The Civil War: Celebrate or Commemorate? Debate Definitions

Seeing the Big Picture

About this Activity

Created by:National Archives Education Team
Historical Era:Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Thinking Skill:Historical Comprehension
Bloom's Taxonomy:Understanding
Grade Level:High School

In this activity students will match Civil War terms to their definitions to familiarize themselves with different aspects of the war and try to understand both sides.

It was designed to prepare students to participate in the The Civil War: Celebrate or Commemorate? Learning Lab program at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. It is the first of two pre-visit activities associated with the lab experience.

https://docsteach.org/activities/student/civil-war-debate-definitions

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Conduct this activity in small groups, or as a homework assignment. Appropriate for grades 9-12.

Instruct students to match the following terms and definitions:

Commemorate - To acknowledge something of significance and great importance with respect and honor
Celebrate - To acknowledge something of significance and great importance with festivities and recognizing achievements
Government - A political system by which a group creates and implements laws and customs
Ideology - Ideas and traits of a person, group, or political party
Technology - The use of science and engineering in solving problems and making life more efficient
Tactics - A planned m of arranging and moving forces in combat
Soldier - A person serving in the military, also known as enlisted
Civilian - A person who is not on active duty with the military
African-Americans - An ethnic group of citizens or residents of the United States with ancestry from Africa

When they have finished matching, ask students to consider these terms as different aspects of Civil War:

What are some ways that these terms are related to one another?
Does thinking about them specifically in terms of the Civil War change the way we think about them generally?

Documents in this activity

Map of the United States Showing the Military Divisions and Military Departments of

To the extent possible under law, National Archives Education Team has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "The Civil War: Celebrate or Commemorate? Debate Definitions".

The Civil War: Celebrate or Commemorate? Debate Definitions

Seeing the Big Picture

About this Activity

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Documents in this activity

The National Archives