Secession War and Union

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
• Topic notes: Secession: a state’s announced withdrawal from the United States. Union: the United States government and states remaining within it during the war. Confederacy: the government formed by seceding southern states. Civilian experience: effects of the war on people outside military combat roles.
• Original exercise cards: A card describes a southern state declaring departure. / A card identifies the side opposing Confederate secession. / A card identifies the seceded states’ separate government. / A card describes families displaced by fighting. / A card describes the government seeking to preserve the United States. / A card identifies the government defending the slaveholding secession project. / A card describes shortages faced by noncombatants. / A card identifies a political withdrawal preceding war.

Learn the idea

The Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1865. Southern secession was centrally connected to the protection of slavery. The Union fought to preserve the United States, and emancipation became a major war aim. Military events, political decisions and civilian experiences are related but distinct evidence.

Secession: a state’s announced withdrawal from the United States. Union: the United States government and states remaining within it during the war. Confederacy: the government formed by seceding southern states. Civilian experience: effects of the war on people outside military combat roles.

Tell a state’s withdrawal apart from the Union, the Confederate government and the war’s effects on civilians. Read the notes and the word cards. You can write, draw or say your answer.

1. Read the four notes. Find the words Secession, Union, Confederacy, Civilian experience.
2. Tell a state’s withdrawal apart from the Union, the Confederate government and the war’s effects on civilians.
3. Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
4. Choose two different examples: one for Secession and one for Union. Explain how their clues differ.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

New card: “A card identifies a political withdrawal preceding war.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “A card identifies a political withdrawal preceding war.” That matches Secession. Secession is a state’s announced withdrawal from the United States.

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