short answer questions civil war

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25 Questions About the Civil War

Welcome to our lesson on the American Civil War, one of the most pivotal and consequential events in American history.

This period of conflict, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, fundamentally reshaped the nation, tested its core principles, and resulted in profound changes in the years that followed.

Today, we will embark on a journey to understand the causes, key figures, battles, and consequences of this historic conflict. To guide our exploration, we’ve prepared a series of multiple-choice questions that will serve as the foundation for our discussion.

These questions will help us delve into the complexities of the Civil War, from its origins to its aftermath. Let’s begin our exploration by tackling these questions one by one, gaining a deeper insight into this transformative chapter in American history.

American Civil War Questions

1. when did the american civil war begin, 2. which event triggered the outbreak of the civil war.

• a) The Missouri Compromise
• b) The Emancipation Proclamation
• c) The Battle of Fort Sumter
• d) The Dred Scott Decision

3. Who was the President of the Confederate States of America?

• a) Abraham Lincoln
• b) Thomas Jefferson
• c) Robert E. Lee
• d) Jefferson Davis

4. What was the main issue that divided the North and the South during the Civil War?

• b) Taxation
• c) States’ rights
• d) Trade tariffs

5. Which side had a greater population and industrial advantage during the Civil War?

• a) The North
• b) The South
• c) Both sides were equally matched
• d) It varied throughout the war

6. Which famous Civil War battle is often considered the turning point of the conflict?

• a) Battle of Bull Run
• b) Battle of Gettysburg
• c) Battle of Antietam
• d) Battle of Vicksburg

7. Who was the commanding general of the Confederate Army?

• a) Ulysses S. Grant
• b) Robert E. Lee
• c) Stonewall Jackson
• d) William Tecumseh Sherman

8. Which battle marked the first large-scale clash between Union and Confederate forces?

• a) Battle of Shiloh
• b) Battle of Chickamauga
• c) Battle of Chancellorsville
• d) Battle of Fredericksburg

9. What was the main objective of the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln?

• a) To abolish slavery in the United States
• b) To free all enslaved people in the South
• c) To encourage foreign countries to support the Union
• d) To end the war immediately

10. Which state was the first to secede from the Union in 1860?

• a) Virginia
• b) South Carolina

11. What was the significance of the Battle of Appomattox Court House?

• a) It was where General Lee surrendered to General Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.
• b) It was the first major battle of the Civil War.
• c) It was where President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
• d) It was the site of the Confederate capital during the war.

12. Which side had more significant naval power during the Civil War?

• c) Both sides had equal naval power
• d) Neither side had a significant naval presence

13. What was the nickname given to the Union’s strategy of dividing the Confederacy by controlling the Mississippi River?

• a) The Anaconda Plan
• b) The Sherman Plan
• c) The Lee Strategy
• d) The Gettysburg Tactic

14. Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?

• a) John Wilkes Booth
• b) Lee Harvey Oswald
• c) Charles Guiteau
• d) John Hinckley Jr

15. What was the significance of the Battle of Bull Run (First Battle of Manassas)?

• a) It was the first major battle of the Civil War.
• b) It was where General Lee surrendered to General Grant.
• c) It was the battle that led to the Emancipation Proclamation.
• d) It was the final battle of the Civil War.

16. What was the name of the famous speech delivered by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg?

• a) The Declaration of Independence
• b) The Gettysburg Address
• c) The Emancipation Proclamation
• d) The Lincoln Memorial Speech

17. Who was the Union general known for his “March to the Sea” and devastating campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas?

• a) Robert E. Lee
• b) Stonewall Jackson
• c) Ulysses S. Grant

18. What was the main cause of death for soldiers during the Civil War?

• b) Battle wounds
• c) Starvation
• d) Poisoning

19. Which Confederate general was known for his audacious raids and “Stonewall” nickname?

• a) Jefferson Davis
• d) P.G.T. Beauregard

20. What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?

• a) It was the bloodiest single day of the Civil War.
• b) It was the first battle of the Civil War.
• c) It was where General Lee surrendered to General Grant.
• d) It marked the beginning of the Reconstruction era.

21. What was the name of the ironclad warship used by the Confederacy during the Civil War?

• a) USS Monitor
• b) USS Merrimack
• c) USS Alabama
• d) USS Constitution

22. Who was the Union general who led the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a major Confederate stronghold?

• b) Ulysses S. Grant

23. Which Confederate general famously led a daring raid deep into Union territory in 1863, which ended in defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg?

• a) P.G.T. Beauregard
• d) Jubal Early

24. What was the result of the Civil War in terms of slavery?

• a) Slavery was immediately abolished throughout the United States.
• b) Slavery continued in the South until 1900.
• c) Slavery was abolished in the Confederacy but remained legal in the Union.
• d) Slavery was abolished in the Confederate states and eventually throughout the United States with the 13th Amendment.

25. Which state was the last to secede from the Union, doing so in 1865?

• b) Mississippi
• d) Tennessee

Civil War Quiz

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1 . Question

Which of the following contributed to the outbreak of the american civil war.

• The Dred Scott decision
• The Raid on Harpers Ferry
• The issue of slavery
• All of the above

2 . Question

Who was the president of the confederacy.

• Robert E. Lee
• Andrew Jackson
• Jefferson Davis
• Stephen Douglas

3 . Question

Who was the commanding general of the united states army at the beginning of the civil war.

• Ulysses S. Grant
• Irvin McDowell
• George B. McClellan
• Winfield Scott

4 . Question

What name was given to the strategic plan that general winfield scott proposed at the start of the civil war.

• The March to the Sea
• The Border Strategy
• The Anaconda Plan
• The Scorched Earth Plan

5 . Question

The civil war began when confederate guns bombarded a federal fort located in what state.

• South Carolina
• North Carolina

6 . Question

Most of the generals from both the north and south gained experience as junior officers in what previous american war.

• Spanish-American War
• Revolutionary War
• War of 1812
• Mexican-American War

7 . Question

Which of the following best describes the quality of the military officers in the north and south at the start of the civil war.

• The South had more experienced and talented officers than the North.
• The North had more experienced and talented officers than the South.
• The majority of the officers serving in both the North and South were extremely talented and experienced.
• The majority of the officers in both the North and South were comparable in their talents and military experience.

8 . Question

Which of the following best describes the navies in the north and south at the beginning of the civil war.

• The Southern navy was far superior to the Northern navy.
• The Northern navy was powerful and the South did not have a navy.
• Both sides had large navies.
• Neither side had a powerful navy, but the North had a lot more ships and more expert crews.

9 . Question

Which of the following best describes the railroad capacity of the north and south during the civil war.

• The North had a substantially larger network of railroads than the South.
• The South had a substantially larger network of railroads than the North.
• Both the North and South had comparable railroad capacity during the Civil War.
• The railroads were largely ineffectual for both the North and the South during the Civil War due to widespread railway damage and coal shortages.

10 . Question

Which faction had a larger pool of manpower from which to draw soldiers during the civil war.

• Both the North and South had comparable populations.
• The South had a smaller white population than the North, but had a larger overall population when slaves were counted.

11 . Question

Which faction had more industrial capacity and could more easily manufacture weapons and equipment during the civil war.

• Both the North and the South relied primarily on European imports
• Both the North and South had comparable manufacturing capabilities

12 . Question

What name was given to northern democrats who opposed the civil war.

• Copperheads
• Bourbon Democrats

13 . Question

Which of the following battles was the first major military engagement of the civil war.

• First Bull Run

14 . Question

Initially, the popular opinion in both the north and south was that the war would be….

• a long, drawn-out affair.
• over within a matter of months.
• a certain victory for the North.
• a certain victory for the South.

15 . Question

At which battle did general thomas “stonewall” jackson earn his nickname.

• Chancellorsville

16 . Question

Of which union general was president lincoln speaking when he said “i can’t spare the man; he fights” although the officer had nearly been defeated at the battle of shiloh, 17 . question, which southern general commanded the army of northern virginia before robert e. lee took over.

• James Longstreet
• Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
• Braxton Bragg
• Joseph E. Johnston

18 . Question

By capturing this important confederate port in 1862, union forces seriously disrupted the confederate war effort and cut off access to the mouth of the mississippi river:.

• Savannah, GA
• New Orleans, LA
• Charleston, SC

19 . Question

Which controversial northern general commanded the occupation of new orleans.

• William T. Sherman
• Benjamin Butler

20 . Question

Which general, known for his cautious approach, commanded union forces during the peninsula campaign, 21 . question, which battle in 1862 secured union control of kentucky.

• Wildcat Camp
• Mill Springs

22 . Question

The union gained control of the mississippi river after capturing which of the following southern cities.

• New Orleans
• Chattanooga

23 . Question

Which confederate cavalry commander led a series of raids into kentucky, indiana, and ohio in 1863.

• John Hunt Morgan
• Nathan Bedford Forest
• J.E.B. Stuart

24 . Question

At which battle was general thomas “stonewall” jackson accidentally shot by friendly soldiers.

• Cold Harbor
• Chickamauga

25 . Question

What name was given to the republican politicians who strongly supported equal rights for african americans from approximately 1854 to 1877.

• Libertarians
• Radical Republicans
• Moderate Republicans
• Conservative Republicans

26 . Question

President abraham lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation after which key civil war battle, 27 . question, what did the emancipation proclamation do.

• Abolished slavery throughout the United States
• Proclaimed the end of slavery in designated areas of the South that were in rebellion
• Abolished all slavery in the South
• Gave slaves the right to vote

28 . Question

Which general said, “it is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it”, 29 . question, during which campaign did the battle of the crater occur.

• Shenandoah Valley
• Peninsular Campaign

30 . Question

What was general ulysses s. grant’s most costly and lopsided defeat.

• Missionary Ridge
• Spotsylvania Court House

31 . Question

In 1864, which union commander executed his total war strategy for attacking the confederate south that became known as the “march to the sea”.

• Philip Sheridan
• George Armstrong Custer

32 . Question

To what did the slang “sherman’s neckties” refer.

• Twisted railroad rails

33 . Question

During which battle in 1864 were many african-american soldiers from the union army massacred while trying to surrender.

• Fort Wagner
• Fort Pillow
• Fort Donnellson

34 . Question

Which of these battles resulted in a confederate defeat that was a turning point in the civil war, 35 . question, who ordered the fatal charge that would ultimately lead to the confederates’ defeat at gettysburg.

• General Robert E. Lee
• General George Pickett
• General J. Johnston Pettigrew
• General George Meade

36 . Question

At which battle did the 54th massachusetts infantry, a unit of black soldiers, lead a famous yet unsuccessful assault.

• Fort Donnelson

37 . Question

In what year was ulysses s. grant given command of all union armies, 38 . question, abraham lincoln coined the iconic phrase “four score and seven years ago…” in a speech commemorating which civil war battle.

• Spotsylvania

39 . Question

Who became president upon the death of abraham lincoln.

• Andrew Johnson
• Hannibal Hamlin
• Edwin M. Stanton

40 . Question

What was the last major campaign of the civil war, 41 . question, how did the civil war affect the northern and southern economies.

• The Union economy thrived during the war, but the Confederate economy struggled.
• The Confederate economy thrived during the war, but the Union economy struggled.
• Both the Union and Confederate economies thrived during the war.
• Both the Union and Confederate economies struggled during the war.

42 . Question

Where were the majority of civil war battles fought.

• West of the Mississippi
• There were roughly the same number of battles fought in the North and the South

43 . Question

Which of the following was responsible for the majority of the soldiers’ deaths that occurred during the civil war.

• Rifle/musket fire
• Bayonet charges
• Artillery fire

44 . Question

What was the last confederate military unit to surrender.

• The Army of the Trans-Mississippi, led by General Kirby Smith
• The CSS Shenandoah, captained by Lieutenant Commander James Waddell
• The Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee
• The Confederate Indians, let by Brigadier General Stand Watie
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