Civil War
Comprehensive resources ...
The Civil War Film by Ken Burns
Beginning with a searing indictment of slavery, this first episode dramatically evokes the causes of the war, from the Cotton Kingdom of the South to the northern abolitionists… learn more
History: Civil War Causes, Date, & Battles
The Civil War in the United States began in 1861, after decades of simmering tensions between northern and southern states over slavery, states’ rights and westward expansion. The… learn more
The Assassin's Escape: Following John Wilkes Booth
After assassinating Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth fled Ford’s Theatre and went on the run. His escape continued for the next twelve days and covered over ninety miles… learn more
Band Music from the Civil War Era
On September 27, 1974, the Music Division of the Library of Congress re-created a typical concert of brass band and vocal music from mid-nineteenth-century America. That concert has… learn more
Bill of Rights Institute: Civil War and Reconstruction
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln struggled to preserve the American constitutional republic and Union that ensured liberty and equality for all Americans. To that end, Lincoln… learn more
The Civil War Curriculum
Created by classroom teachers, leading historians, and the American Battlefield Trust Education Department, The Civil War Curriculum is an easy-to-use, interdisciplinary, resource-rich guide for teaching the American Civil… learn more
The Gettysburg Address
On this date in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Speech given by Abraham Lincoln… learn more
Eyewitness to History: The American Civil War
A collection of Civil War websites on a variety of topics. learn more
US National Park Service: The Civil War
4,000,000 freed. 750,000 dead. 1 nation saved. From 1861 to 1865, the American union was broken as brother fought brother in a Civil War that remains a defining… learn more
Top 5 Civil War Movies
Honoring the fallen on the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, browse five different Civil War movies. By Michael Clark 7/1/2023 learn more
Anchor: Civil War and Reconstruction (1860-1876)
Designed for secondary students, part six of our web-based "digital textbook" explores the political, military, and social history of the state during the Civil War and Reconstruction, combining primary sources with… learn more
A Brief Overview of the American Civil War
The Civil War is the central event in America's historical consciousness. While the Revolution of 1776-1783 created the United States, the Civil War of 1861-1865 determined what kind of… learn more
Civil War Curriculum Lesson Plans: Middle School
The following lesson plans have been created by educators, leading historians, and the American Battlefield Trust Education Department for classroom use in middle school grades six through nine.… learn more
Civil War: Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress offers classroom materials and professional development to help teachers effectively use primary sources from the Library's vast digital collections in their teaching. learn more
American Battlefield: President Lincoln's Biograhy
Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States, was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His family moved to Indiana when he was seven and he… learn more
Lesson Plan: Civil War Portrait Photography
This lesson highlights the role and impact of portrait photography during and after the American Civil War. The lesson, which features the American Battlefield Trust's Melissa Winn speaking… learn more
The US American Civil War
The US American Civil War was the greatest war in American history. 3 million fought - 600,000 paid the ultimate price for freedom. And a war for freedom… learn more