Introduction to Civil Introduction to Civil War NarrativesWar Narratives

Question?Question?

What was the Civil War What was the Civil War experience like for Americans experience like for Americans on both sides of the Mason-on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line? Explore all Dixon Line? Explore all possibilities before choosing possibilities before choosing to create your fictional to create your fictional persona’s journal.persona’s journal.

The Life of the PeopleThe Life of the People

During this chaotic time in history our nation was divided concerning many different perspectives and issues. The years we are concerned with are 1861-1865.

Primary DocumentsPrimary Documents

The letters of soldiers and their families and the recorded stories of slaves were preserved by historians who saw a segment of history slipping away. So letters were preserved and the stories of the slaves were recorded for all posterity so that the truth might be known via these primary source documents.

Possible Primary SourcesPossible Primary Sources

►PhotographsPhotographs►LettersLetters►DiariesDiaries►Official documents i.e. Gettysburg Official documents i.e. Gettysburg

AddressAddress

Primary Source ApplicationsPrimary Source Applications

Primary sources will be very valuable to you as you create your fictional journal for the persona you choose to create.

The choices for a character are many and varied. Some

possibilities are:• a slave

• a freed slave

• a drummer boy for the south or the north

• a Civil War soldier

• a plantation farmer’s wife left behind to maintain the farm and family homestead.

Web Site SourcesWeb Site Sources

As you explore the designated web As you explore the designated web sites, read carefully for possible bias on sites, read carefully for possible bias on the part of the author. Remember point the part of the author. Remember point of view is inescapable but true bias is of view is inescapable but true bias is even stronger and often ignores or even stronger and often ignores or alters truth. Refer to history of Mary alters truth. Refer to history of Mary Chestnut’s diaries.Chestnut’s diaries.

Goal:Goal:My goal for you as you explore My goal for you as you explore this web quest is for you to this web quest is for you to gather a deeper understanding gather a deeper understanding of the people of the Civil War of the people of the Civil War time period and why they time period and why they believed what they did and how believed what they did and how they acted on these beliefs. they acted on these beliefs.

"War does not "War does not determine who is determine who is right - only who is right - only who is

left."left."- - AnonymousAnonymous

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