1. In his inaugural address in 1861 Lincoln said, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists." In September 1862 he issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Explain why and how this marked change of policy took place.
2. Discuss the military advantages and disadvantages of each side at the start of the Civil War. Considering that the preponderance of advantages belonged to the Union, why did it take the North four years to defeat the South?
3. Compare and contrast the economic impact of the Civil War on the Union and the Confederacy.
4. The Civil War has been called a second American Revolution that significantly transformed the social, economic, and political fabric of the nation. Write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with that assessment and offer as much evidence as possible to back up your position.
5. Pretend that you are one of the following: a northern woman or young man working in a factory, the wife of a Confederate soldier, or a rank-and-file Confederate soldier. Write a journal or letter, based on the content of Chapter 15, explaining your attitudes, experiences, hardships, aspirations, and gripes.