Lesson Plan - Appomattox Courthouse Digital Field Trips with Janie Lynn Panagopoulos
Lesson Plan
Appomattox Court House: Where the Nation Reunited
Subject:
Appomattox Court House
Object and Goals:
• Students will become familiar with the visual and historical location of Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
• Students will gain historical knowledge of the events concerning the end of the Civil War in 1865.
Vocabulary:
Confederates
dispatch
Federalist
General
parole
retreat
surrender
terms
Union
veteran
victory
Anticipatory Set (30 minutes):
• Briefly explain what this lesson is about.
• Ask students to define their understanding of the Civil War and its time frame.
• Ask students if they know the name or location of Appomattox Court House. (Show US map and location of Washington D.C.. Show the location of Virginia compared to Washington, D.C. Show the proximity of Richmond, VA, to Washington, D.C. Show the location of Petersburg. Show the location of Appomattox Court House.
Direct Instruction:
Summary
Since 1783, America has had only three wars fought on its soil. The War of 1812, The Civil War, and The Mexican-American War. The Civil War was the bloodiest, causing the loss of 620,000 individuals. Confederate deaths were approximately 260,000 men (93,000 killed in combat). Union deaths were about 360,000 (110,000 killed in action). Out of 620,000 deaths on both sides, 400,000 were from disease.
This awful war, over the sessions of states and freeing of slaves, all came to an end on April 9th, 1865, in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, when Gen. Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Forces of the South met Gen. U.S. Grant of the Federal Forces of the North met in the front parlor of the home of Wilmer McLean.
Gen. Lee requested the terms of surrender, expecting harsh treatment from the Union commander, but Gen. Grant’s words were simple and humane as both men, after four long and hard years of fighting, were glad to bring an end to the war.
Guided Practice (60 minutes):
• Have Students view Digital Field Trip: Appomattox Court House, 1865
• Discuss the short video
• View again, if necessary, to look for different information.
• What did they notice concerning the location of Richmond compared to Washington, D.C.?
• What did they notice from the video concerning the location of Appomattox Court House? Was it considered a farm community in 1865 or a large city similar to Richmond?
• The Court House at Appomattox Court House represents the seat of what government in 1865? Confederate? Union? Federal?
• Read this statement to your students:
“...Then there is nothing left me but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths...” Gen. Robert E. Lee, April 9, 1865
Does it sound like Gen. Lee was happy to surrender? Discuss. What other options were available for Gen. Lee?
• View primary source documents and websites included in this Moodle.
Independent Practice:
Closure:
• Ask students:
1. What two armies met at Appomattox Court House in 1865?
2. Did Gen. Grant fight for the Union or Confederate army?
3. Did Gen. Lee fight for the Union or Confederate army?
4. Did the Confederate army represent the North or the South?
5. Did the Union army represent the North or the South?
6. Was the Federal government represented by the Union or Confederate armies?
7. Was Abraham Lincoln president of the United States of America or president of the United Confederate States?
8. Who was Jefferson Davis?
9. Do you think Grant and Lee were happy when the war ended?
View Quiz
Independent Practice:
Encyclopedia of Virginia on Ulysses S. Grant: https://bit.ly/nMBRf5
Encyclopedia of Virginia on Robert E. Lee: https://bit.ly/qmv5q
National Park Service: Appomattox Court House: https://www.nps.gov/apco/learn/historyculture/the-surrender-meeting.htm
Timeline:
April 1865
April
1 Battle of Five Forks, VA
Siege of Petersburg, Virginia
2 Battle of Fort Blakely, AL
Battle of Selma, AL
Confederate Gov. evacuates Richmond, VA
3 Union troops take Petersburg and Richmond
4 Lincoln visits Richmond
5 Battle of Jetersville, VA
6 Battle of Sayler’s Creek, VA
7 Grant and Lee begin communication for surrender
8 Battle of Appomattox Station (Court House)
9 Lee surrenders
11 Confederate gov. withdraws to North Carolina
14 President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Washington, D.C.
15 Lincoln pronounced dead18 Sherman and Johnston reached an agreement on terms of surrender for all remaining Confederate armies.
19 Nation mourns U.S. President Lincoln.
24 Sherman commences operations against Johnston.
26 Gen. Beauregard (CS) surrenders at Durham Station, N.C.
Gen. Johnston surrenders to Sherman.
John Wilkes Booth is shot while fleeing from a barn.
27 Sultana, carrying Union POWs, explodes on the Mississippi River near Memphis.
29 Commercial shipping restrictions lifted from Confederate ports.
Quiz Appomattox Courthouse
Digital Field Trip with Janie Lynn Panagopoulos
Appomattox Court House Quiz
1. Was Gen. Robert E. Lee a Union or Confederate officer?
2. How long did the Civil War last?
3. Do you think Gen. Robert E. Lee was unhappy because he knew he needed to surrender to save his men?
4. Do you think the Civil War was the bloodiest war fought on American soil? How many men lost their lives?
5. Appomattox Court House, or Appomattox Station, is near Petersburg, Virginia. True or False
6. Gen. Lee and Gen. Grant met to discuss the terms of surrender at Wilmer McLean’s home. True or False
7. How would you feel if you were a Confederate soldier at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865?
8. If you viewed the Timeline, tell me something important that happened in April 1865.
Lesson Plan
Appomattox Court House: Where the Nation Reunited
Subject:
Appomattox Court House
Object and Goals:
• Students will become familiar with the visual and historical location of Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
• Students will gain historical knowledge of the events concerning the end of the Civil War in 1865.
Vocabulary:
Confederates
dispatch
Federalist
General
parole
retreat
surrender
terms
Union
veteran
victory
Anticipatory Set (30 minutes):
• Briefly explain what this lesson is about.
• Ask students to define their understanding of the Civil War and its time frame.
• Ask students if they know the name or location of Appomattox Court House. (Show US map and location of Washington D.C.. Show the location of Virginia compared to Washington, D.C. Show the proximity of Richmond, VA, to Washington, D.C. Show the location of Petersburg. Show the location of Appomattox Court House.
Direct Instruction:
Summary
Since 1783, America has had only three wars fought on its soil. The War of 1812, The Civil War, and The Mexican-American War. The Civil War was the bloodiest, causing the loss of 620,000 individuals. Confederate deaths were approximately 260,000 men (93,000 killed in combat). Union deaths were about 360,000 (110,000 killed in action). Out of 620,000 deaths on both sides, 400,000 were from disease.
This awful war, over the sessions of states and freeing of slaves, all came to an end on April 9th, 1865, in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, when Gen. Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Forces of the South met Gen. U.S. Grant of the Federal Forces of the North met in the front parlor of the home of Wilmer McLean.
Gen. Lee requested the terms of surrender, expecting harsh treatment from the Union commander, but Gen. Grant’s words were simple and humane as both men, after four long and hard years of fighting, were glad to bring an end to the war.
Guided Practice (60 minutes):
• Have Students view Digital Field Trip: Appomattox Court House, 1865
• Discuss the short video
• View again, if necessary, to look for different information.
• What did they notice concerning the location of Richmond compared to Washington, D.C.?
• What did they notice from the video concerning the location of Appomattox Court House? Was it considered a farm community in 1865 or a large city similar to Richmond?
• The Court House at Appomattox Court House represents the seat of what government in 1865? Confederate? Union? Federal?
• Read this statement to your students:
“...Then there is nothing left me but to go and see General Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths...” Gen. Robert E. Lee, April 9, 1865
Does it sound like Gen. Lee was happy to surrender? Discuss. What other options were available for Gen. Lee?
• View primary source documents and websites included in this Moodle.
Independent Practice:
Closure:
• Ask students:
1. What two armies met at Appomattox Court House in 1865?
2. Did Gen. Grant fight for the Union or Confederate army?
3. Did Gen. Lee fight for the Union or Confederate army?
4. Did the Confederate army represent the North or the South?
5. Did the Union army represent the North or the South?
6. Was the Federal government represented by the Union or Confederate armies?
7. Was Abraham Lincoln president of the United States of America or president of the United Confederate States?
8. Who was Jefferson Davis?
9. Do you think Grant and Lee were happy when the war ended?
View Quiz
Independent Practice:
Encyclopedia of Virginia on Ulysses S. Grant: https://bit.ly/nMBRf5
Encyclopedia of Virginia on Robert E. Lee: https://bit.ly/qmv5q
National Park Service: Appomattox Court House: https://www.nps.gov/apco/learn/historyculture/the-surrender-meeting.htm
Timeline:
April 1865
April
1 Battle of Five Forks, VA
Siege of Petersburg, Virginia
2 Battle of Fort Blakely, AL
Battle of Selma, AL
Confederate Gov. evacuates Richmond, VA
3 Union troops take Petersburg and Richmond
4 Lincoln visits Richmond
5 Battle of Jetersville, VA
6 Battle of Sayler’s Creek, VA
7 Grant and Lee begin communication for surrender
8 Battle of Appomattox Station (Court House)
9 Lee surrenders
11 Confederate gov. withdraws to North Carolina
14 President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Washington, D.C.
15 Lincoln pronounced dead18 Sherman and Johnston reached an agreement on terms of surrender for all remaining Confederate armies.
19 Nation mourns U.S. President Lincoln.
24 Sherman commences operations against Johnston.
26 Gen. Beauregard (CS) surrenders at Durham Station, N.C.
Gen. Johnston surrenders to Sherman.
John Wilkes Booth is shot while fleeing from a barn.
27 Sultana, carrying Union POWs, explodes on the Mississippi River near Memphis.
29 Commercial shipping restrictions lifted from Confederate ports.
Quiz Appomattox Courthouse
Digital Field Trip with Janie Lynn Panagopoulos
Appomattox Court House Quiz
1. Was Gen. Robert E. Lee a Union or Confederate officer?
2. How long did the Civil War last?
3. Do you think Gen. Robert E. Lee was unhappy because he knew he needed to surrender to save his men?
4. Do you think the Civil War was the bloodiest war fought on American soil? How many men lost their lives?
5. Appomattox Court House, or Appomattox Station, is near Petersburg, Virginia. True or False
6. Gen. Lee and Gen. Grant met to discuss the terms of surrender at Wilmer McLean’s home. True or False
7. How would you feel if you were a Confederate soldier at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865?
8. If you viewed the Timeline, tell me something important that happened in April 1865.