The American Civil War Online History Study Course & Assessment

Take our The American Civil War online study course. Learn all about key moments of the American Civil War including the nature, causes + much more. Share with your students and let them complete at home.

History courses for your students

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If so, you'll love our interactive history courses. Your students will be able to work through courses on specific history topics, track their progress, take quizzes to test their knowledge, and finish with a final assessment test.

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Course Overview

The Civil War was a result of the interrelated issues of slavery, territorial, and partisan political control. The tensions between the North and South were traceable to the origin and establishment of the Colonies. Part I of this course presents decades of growing tensions between the anti-slavery North and pro-slavery South before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.

The American Civil War, widely known in the United States simply as the Civil War, was a war fought from 1861 to 1865 to determine the survival of the Union or independence for the Confederacy. The primary issue of slavery divided the Northern and Southern states. Continued territorial expansion led to the political divide of the young United States of America.

After decades of growing tension between Northern and Southern states over state’s rights, territorial expansion, and slavery, the American Civil War began in 1861. Also known as the War between States, the Civil War clearly divided the United States into two - the Union and the Confederacy.

According to historians, the Civil War between 1861 and 1865 determined what kind of nation the United States of America would be. While the American Revolutionary War created an independent nation, the War Between the States tested state’s rights and questioned the sovereignty of the national government. Out of 10,500 battles fought during the war, there were about 50 to 100 significant engagements.

Aside from being the deadliest battle fought on American soil, the Civil War impacted the social, political and economic aspects of both Northern and Southerns States. After the war, the federal government attempted to solve this divide through the period of Reconstruction. Despite the passage of the 13th Amendment, white southerners were able to create a segregated South.

This self-guided course is designed for you to work through on your own using the resources and suggested learning activities provided.

Over the five lessons in the course, you'll learn about the America and the growing tensions before 1861, nature and causes of the American Civil War, differences between the Union and the Confederacy, key events and figures of the Civil War & impacts of the war and the early Reconstruction Era.

Part 1: America and the growing tensions before 1861

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, examine the origins of slavery in America, analyse how the concepts of slavery, territorial expansion and politics resulted in differences between the North and the South & assess key events, which triggered the American Civil War.

Part 1 Quiz: America and the growing tensions before 1861

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the America and the growing tensions before 1861.

Part 2: Nature and Causes of the American Civil War

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, analyse the differences between Northern and Southern States, understand the causes of the Civil War & trace the events which deepened the conflict between the North and the South.

Part 2 Quiz: Nature and Causes of the American Civil War

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the nature and causes of the American Civil War.

Part 3: Differences between the Union and the Confederacy

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand the geographical divide between the North and the South & analyse the differences between the Union and the Confederacy .

Part 3 Quiz: Differences between the Union and the Confederacy

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the differences between the Union and the Confederacy.

Part 4: Key events and figures of the Civil War, 1861-1865

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand significant events of the American Civil War, be familiar with key figures of the war, including Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant & analyse the course of the war using a timeline.

Part 4 Quiz: Key events and figures of the Civil War, 1861-1865

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the key events and figures of the Civil War.

Part 5: Impacts of the war and the early Reconstruction Era

In this lesson, we'll define key terms, understand the nature of the Reconstruction Era, analyse the social, political and economic impacts of the American Civil War & assess the state of African-American rights in the United States after the Civil War.

Part 5 Quiz: Impacts of the war and the early Reconstruction Era

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the impacts of the war and the early Reconstruction Era.

The American Civil War Course Assessment

Take this quiz to make sure you understand the origins of the American Civil War.