Uh oh—it’s the Civil War! This was one of the darkest and most turbulent moments in American history, when the nation literally split apart for the first (and hopefully the last) time. Whenever things feel chaotic in the U.S. today, I take some comfort in remembering that there was once a period when things were far worse. Now, keep reading to find out who came out on top in the Civil War… (spoiler: it wasn’t Iron Man, but it was the North).
Key Concepts
-- Key Concept 5.1: The United States became more connected with the world, pursued an expansionist foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, and emerged as the destination for many migrants from other countries.
-- Key Concept 5.2: Intensified by expansion and deepening regional divisions, debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led the nation into civil war.
--Key Concept 5.3 — The Union victory in the Civil War and the contested Reconstruction of the South settled the issues of slavery and Secession but left many questions unresolved about the power of the Federal Government and the rights of citizens.
Time Period: 2 weeks