"The Civil War is the thing that makes America different.  It was our most tremendous experience, and it's not quite like anything that ever happened to anyone else ... The story of the war needs retelling because it helped to shape the future of the human race." Bruce Catton, historian

We will begin with an investigation into the decade prior to the first shot at Fort Sumter.  In this turbulent period, we will read about and see the factors that led to the secession of the Southern states.  After a review of the differences between the North and South, you will participate in an activity that will expose you to the various events leading to the secession of South Carolina and the other southern states.   

The four years of the Civil War will take up the majority of our class time, as we examine the major battles, the life of a soldier, the home front, the role of women in the war, and the factors that led to the ultimate conclusion of the conflict.  We will also examine the impact of one of America’s most beloved icons, as well as relive the loss of the same man.  The legacy of the war in our society today will end our study before Winter Break.

Our unit will conclude with a discussion of the rebuilding of the nation – the era of Reconstruction.  After we propose our own plans, we will see how Americans differed on the way to reunite the nation, evaluate the impact of Reconstruction on African Americans, and witness the positives and negatives of the Reconstruction era.