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.
Curated OER
National Park Service: The American Civil War
An overview of the Civil War produced by the National Parks Service provides information on the entire conflict as well as information on specific battles that occurred.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: Special Collections: American Civil War Manuscript Guides
A large repository of letters and diaries from both Union and Confederate soldiers, homefront letters, memoirs, and contemporary research files. Includes materials from the war years, 1861-1865, as well as materials from later periods...
Read Works
Read Works:the American Civil War
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of the American Civil War. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension. An additional answer sheet is included to...
Read Works
Read Works: The American Civil War
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about some of the causes of the American Civil War. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
University of Maryland
University of Maryland: John Jacob Omenhausser, Civil War Sketchbook
Point Lookout, Maryland, 1864-1865 John Jacob Omenhausser was a Confederate soldier who was imprisoned towards the end of the American Civil War, from June 1864 to June 1865, at Point Lookout, Maryland. During his stay there, he...
Teachnology
Teachnology: American Civil War Teaching Theme
Enhance teaching the American Civil War with this impressive collection of resources. Teachnology provides worksheets, lesson plans, activities and more.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Literature of the American Civil War
Learning module uses primary resources to take a look at the literature published during the Civil War and examines how it helped make sense of the war and the profound changes brought about.
University of Georgia
University of Georgia: Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection: American Civil War
This collection of rare Civil War maps enhance the study and learning of the Civil War. They provide a wealth of insight into the war and helps to better understand the events that occurred. A great resource for teachers and an exciting...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Blockade
This site is an account of the North's efforts to establish and maintain a blockade of the southern ports during the Civil War. From "The Blockade and the Cruisers" by James Russell Soley.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Propaganda in the Civil War
Propaganda was practiced by both the Union and Confederacy. Read the many ways propaganda was used both officially and unofficially. From "The Civil War and Reconstruction" by Randall and Donald.
Other
U.s. Centennial of Flight Commission: Balloons in the American Civil War
What role did hot air balloons play in the Civil War? This comprehensive article answers that question and gives specific examples of their use by both the Union and Confederate troops.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Armies of the Confederate States in the Civil War
An extensive list of the armies of the Confederacy. Click on the link to find who made up each army and the primary commander. From "The Photographic History of the Civil War."
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Battle of the Ironclads
A description of the first battle of iron-clad ships during the Civil War. Includes great primary source documents from officers involved.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Mc Dowell's Advance to Bull Run
Details written by James B. Fry, an adjutant to McDowell, describe McDowell's advance and the Union Army's attack and subsequent retreat at the First Battle of Bull Run. From "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" by Ned Bradford.
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society: Conclusion: Did the Civil War End at Appomattox?
While the American Civil War officially ended at the Battle of Appomattox, Confederate sensibilities ran deep and it was not until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s that blacks were able to fully assert their equality....
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: American Civil War: War at Home
Collection of digital resources gathered from public libraries, archives, and museums about the American Civil War at home. Investigate the stories of the women, children, and men who experienced the Civil War as civilians.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: American Civil War Battles
Collection of digital resources gathered from public libraries, archives, and museums about American Civil War battles. Explore Civil War military conflicts on land and sea, from Fort Sumter to Appomattox. Use maps and documents to...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Causes of the American Civil War
A learning module that begins with "Causes of the American Civil War" by Mike Kubic, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
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...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Black Soldiers in the Civil War
This comprehensive site from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) describes the history of the participation of colored troops in the Civil War and government efforts to research and compile records about them....
Other
Active History: The American Civil War Simulation
Take on the role of President Jefferson Davis or President Abraham Lincoln and proceed through the Civil War. This simulation can be played between two players or one. Users are challenged to choose the courses that each president likely...
Other
Pdm: The Music of the American Civil War
A compilation of music from the Civil War era, including patriotic songs, songs of the homefront, as well as battlefield songs. Hear the songs and read the lyrics from "The Civil War Songbook."
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: The American Civil War: An Environmental View
The telling of the Civil War from an ecological view from the National Humanities Center. The toll of life taken of young men and animals, the devastation of cities, towns, farmland, trees, and forests - all these factors are discussed...