The Battle of Gettysburg The Civil War Activity
The History
In late June 1863, after his victory at the battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee decided to invade the North. His plan was to march his army into Pennsylvania and then turn southeast and attack Washington, D.C. He was confident of victory. In his pocket he had papers of surrender that he was sure President Lincoln would soon be signing. In the Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg, the Union forces met Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. It would prove to be a turning point of the Civil War. After three days of fierce fighting, almost 50,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing. Lee withdrew on July 4th and his weary army headed back to Virginia. Neither Lee nor his troops would ever recover from their loss at Gettysburg.
WORKSHEET & Sample PDF Activity
Sample PDF Activity
The Assignment
Think of an animal grazing in a peaceful, grassy setting. Label the animal “Army of Northern Virginia.” Label the grass “Southern Victories.” Draw a lion or some other predator of the grazing animal lurking in the tall grass. Label this animal “Gettysburg.”
Possible Title
The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863
From Read Draw Remember American History Activities by Scholastic SC-0439385199-938519
