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 Union flag had stars and stripes, but the Confederate flag had three stripes and a circle of stars.
Corrected: The Union flag had stars and stripes, and the Confederate battle flag had a blue X with white stars.
The Confederate battle flag showed a diagonal blue cross, called a saltire, with stars on it.
2. Fix the sentence:
Union soldiers wore gray uniforms, and Confederate soldiers wore blue.
Corrected: Union soldiers wore blue uniforms, and Confederate soldiers wore gray.
Color helped armies recognize friend from foe in the smoke and confusion of battle.
3. Fix the sentence:
Soldiers ate alot of fresh fruit and ice cream during long marchs.
Corrected: Soldiers ate a lot of hardtack and salted meat during long marches.
Hardtack was a tough cracker that lasted a long time and was a common soldier food.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Union soldiers usually wore uniforms that were the color blue.
Blue uniforms helped Union troops recognize each other on the battlefield.
2. Confederate soldiers usually wore uniforms that were the color gray.
Gray uniforms became the symbol of the Confederate army, though dye sometimes ran out.
3. A hard cracker that soldiers carried in their packs was called hardtack.
Hardtack lasted for months and became a key food for marching armies.
4. The patriotic song often sung by Union supporters was 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.'
This famous song lifted Union spirits and is still sung at events today.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why were flags and uniforms so important in Civil War battles?
Sample answer: Flags and uniform colors helped soldiers tell which side was which in the smoke and noise of battle.
Clear symbols and colors prevented soldiers from accidentally firing on their own troops.
2. Describe one hardship soldiers faced in camp life.
Sample answer: Soldiers ate tough hardtack, slept in tents in bad weather, and often got sick from poor camp conditions.
Camp life was difficult, and disease killed more soldiers than battle wounds during the Civil War.