Suggested
Topics for the Civil War Project
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Military Topics The Eastern Campaign
The Western Campaign
The War at Sea
Prisoner of War Camps
The War in North Carolina
Technology and the War
People Groups Contributions
of Women Contributions
of African Americans Black
Troops Jews
and the Civil War Individuals
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Political Topics Events Leading to the War
Politics The
Know-Nothings The
Founding of the Republican Party The
Lincoln Douglas Debates The
Election of 1860 The
Election of 1864 Abraham
Lincoln: The Politician Diplomacy
during the Civil War Civil
rights during the War The
Emancipation Proclamation The Gettysburg Address Copperheads Draft
Riots The
Trent Affair Lincoln's
Assassination and The Assassins’ Reconstruction The
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson The
13th, 14th or 15th Amendments Black
Codes The
early years of the KKK Lifestyles Music
of the Civil War Medicine
during the War Photography
and the War Daily
life of the ordinary soldier Slavery and Abolition
Miscellaneous Questions James
Buchanan: Was he our worst president? Does
Abraham Lincoln deserve to be called "The Great Emancipator?" Why
did Southern diplomacy fail? What
errors did the commanders make in important battles? McClellan:
'Young Napoleon' or Failure? Why
did the North win? Did
Sherman's ‘March to the Sea’ mark the beginning of modern war? Did
the policy of "total War" bring a speedier conclusion to the war Grant
or Lee: Who was a better general? |
Sample Thesis Statements
Ø Lincoln does (or does not) deserve his reputation as “The Great Emancipator.”
Ø Sherman’s and Grant’s policy of Total War effectively brought a speedier conclusion to the war.
Ø Robert E. Lee’s great victory at Fredericksburg was really due to his opponent’s mistakes.
Ø Sherman’s victory at Atlanta and Sheridan’s victories in the Shenandoah won the 1864 election for Abraham Lincoln.
Ø Despite Northern criticism of Andersonville, conditions in the Northern and Southern Prisoner of War Camps were actually relatively similar.
Ø General Braxton Bragg was the most ineffective Confederate commander.
Ø Despite European sympathy for the South, Northern diplomacy prevailed in the crucial question of whether or not European powers would recognize and aid the Confederacy.
Ø African Americans made an undeniable contribution to the Northern military victory despite the problems and prejudice they encountered.
Ø Although the United States Navy was able to use its superiority in men and power to defeat the South, the Confederates made an impressive attempt to use technology to offset Northern power.
Ø Women on both sides escaped their Nineteenth Century idealized image to play active roles in aiding the war effort.
Ø Ambrose Burnside, although a well-meaning and modest man, was one of the worst generals in American history.
Ø Grant’s victory at Vicksburg was a result of a brilliant and daring campaign that violated commonly accepted military strategy of the time.