Teaching the Civil War

Educational Resources

Lesson plans, resources, videos, tools, tips, and strategies for teaching the American Civil War.

Primary Sources Related to the American Civil War

Exploring various primary sources for learning more about the Civil War. 

Newspapers

Newspapers were the main form of media of the Civil War era and newspapers did not just record American history in this period, but actively shaped that history. Read More

Maps

During the Civil War, cartographers created maps that provided commanders with details about roads and general terrain features. Read More

Soldier Stories

During the war, thousands of letters, memoirs, and diaries were written and contain everything from first-hand accounts of battles and events to love letters home to a soldier’s sweetheart. Read More

General Primary Sources

One of the many interesting things about studying the Civil War is the vast amount of digital historical resources that are available for free to the general public.  Read More

Photography

It is estimated that during the Civil War, over 5,000 photographers made images of historical events and covered everything from Fort. Sumter to Appomattox. Read More

Paintings

The American Civil War was the first war to bring the fighting home to everyone as seen through the eyes of photographers and artists. Read More

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