HOLICONG MIDDLE SCHOOL
CIVIL WAR CHALLENGE
WHEN THE TEAMS GET DIVIDED;
CLASSMATES AGAINST CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AGAINST
FRIENDS,
BROTHERS AGAINST BROTHERS;
IT’S NO LONGER A GAME, ITS CIVIL WAR
Spring, 2015
General Knoedler/General Maigur/General Keyes/General Wallis
Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
WHEN THE TEAM GETS DIVIDED;
CLASSMATE AGAINST CLASSMATE, FRIEND AGAINST FRIEND,
BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER; IT’S NO LONGER A GAME,
IT’S CIVIL WAR
BATTLE PLANEach member of the team will be drafted into state regiments (consisting of 4-5
soldiers) who will fight in the Union (Northern) or Confederate (Southern)
army. Each state regiment will work to earn the respect of their general. The
stronger the regiment performs the more soldiers your generals will award
them. You will be working to increase the number of soldiers in your regiment,
which will in turn increase the size of your army.
Each regiment must immediately choose a commander, secretary, quartermaster
and a scout. These choices must be written on a note card with your state’s name
turned in to your generals on the first day of the War.
REGIMENTS AT WARUnionIllinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Ohio,
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
& New York
ConfederacyFlorida, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee,
Georgia Company A, Georgia Company B, SC Company A, SC Company B,
Louisiana Company A, Louisiana Company B, VA Company A, & VA Company B
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
EXPANDING YOUR REGIMENTEach regiment can be awarded more soldiers or have soldiers taken from
them based on the following factors:
1. HW completion
2. Quality of assignments (soldier journal, quizzes, maps, speeches…)
3. Discipline of your regiment
4. Luck (game cards and the role of the dice)
5. Victories in various head to head “battles” of knowledge
6. Victories on various “battle tasks” (mini projects)
7. Preparedness for battle (having your book, flags, notebooks…)
8. There is a spy amongst us…
9. Victories in Civil War Day battles (Town Ball, company streets, reenactments…)
10. Be ready for the unexpected!!!!!!!
VICTORYVictory in the Civil War is obtained by having the largest force of soldiers on
the final day of the war. General Knoedler/General Maigur/General
Keyes/General Wallis will be rewarding 2 groups.
1. The first group to be recognized will be the winning army-Union or
Confederate.
2. The second, and more prestigious award, will be given to the winning state.
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
WEEK 1 REQUIRED READING AND HOMEWORK
You are responsible for knowing the information on these pages when you come to class!
The date listed is NOT the night you read the information! It is the date you must have the reading
finished!
Monday, March 30th – Read pages 401-405 (sections 21.1 – 21.4) Missouri Compromise, Popular Sovereignty,
Slavery out West
Tuesday, March 31st– Read pages 405 to 409 (sections 21.4- all of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) – Compromise of 1850,
Fugitive Slave Law, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Wednesday, April 1st – Read pages 409-412 (sections “Ostend Manifesto” –21.7) Kansas-Nebraska Act, Bleeding
Kansas, and Charles Sumner
WEEK 1 BATTLES
This list of battles DOES NOT include surprise attacks, which can come at any time from any General
BATTLE # 1 – Creating a State Game Piece/Monument (due on Monday, March 30th)
Your regiment or company must design a game piece. This piece must be no larger than 8 ½” x 11”, and 16” in
height. Your game piece must include your state name, 3 facts about your state’s role in the 1850’s and 60’s,
and have an element of creativity, which sets it apart from the other regiments. Your state will brainstorm
ideas in class Monday 4/4, compile information and materials Monday night and construct your game piece
with the 15 minutes given in class on Wednesday 4/6. Work hard, be prepared, and stay organized-you will be
strictly held to your deadline of 15 minutes!
10, 000 soldiers will be awarded to the best regiment in each army. Enlistments will be awarded to
each regiment based on the placement of your game-piece.
BATTLE # 2 – Popular Sovereignty Political Cartoon (due on Tuesday, March 31st)
Each solider in your regiment will be asked to create a black and white political cartoon, based on the concept
of Popular Sovereignty. The general will choose 1 cartoon from each state at random and that cartoon will be
judged in comparison to the cartoons collected from the other states. The General will be looking for a strong
understanding of the concept, a clear depiction of the concept to the reader, and an element of creativity which
will attract the reader to the cartoon and leave them with a lasting impression of the idea of Popular
Sovereignty.
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
2000 soldiers awarded to the winning regiment in each army.
BATTLE # 3 – Congressional Debate concerning the Fugitive Slave Law (held Wednesday, April 1st)
You are representing your state in the Senate. Today the senate will be debating the constitutionality and
effectiveness of the Fugitive Slave Law (a key component of the Compromise of 1850). The debate will take
place in three steps: First, your state will have 10 minutes to write down as many quality arguments for or
against the Fugitive Slave Law as possible. Next, your state will combine forces with the other two regiments
from your Army and you will be given 10 minutes to choose the best 5 arguments supporting your side’s view
on the Fugitive Slave Law. Finally, the General will choose 5 people at random from each army to stand and
argue their side’s points. Each argument will be rated on a scale of 1-5 and then the points will be totaled to
determine which army presented the stronger arguments.
2500 soldiers awarded to the winning army.
BATTLE #4 –Little Lady who started the Big War – BONUS ENLISTMENTS (due by Thursday, April
2nd)
After reading an excerpt of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, each soldier in your regiment will be asked to write a letter to
Harriet Beecher Stowe about the impact of her novel. The General is looking for you to be accurate, creative,
and emotional in your letter. Each letter should be representative of your sides views on slavery.
One soldier from each regiment will be randomly chosen to read their letter out loud.
1500 soldiers awarded to the winning regiment in each army.
WEEKS 2 & 3 REQUIRED READING AND HOMEWORK
Tuesday, April 7th – Read pages 412-415 (sections 21.7 – 21.9) – Dred Scott Case, Lincoln-Douglas
Debates, John Brown
Wednesday, April 8th- Read pages 415-417 (sections 21.9-end)– The Election of 1860, Secession, Fort
Sumter
Monday, April 20th – Quiz on Causes of the Civil War
WEEKS 2 & 3 BATTLES
BATTLE # 1 – Dramatic eye-witness accounts of the violent events over slavery in Kansas (Prep on
Thursday, April 2nd, performances on Tuesday, April 7)
Each soldier will be given 15 minutes to write and prepare a 1 minute eye-witness account of the events
they encountered during “Bleeding Kansas.” You are about to be interviewed by a newspaper reporter
from 1859, just after the violence ended: please give an accurate, creative, and enthusiastic account of
what you have witnessed! One soldier from each regiment will be randomly chosen to be interviewed.
1000 soldiers awarded to the winning regiment.
BATTLE #2 – Trial of John Brown (prep on Wednesday, April 8th, Trial held on Thursday, April 9th
and Friday, April 10th)
John Brown, the radical abolitionist has been caught by Federal Officials after the attempted capture of
the Federal Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Several months have passed and John Brown must now
go to trial. The charges brought against him are murder in the 1st degree for the Pottawatomie Creek
Massacre and conspiracy to commit treason at Harper’s Ferry.
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
Each Army will choose 2 attorneys to represent them during this trial and 2 judges to determine the fate
of John Brown. Southerners will act as the Prosecution and the northerners will act as the Defense. Each
Army will receive 20 minutes to assist the lawyers in preparing their case. Upon completion of the
preparation each side will be given 5 minutes to present their case to the 5-person panel. The judges will
then determine the guilt or innocence of John Brown
2000 soldiers will be awarded to the winning Army.
BATTLE #3 – Political Rally (prep on Monday, April 13. Political Rally held on Tuesday, April 14 for
periods 4, 5, and 7 and Wednesday, April 15 for periods 2 and 3)
Vision of America, 1859 – Lexington, KY
Abraham Lincoln is running on the Republican ticket and the favorite for the Election of 1860. The
southern states, with the support of Jefferson Davis, see this as a threat to their well being and are
prepared to respond if Lincoln is elected.
The Northern Army will choose 1 person to represent Abraham Lincoln and 2 people to act as
speechwriters. The Southern Army will choose 1 person to represent Jefferson Davis and 2
speechwriters. Both Armies will be given 20 minutes to prepare a speech supporting the election of
Lincoln or denouncing the election of Lincoln. The remaining soldiers will create a campaign rally sign,
(1 per regiment) which will be posted during the speech. Each speech must be 1.5 to 2 minutes in
length and presented at the rally.
BATTLE #3B – Abraham Lincoln/Jefferson Davis Day (held on Tuesday, April 14 for periods 4, 5,
and 7 and Wednesday, April 15th for periods 2 and 3)
Students of the Union and Confederate regiments (1 per regiment) will dress as Abraham Lincoln or
Jefferson Davis for the political rally. This day commemorates the days that Lincoln and Davis
acknowledged the hard work ahead following the election of 1860.
Each Lincoln and Davis will deliver a speech to the people of America.
Each person will deliver with passion and conviction to earn enlistments for their
regiment.
2500 soldiers will be awarded to the winning Army, 1500 soldiers to the best Lincoln or Davis, and
an additional 500 for the best campaign poster.
WEEKS 4 & 5 REQUIRED READINGS AND HOMEWORK
Tuesday, April 21st and Wednesday, April 22nd – Read pages 423-425 (sections 22.1-22.3) and
complete your graphic organizer on strengths and weaknesses.
Friday, April 24th – Read pages 426-427 (section 22.3) Battle of Bull Run
Monday, April 27th – Read pages 428-430 (section 22.4) Battle of Antietam
Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday April 29th – Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and
Shiloh
Thursday, April 30th – Read pages 430 – 433 (section 22.5 – 22.6) Battle of Gettysburg,
Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address and Vicksburg
Friday, May 1st – Read pages 434-439 (sections 22.7- 22.8) Fort Wagner, Sherman’s March and
Appomattox
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
WEEKS 4 & 5 BATTLES
Introduction
On April 12, 1861, Confederate guns opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, thus beginning the
bloodiest conflict in American history. 620,000 casualties. More than all other American wars
combined. The Civil War remains this nation’s most defining experience, ultimately giving new meaning
to the word “freedom.” Walt Whitman, a young newspaperman, and destined to become one of
America’s greatest poets, wrote, “We will never know the seething hell and the black infernal
background of this war, and it’s best that we should not. The real war will never be in the
books.” This week the war will come alive for all of us to experience.
BATTLE #1 – Teaching American Politics (prep on Tuesday, April 21st periods 4, 5, and 7 and
Wednesday, April 22nd Periods 2 and 3, presentations on Thursday, April 23rd periods 4, 5, and 7
and Friday, April 24th for periods 2 and 3)
As the Southern states began seceding from the Union and war was looming on the horizon, students at a
public school in Baltimore, MD asked their teacher “If our nation goes to war, which has more strengths,
weaknesses, and better leaders, the Union or the newly formed Confederacy?” The teacher pauses for a
moment and responds to the class.
Each Army will choose 3 teachers to present the strengths, weaknesses, and leaders to the class. Both
Armies will create a slide to act as a visual during the lesson. Upon completion of the lesson, both sides
will debate the issue of Advantages and Disadvantages as they both enter the war.
1500 soldiers will be awarded to the winning Army.
Battle #2 – American Ideals Regimental Website (Presented on May 13th – May 14th)
Each regiment will examine the events leading up to and including the American Civil War. The regiment
will then identify the 5 American Ideals and link them to events of the time period. Each student within
the regiment will be required to create a portion for the Website identifying an ideal and demonstrating
his/her knowledge of it.
Please refer to the Website handout describing the project.
10,000 enlistments to the winning regiment.
Library Dates for Research and Development:
Website Prep
Monday, April
– General Knoedler – Main Library
Thursday, April 30th – General Maigur – Main Library
Friday, May 1st – General Keyes – Main Library
27th
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Civil War Challenge
Spring, 2015
Battle #2 – Each regiment will perform a theatrical presentation of the Emancipation
Proclamation. (Week of April 27th)
The Proclamation will be read to the people of that particular state informing them of Lincoln’s
emancipation of the slaves. Throughout the reading the performer must reflect the mood of the people in
the state that he/she is reading it too. Upon conclusion of the reading the members of the state must
provide additional commentary that reflects the sentiment of the people.
Winning regiment receives 3000 enlistments
Battle # 3 – Northern Lights Poetry Competition – Thursday, April 30th
Assume the perspective of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as he witnesses the horrific battle of
Fredericksburg. Chamberlain was forever moved by the sites/sounds/and smells of the battlefield. Each
student will create and present a 2 stanza poem capturing and expressing one of the Civil War’s most
unforgettable battle fields. Refer to the Northern lights video and handout.
Winning poem receives 5000 enlistments.
May
6th
7th
8th
BATTLE #3 – “Tenting Tonight”
Each regiment must construct and dismantle 2 Civil War style tents in the fastest time in
order to earn enlistments. The tents must be sturdy and well constructed for inspection
by the commanding officers.
BATTLE #4 – Town Ball
This challenge will bring you directly back to the activities of the 1860’s.
BATTLE #5 – Regimental Drilling
All Union and Confederate troops will be whipped into top military shape.
BATTLE #6 – Battlefield Challenge – Friday, May 15th
The battlefield challenge will be the review for the unit exam. This will be a battle nobody
forgets! Description TBA
FINAL CHALLENGE-Monday, May 18th – CIVIL WAR UNIT EXAM
Reading Challenge Questions – Train your troops for daily battle!!
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