or two minor problems with organization, clarity, grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
3 pts = Good writing: meaning is clear, but need to address more than two problems with clarity, organization, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
2 pts = Fair writing: some of the meaning is clear, and multiple problems with organization, neatness, grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
1 pt = Poor writing: meaning is unclear, and/or serious problems with organization, neatness, grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
0 pts = Writing is incoherent
QUESTIONS:
1) Applying your knowledge of how and why the three distinct geographical regions of the US were settled and colonized, explain how cultural, economic, political, and geographical differences between the North and South led to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. In other words, answer this question: What caused the American Civil War? Be sure to include both long-term and immediate causes. 3 paragraphs
2) The regional conflict (north vs. south) over the morality of slavery and states’ rights vs. federal power grew even more intense during the period between the end of the War of 1812 and 1860. Many compromises—or deals—were struck in Congress to try to keep our country together despite this conflict. Tell what the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act were. Tell what they said, when they passed, and what impact they had on the nation during the 19th Century. 2 paragraphs
3) Describe the historical importance of Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, the nation’s 16th President. Be specific, providing a very brief biography, then explaining his views on important issues of his time, why historians consider him one of our two greatest Presidents, and how he died. Be sure to tell why he matters to American history! 2 paragraphs
4) Consider The Declaration of Independence (1776) and The Gettysburg Address (1863), and explain in a one-paragraph essay how The Gettysburg Address extends the meaning of the Declaration of Independence (and how the Civil War extends the meaning of the Revolution). Why do some historians call the Civil War “The Second American Revolution”? 3 paragraphs
5) Describe what an African slave auction might look like in the American South before the Civil War and research and describe what percentage of Southerners actually owned slaves. Be sure to include statistics telling how many slaves resided in the South in 1860 or 1861, before the Civil War began—and cite the source of your statistics. 2 paragraphs
6) Recalling the film “Gettysburg” (1993), tell 1) What happened over the three days of this battle AND 2) How one could argue that this battle, among the 10,000 fights that took place between 1861 and 1865, could be viewed as a turning point in the Civil War. Why is this battle important to American history? 2-3 paragraphs
7) Identify each of the following Civil War-era Americans and their importance, historically (2 points each): Harriet Beecher Stowe; Clara Barton; Frederick Douglas; Harriet Tubman; Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain; William T. Sherman; Robert Gould Shaw & the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment; Robert E. Lee; James Longstreet; Jefferson Davis. 3 sentences each
8) Describe the life and historical importance of Ulysses ‘Sam” Grant. Why is his story remarkable, and why does he matter to American history? 2 paragraphs
9) Pretend for a moment that you are General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg. Would you have attacked the Federals on the high ground, or pursued a different strategy? Why or why not? Your answer should demonstrate that you understand the historical circumstances that led to General Lee’s decision. Why would such a respected military mind—and a commander Lincoln had hoped would lead Union troops—pursue this risky course of action at Gettysburg? 2 paragraphs
10) Pretend you are a Confederate soldier from South Carolina, and a newspaper reporter from the North asks you to explain why you are fighting this war against the Union. Your answer will be published in a Yankee newspaper. Given what you’ve learned about the Civil War, write your response showing that you understand the variety of rebel arguments in favor of rebellion and the break-up of America. 1 paragraph. Then write a counterargument from a Union soldier whose paragraph will be published in a Rebel paper. What are the key reasons the Federals had for fighting this war to put down the rebellion? 1 paragraph
BONUS ESSAY: 10 POINTS POSSIBLE
Tell the story of John Brown’s murders in Kansas and his raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. What happened, when did it happened, why did it happen, and what impact did John Brown and his actions have on American history in the mid-19th Century? 2 paragraphs
WELCOME TO UNITED STATES HISTORY!
This 1851 painting of Washington crossing the frozen Delaware River in December of 1776 is beautiful and famous, but German-American artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze painted a false image of this historic event--to make a larger point. Can you guess what Leutze got wrong? And why?
The lovely Catskill Mountains (New York) in autumn. After the Revolution ended in 1783, locals began to move into these beautiful hills. The theme of westward expansion runs throughout American history.