Abraham Lincoln Presidential Learning Activity

Authoring, Researching, Reporting and other Work
Learning On-Line by Howard Taylor for his G.E. students at Charleston, Il, and all other students of Lincoln

Questions for each Category

Lincoln and the Battlefield--A Primary Sources Activity
Using Library of Congress Real Documents

The President conferring with General McClellan (left) and other officers (right) at Antietam

ward Taylor

Lincoln
and His Command

In this photographic montage, President Abraham Lincoln sits surrounded by his top commanders. From left to right they are: David Farragut, William T. Sherman, George Henry Thomas, Abraham Lincoln, George Gordon Meade, Ulysses S. Grant, Joseph Hooker, Philip Henry Sheridan, and Winfield Scott Hancock. The portrait on the wall is of Lt. General Winfield Scott

Abraham Lincoln with many of his top military commanders

Picture from PBS: Freedom A History of the U.S., A War to End Slavery

In order to study Lincoln & His Command, one must see the order of events
This link nicely describes the problem that Lincoln had in obtaining a Union victory
Library of Congress Civil War Timeline

"Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible."
President Lincoln's Instruction to General Grant on winning the War

The American Civil Battlefield Protection Site (lots of Civil War era sites listed)

Gettysburg National Memorial

In this Activity you are to look over the Highlights of each Civil War Year.
Complete the table as described in each section

*CIVIL WAR TIMELINE YEARS*	GREAT BATTLES, GENERALS IN CHARGE Which side won?	**LINCOLN'S ACTION TO HELP WIN THE WAR Use the History Place Timeline for these answers**
1861 The War Starts Click Here	Land:	Military Decisions:


	Sea & Waterways:	Political Decisions:


1862 Year of Retreat & Failure Click Here	Land:	Military Decisions:
.	.	.
.	.	.
.	Sea & Waterways:	Political Decisions:
..	.	.
..	.	.
1863 Gettysburg, Emancipation, The Draft Click Here	Land:	Military Decisions:
..	.	.
.	.	.
.	Sea & Waterways:	Political Decisions:
..	..	..
..	..	..
1864 U.S. Grant commands Union Army Click Here	Land:	Military Decisions:
.	.	.
.
..	Sea & Waterways:	Political Decisions:

.	.	.
1865 War ends, Lee surrenders Click Here	Land:	Military Decisions:
...	.	.
.	.	.
.	Sea & Waterways:	Political Decisions:
.	.	.
.	.	.

Visit the Commander & Chief Activity Page

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Go to the Library of Congress Civil War Battles and Strategies

PART ONE concerns how the President should deal with the problem with Fort Sumter. The fort was being besieged by Confederate forces from Charleston, S. Carolina. You will read a message from Major Anderson at Ft. Sumter. Go to the War Battles and Strategies page follow it. Be sure to read all real documents, and then answer the set of questions.

PART TWO is a different battle rail junction near Manassas. You will read telegraph messages as well as messages written by the President, as to what to do. Read all documents, and then answer the set of questions.

PART THREE in 1863, you can read real documents concerning Lincoln's dealings with General McClellan. Read all real documents and then answer the questions for this part.

PART FOUR concerns the Battle of Gettysburg, July, 1863, and how Lincoln dealt with General Meade. The battle was won by Union forces, but the same forces failed to go after the Confederates. Read all real documents and answer the questions.

Return to the Activity Home Page Here