Memorial Day

Do you know why we have a holiday this weekend?  Memorial Day is about much more than a day off, barbeques, and picnics.  It is a day to remember those who have fallen in wars.  Interestingly, Memorial Day has roots going all the way back to the Civil War, which we just finished studying in class.  Learn about the meaning of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day History
Memorial Day History.com

Civil War -- Primary Sources

Two of the most important primary source documents from the Civil War are The Emancipation Proclamation and The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.

You can find more primary sources from the Civil War Trust.
A picture can be worth a thousand words.  The National Archives provides hundreds of photographs from the Civil War.

Hard Tack, Come Again No More (song)
Hardtack biscuits recipe.

Civil War Biographies pt 2

Abraham Lincoln (whitehouse bio)
Abraham Lincoln (biography.com)

Jefferson Davis (biography.com)


Ulysses S Grant (whitehouse bio)
Ulysses S Grant (biography.com)

Robert E Lee (biography.com)




There is a reason both of these men are on our currency.  Can you figure out why?

Civil War Music

Listen to some of the songs on these links.  Songs are excellent primary sources which give you knowledge about how people thought and felt when they were written.
Music of the 1860s
Lyrics and Music of the Civil War
Civil War Music
Instrumental Music of the Civil War

The Battle Cry of Freedom
John Brown's Body
Dixie

The Civil War

Our next language arts unit with be about the American Civil War.  Check out these websites to get a head start on this topic.

1.  The Civil War for Kids (links)
2.  The Civil War for Kids (links) #2
3.  Easy historical reading on the Civil War.
4.  Causes & Effects of the Civil War.
5.  Interactive Civil War page.

Civil War Biographies

Try reading these biographies for useful historical information:

Ulysses S Grant
Robert E Lee
Abraham Lincoln
Jefferson Davis