Every big event in history has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Historians use timelines to keep the story in order.
The Civil War story goes like this: First, the North and South argued about slavery. Next, Southern states left and the war began in 1861. Then came four hard years of battles and struggle. Finally, in 1865, the North won, the country came back together, and slavery ended.
Today you will build the Civil War timeline yourself, just like a real historian. Keeping events in order helps us understand how one thing led to another.
1. What do historians use to keep events in order?
2. What year did the war begin? What year did it end?
3. What TWO big things happened when the war ended?
These Civil War events are all mixed up! Number them 1 to 5 in the correct order. Then copy them in order onto the timeline table below.
___ The North wins and the country reunites (1865).
___ The North and South argue about slavery.
___ Four hard years of battles.
___ Southern states leave and the war begins (1861).
___ Slavery ends forever.
| Order | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 (First) | |
| 2 (Next) | |
| 3 (Then) | |
| 4 (After that) | |
| 5 (Finally) |
Draw two pictures: the country DIVIDED during the war, and the country TOGETHER after the war. You can draw flags, maps, or people shaking hands.
1. A keeps events in order.
2. The war began in .
3. It lasted years.
4. The war ended in .
5. The country came back .
6. Slavery forever.
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| The order of Civil War events | YES / NOT YET |
| The start and end years of the war | YES / NOT YET |
| I built my own timeline | YES / NOT YET |