Civil War Introduction — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The American Civil War began in 1761 between two American regions.
Corrected: The American Civil War began in 1861 between two American regions.
The Civil War started in 1861 when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter.
2. Fix the sentence:
Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Confederate States during the war.
Corrected: Abraham Lincoln was the president of the United States during the war.
Lincoln served as U.S. president; Jefferson Davis led the Confederacy.
3. Fix the sentence:
Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Union Army during the Civil War.
Corrected: Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Robert E. Lee commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865.
The Civil War ended in April 1865 when Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
2. The Northern states during the war were called the Union.
The Union included Northern states that remained loyal to the federal government.
3. The Southern states that left the United States formed the Confederacy.
The Confederacy, or Confederate States, included eleven seceded Southern states.
4. The president of the United States during the Civil War was Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln was the 16th president and led the Union throughout the war.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. What were two main differences between the Union and the Confederacy?
Sample answer: The Union included Northern free states; the Confederacy included Southern slave states. The North had more factories, while the South had more farms.
Understanding regional differences helps explain why the Civil War happened.
2. Who was Abraham Lincoln, and why was he important during the Civil War?
Sample answer: Abraham Lincoln was the U.S. president during the Civil War. He led the Union, fought to keep the country together, and signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lincoln preserved the Union and helped end slavery in the United States.