The Civil War: Commemorate or Celebrate?

Objectives: Students will analyze records related to the Civil War. After examining each record, they should decide if the record supports either a commemoration or a celebration of the Civil War and place it on the scale.

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

Before you start the activity, propose the research question to students:

• How should we observe the American Civil War, with a commemoration or a celebration?

Hold a brief class discussion on the similarities and differences between the terms commemoration and celebration. For example, a commemoration would be to acknowledge something of significance and great importance with respect and honor. A celebration would be to acknowledge something of significance and great importance with festivities and recognizing achievements.

Instruct students to begin the activity by carefully examining and analyzing the records using critical analysis techniques. Ask them to identify key information by answering the following questions about each document:

• Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
• Does this document support a commemoration or a celebration of the Civil War?
• Why?

When they have finished answering the questions, instruct them to click the “When You’re Done” button. Students will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Did anything surprise them?
• Were there documents that supported both sides of the celebrate or commemorate question?
• What influenced their decision on where the documents should be placed on the scale?
• Was there overwhelming evidence that supported one side versus the other?