Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: The Civil War and Reconstruction
University-level syllabus, reading suggestions, lecture notes, and quizzes for a course of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
![Railroad Generalship: Foundations of Civil War Strategy [Pdf] Handout](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Railroad Generalship: Foundations of Civil War Strategy [Pdf] Handout")
Other
Railroad Generalship: Foundations of Civil War Strategy [Pdf]
Find out about the use and importance of rail lines to both the Union and Confederate troops in the Civil War and how the generals from each side factored in the use of railroads into their military strategy. (PDF)
Curated OER
National Park Service: The American Civil War: African Americans
An overview of African American's contributions during the Civil War. Presents the history, contributions, and information on the Underground Railroad.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Transportation and Commerce in the Civil War
From "The Civil War Day by Day" by E.B. Long comes this informative article about the different types of transportation that were used in the Civil War and why each had its importance.
Other
Center for History and News: William T. Sherman: Most Reckless Civil War General
Are we right to remember General Sherman as the villain of the Civil War? Read another view of the famous march to the sea.
Success Link
Success Link: Civil War 1861 1865
An eight-lesson unit on the Civil War using Patricia Beatty's young adult novel, Charley Skedaddle, as the unifying text. Geared mainly for middle school, but certainly has good information for high school young scholars as well.
Virginia History Series
Virginia History Series: The American Civil War in Virginia [Pdf]
The state of Virginia played a pivotal role in the Civil War. Trace the war from the beginning to the battles in Virginia, and to Lee's surrender through this comprehensive slideshow. Included are charts, maps and actual photography from...
Other
Gateway Nmra: Trains and Railroads in the Civil War
Why were the railroads so important to both the Confederates and Union and how were they targets of raids? How were railroad executives involved in the course of the war? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this...
University of Nebraska
University of Nebraska Lincoln: Railroads and the Making of Modern America
Jump aboard to examine the importance of railroads during the Civil War. Delve into primary source documents that show how the newly developed rail system played a strategic role in many battles and also examine the role of slave labor...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Economic Aspects of the Civil War: A New Economy of War
The "Breadbasket of the Confederacy", the Shenandoah Valley, depended on the rail lines to distribute food to both the troops and the civil population of the South. Read about the economic war that was waged hand in hand with the...
Other
Pa Roots: Pennsylvania in the Civil War
Background information about Pennsylvania's involvement in the Civil War. This website describes briefly the impact Pennsylvania provided to the union forces during the war.
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: u.s. History Lessons: Civil War
This personal site provides a wealth of ideas regarding the Civil War Era. Look for lesson ideas about the events leading up to the war, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, and the Reconstruction Era.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hazardous Business: The Railroads Come to Texas: Railroad Regulation
Read about regulations that kept the early Texas railroad system safe, and check out an "Inspection report for the Houston & Great Northern, 1871." Also, learn how the Civil War affected the railroad and how it was rebuilt following...
Other
Images of the Civil War: Railroads
This TreasureNet.com site has many pictures of railroads and locomotives and includes descriptions of the pictures.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad
This exhibition explores the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad and its impact on American westward expansion.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Petersburg National Battlefield: Weldon Railroad
A day-by-day look at Grant's attempt to cut off rail supplies to Lee in Petersburg by capturing the Weldon Railroad. From the National Park Service.
State Library of North Carolina
N Cpedia: Railroads
A five-part article on the history of the railroad in North Carolina. Looks at the first rail companies and the start of the North Carolina Railroad, how the Civil War and its aftermath affected rail transportation, the growth of...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Lincoln's High Tech War
Describes the weaponry used during the Civil War, and some of the innovative technology that the Union's military forces employed. These included the minie ball, rifles, underwater torpedoes, the use of hot air balloons, and improved...
Kidport
Kidport Reference Library: Transportation During the Civil War
Here are photographs and short descriptions of the horses, wagons, bridges, railroads, and steamboats used for transportation in the Civil War.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Railroad, the Gilded and the Gritty: America, 1870 1912
A speech and an engraving that illustrate how the railroad helped to unite the country after the Civil War.
Curated OER
National Park Service: James Buchanan Eads 1820 1887 [Pdf]
A biography James Buchanan Eads (1820-1887) and the story of his attempts to tame the mighty Mississippi River with science and technology during and after the Civil War.
Read Works
Read Works: Transcontinental Railroads: Compressing Time and Space
[Free Registration/Login Required] Abridged from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this passage provides information about the development of the transcontinental railroad. Paired texts, a text...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: What Happened to Railroads?
Between the Civil War and World War II, railroads were one of the nation's most important businesses and an integral part of people's lives. For this lesson, students assume the role of detectives investigating why the rail companies...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hazardous Business: The Railroads Come to Texas
What made transportation in early Texas so difficult? What were the road conditions like? This article talks about land and water transportation in Texas in the years leading up to and after the Civil War. Also, check out photos and...