The American Civil War and Reconstruction
High School
Social Studies
Course Description:
This course will introduce the American Civil War era from the earliest seeds of disunion at the Constitutional Convention to the end of Reconstruction. Particular attention will be given to events that unfolded in Missouri and the Trans-Mississippi Theatre and the subsequent results in the region. Students will participate in simulations, group activities and individual presentations.
Semester 1
Prelude to War
Topic 1: Slavery in America
Topic 2: Westward Expansion
Topic 3: The Constitution and Slavery
Disunion of the 1850’s
Topic 1: Geography of the 1850’s
Topic 2: Abolitionist Crusade
Topic 3: State’s Rights
The War Begins 1861-1862
Topic 1: Sides Compared
Topic 2: Secession
Total War-1862
Topic 1: The Battle of Antietam
Topic 2: The Emancipation Proclamation
Topic 3: The Homefront
Topic 4: African Americans and the War Effort
Semester 2
Note: if the following section is blank the course is 1 semester long
Total War-1862 (continued)
Topic 3: The Homefront
Topic 4: African Americans and the War Effort
The Turning Point of the War 1863
Topic 1: Gettysburg vs. Vicksburg
Topic 2: War on the Northern Home front
Topic 3: Gettysburg Address
Topic 4: Kansas-Missouri Border War
Union Victory 1864- Appomattox
Topic 1: Surrender at Appomattox
Topic 2: 1864 Presidential Election
Topic 3: Grant and Sherman
Reconstruction
Topic 1: Reconstruction
Topic 2: New Amendments vs. Jim Crow