Learn About the Civil War With Free Printables

Civil War

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The American Civil War was fought between the northern and southern states of the United States between 1861 and 1865. There were many events leading to the Civil War. Following the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, decades of tensions between the north and south, primarily over enslavement and states' rights, exploded.

Eleven southern states ultimately seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. These states were South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi.

The states remaining part of the United States of America were Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Nevada, and Oregon.

West Virginia (which had been part of the state of Virginia until Virginia seceded), Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri made up the Border States. These were states which chose to remain part of the United States despite the fact that they were pro-slavery states.

The war began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter, where a small unit of Union soldiers remained after secession, in South Carolina.

By the war's end, over 618,000 Americans (Union and Confederate combined) had lost their lives. The casualties exceeded more than those of all other U.S. wars combined.

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Civil War Vocabulary

Print the PDF: Civil War Vocabulary Sheet

Introduce students to Civil War vocabulary. In this activity, they will look up each term from the word bank associated with the Civil War. Then, students will write each word on the line next to its correct definition.

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Civil War Word Search

Print the PDF: Civil War Word Search 

Use the word search as a fun way for students to review the Civil War vocabulary terms. Instruct students to mentally or orally define each term from the word bank, looking up any whose definition they can't remember. Then, find each word among the scrambled letters in the word search puzzle.

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Civil War Crossword Puzzle

Print the PDF: Civil War Crossword Puzzle

In this activity, students will review Civil War vocabulary by correctly filling out the crossword puzzle using the clues provided. They may use the vocabulary sheet for reference if they have trouble.

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Civil War Challenge

Print the PDF: Civil War Challenge 

Challenge your students to see how well they remember these terms associated with the Civil War. For each clue, students will choose the correct word from the multiple choice options.

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Civil War Alphabet Activity

Print the PDF: Civil War Alphabet Activity

In this activity, students will practice their alphabetizing skills while reviewing Civil War vocabulary. Direct students to write each term from the word bank in correct alphabetical order.

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Civil War Draw and Write

Print the PDF: Civil War Draw and Write Page

Tap into your students' creativity with this activity that allows them to practice their handwriting, composition, and drawing skills. Your student will draw a Civil War related picture depicting something they've learned. Then, they'll use blank lines to write about their drawing.

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Civil War Tic-Tac-Toe

Print the PDF: Civil War Tic-Tac-Toe Page

You can use this Civil War tic-tac-toe board just for fun or review Civil War battles with older students.

To review battles, keep score by naming each win after a battle won by a player's "side." For example, if a winning player is using the Union Army playing pieces, he might list his win as "Antietam." A Confederate win might be listed as "Fort Sumter."

Cut the board off at the dotted line. Then, cut the playing pieces apart on the solid lines. For best results, print on card stock.

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Civil War Coloring Page

Print the PDF: Civil War and Lincoln Coloring Page

You may wish to print the coloring pages to use as a quiet activity while you read aloud to your students about the Civil War. They can also be used as an activity to allow younger students to participate in the study with older siblings. 

Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States during the Civil War. Use the internet or resources from the library to learn more about the 16th president.

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Civil War Coloring Page 2

Print the PDF: Civil War Coloring Page

Students of all ages can use the coloring pages to illustrate a notebook or lap book depicting facts they've learned about the Civil War.

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union Army, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

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Your Citation
Hernandez, Beverly. "Learn About the Civil War With Free Printables." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/civil-war-printables-1832375. Hernandez, Beverly. (2020, August 27). Learn About the Civil War With Free Printables. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/civil-war-printables-1832375 Hernandez, Beverly. "Learn About the Civil War With Free Printables." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/civil-war-printables-1832375 (accessed March 28, 2024).