Ms. Bruchler's Civil War Research Assignment


Information Resources for Ms. Bruchler's Civil War Research Assignment Please note: When using resources from the Discovering Collection at home, you will need to use a password, available from the library staff. You may go directly to the folowing sections on this page: Task 1. Freeing the Slaves \| Task 2. Freedmen's Bureau \| Task 3. Field Hospitals \| Task 4. The First Modern War \| Task 5. Thomas Nast \| Task 6. President Johnson and the Republicans Primary Source Information Resources on the Civil War Task 1. Freeing the Slaves The Abraham Lincoln Administrations Discovering Collection: The Confiscation Acts are mentioned in several parts of this essay. This section talks about them most extensively. Emancipation Proclamation Discovering Collection: The actual text of this important document is given here. The Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863 Discovering Collection: A nice explanation of the Emancipation Proclamation and the related background. Has a handy list of the key people involved in this event, and their roles. Emancipation Proclamation Discovering Collection: A brief explanation of the Emancipation Proclamation and the related background issues. Emancipation Proclamation (1863) Discovery Collection: A very brief explanation of the Emancipation Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln at the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation Discovering Collection: An image of President Lincolln and other key people present at this historical moment. Law and African Americans: After the Civil War Discovering Collection: "The years following the war produced the Civil War amendments (the Thirteenth, the Fourteenth, and the Fifteenth), each designed to empower former slaves." This page offers brief explanations of these amendments and events. Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Discovering Collection: This document has the wording of the Thirteenth Amendment. Here is an explanation of the amendment's meaning and importance. Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Discovering Collection: This document has the wording of the Fourteenth Amendment, includng a brief explanation of the amendment's meaning and importance. Here is a more detailed explanation of the Fourteenth Amendment. This document covers in-depth the events and people involved with the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment. Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Discovering Collection: This document has the wording of the Fifteenth Amendment. Here is an explanation of the Fifteenth Amendment's meaning and importance. Additional information is available in this article, Election of 1868 and the 15th Amendment, 1868. Here is a large commemorative print marking the enactment from a popular magazine of the time: Harper's Weekly. Abolition, Anti-Slavery Movements, and the Rise of the Sectional Controversy Library of Congress: This nicely illustrated essay gives ahelpful overview of the poeple and events leading up to The Emancipation. It continues into a related section: The Civil War. It covers The Emancipation in a similar fashion, in these sub-sections: "Contrabands of War", The Emancipation Proclamation, and Soldiers and Missionaries. From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1824-1909 Library of Congress: Offers 396 pamphlets from the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, published from 1822 through 1909, by African-American authors and others who wrote about slavery, African colonization, Emancipation, Reconstruction, and related topics. The materials range from personal accounts and public orations to organizational reports and legislative speeches. See this similar collection: African American Perspectives: 1818-1907. Go to the Top of This Page Task 2. Freedmen's Bureau Freedmen's Bureau Act: Text of the Law Discovering Collection: On March 3, 1865, Congress passed legislation designed to provide basic health and educational services to former slaves and to administer abandoned land in the South. Under the act, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedman and Abandoned Lands, commonly referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was created. Freedmen's Bureau Is Created, 1865-1869 Discovering Collection: This event overview explains the background and conditions which led to the creation and passage of this law, From Slavery to Freedom (1850-1877) Discovering Collection: This essay covers various factors related to The Emancipation, before and after the Civil War. Includes references to the Freedmen's Bureau and related issues. Hiram R Revels Biography (1822–1901) Hiram Rhoades Revels (1822-1901), African American clergyman and university administrator, was the first black American to sit in the U.S. Senate, taking the place of a very famous person. Here is another account about the life of Mr. Revels. Hiram Rhoades Revels (Biography) Discovering Collection: Hiram Rhoades Revels (1822-1901), African American clergyman and university administrator, was the first black American to sit in the U.S. Senate. Here are additional biographies of Hiram Rhodes Revels: Biography #2, Biography #3, Biography #4. Here is a picture of H. R. Revels. Images and Prints With H. R. Revels This page links to several historic prints from Harper's Weekly magazine, showing Mr. Revels in the context of important events of his times. Oliver Otis Howard (Biography) Discovering Collection: Oliver Otis Howard (1830-1909), a general on the Union side in the American Civil War, was commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau and helped establish an educational system for Southern African Americans. Go to the Top of This Page Task 3. Field Hospitals Civil War Medicine: An Overview "Civil War medicine was in a time before the doctors even knew about bacteriology and were ignorant of what caused disease.... The slow-moving Minie bullet used during the American Civil War caused catastophic injuries." This essay describes the problems in detail. See also: Common Civil War Medical Terms. Tripler's Report on Sanitation in the Army of the Potomac This actual report by Surgeon Charles S. Tripler, Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac explains one of the reasons disease ran so rampant in Civil War Camps. See also these Medical Director's Reports. A Description of Civil War Field Surgery This page contains a description of the most common Civil War surgery, the amputation. Hospital Sketches, by Louisa May Alcott First-hand, written observations of this famous writer's experiences in Civil War hospitals. Written in several chapters. General Orders Number 147 "The following regulations for the organization of the ambulance corps and the management of ambulance trains are published for the information and government of all concerned." Ordered by command of Major-General McClellan. Field and Hospital Care PBS Series, The Civil War: Disease was the chief killer in the war - claiming two soldiers for every one killed in battle. Hospitals were so unsanitary that one Union soldier lamented: "If a fellow has [to go to the] Hospital, you might as well say goodbye." This site shows images from field hospitals. Medical and Hospital Pictures A collection of photos showing casualties of the various battlerfields. Click on the links to view the pictures. Walt Whitman, Poet, and the Civil War Wounded See the scenes throught hte words of the poet, Walt Whitman. "I go around among these sights, among the crowded hospitals doing what I can, yet it is a mere drop in the bucket. . . the path I follow, I suppose I may say, is my own." The unique path which Walt Whitman followed during the American Civil War (1861-1865) led to an insightful, poetic record which captures the turmoil of this era on an intimate level. Clara Barton, Angel of the Battlefield The U.S. National Park Service explains the deeds and importance of Clara Barton, and her work in battlefield hospitals. Here is another source, Clara Barton (1821-1912) Biographical Narrative. Discovering Collection: American humanitarian, who cared for the wounded on the Civil War battlefields and founded the American Red Cross. Here is another Discovering Collection:Biographical Essay on Clara Barton. Women's Roles during the Civil War, 1861-1865 Discovering Collection: During the Civil War, the roles and expectations of women changed because of necessity. With men in both the North and the South removed from their households, women were forced to find ways in which to support themselves and their families economically. Nursing became one of those roles. Statistical Summary of America's Major Wars Provides detailed statistics for the wars. Here is another source with data: Cost Of The American Civil War. This article, The Price in Blood! Casualties in the Civil War also lookos at one of the costs of the war. Civil War, Economic Impact of (Issue) Discovering Collection: Gives an overview of economic issues related to the Civil War. Wartime Resources/Economies in the Civil War, 1861-1865 Discovering Collection: Gives an analysis of economic issues related to the Civil War. The Cotton Economy in the South (1850-1877) Discovering Collection: Gives a detailed analysis of economic issues related to the South Civil War. Business Cycles (1850-1877) Discovering Collection: Gives an overview of economic/business cycles before, during and after the time of the Civil War. From Incompetence to Proficiency: The Development of Union Medical Care This is an in-depth focus on the field hospital during the Battle of Bentonville, one of the last battles of the Civil War. Includes three readings, as well a photographs and questions to consider. "The Battle of Bentonville, as it became known, resulted in more than 4,000 casualties." Go to the Top of This Page Task 4. The First Modern War Modern Weapons and Tactics in the Civil War, 1861-1865 Discovering Collection: Many military inventions and innovations came about during the Civil War. Part of the reason both sides lost so many men is because of the weapons and tactics employed during the conflict. Civil War "Firsts" A list of things that happened for the first time during the Civil War. Artillery Units and Equipment A collection of photos showing various types of weaponry. Click on the links to view the pictures. Communications and Intelligence A collection of photos showing various communications technologies and related matters. Click on the links to view the pictures. The Monitor v. the Merrimack, March, 1862 Discovering Collection: First major American naval battle in which ironclad ships were used is described in terms of the battle and people involved. See also the article: Ironclads. Building of the world's first successful submarine: the H.L. Hunley The story of how a naval blockade made use of a new weapon of war, the submarine. Tip: move forward through the story using the links at the lower-left corner of the pages. Be sure to read The Hunley's Mission. The Monitor v. the Merrimack, March, 1862 Discovering Collection: First major American naval battle in which ironclad ships were used is summarized here. See also this article about the ironclads of the Union Army. Balloons in the American Civil War "Both the Union and Confederate armies used balloons for reconnaissance during the American Civil War, marking the first time that balloons were used in the United States for reconnaissance." Read more in this article. Technology and the American Civil War This article explains how the "conduct of war changed as a result of three technological advances during the Civil War: the rifled musket, the electric telegraph, and the railroad." Technology & Intelligence: The Narrowing Gap Gives an overview of the development of technology for spying and intelligence gathering by the U.S. military. Go to the Top of This Page Task 5. Thomas Nast Thomas Nast Biographica Essay Discovering Collection: As one of the greatest American cartoonists, Nast created lasting works of art that expressed his personal and political convictions while reflecting the hopes and dreams of a generation. Thomas Nast Among other things, "He popularized the elephant to symbolize the Republican Party and the donkey as the symbol for the Democratic Party, and created the "modern" image of Santa Claus." Political Cartoons of Thomas Nast With a barbed wit and regular appearances in Harper’s Weekly newspaper, Thomas Nast fathered the modern political cartoon. Earlier cartoons had relied on conversation or dialogue to make their point, but Nast emphasized the picture itself, using caricature and symbolism to convey his message. Political Cartoons About The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Many of the cartoons on this page are by Thomas Nast. Analyzing a Thomas Nast Cartoon Presents a case study that demonstrate how scholars interpret different kinds of historical evidence. This cartoon, "Milk Tickets for Babies, in Place of Milk," created by Thomas Nast in 1876, comments on one debate that raged in the years following the Civil War: should the currency of the United States be based on gold (the "gold standard") or on paper (known as "greenbacks")? A Brief History of Political Cartoons "Political cartoons are for the most part composed of two elements: caricature, which parodies the individual, and allusion, which creates the situation or context into which the individual is placed." This essay examines their history, including reference to Thomas Nast and his role. Reconstruction (1850-1877) Explains the issues and history of the Civil War Reconstruction, especially with reference to the administration of Andrew Johnson. Ku Klux Klan and Reconstruction, 1866-1877 Discovering Collection: "The resistance by white Southerners to Republican rule and black officeholders was officially spearheaded by the Democratic Party, which included merchants and former Confederate soldiers. Outside the Democratic Party, the unofficial arm of resistance was the Ku Klux Klan." See also: Ku Klux Klan Act (1871), "The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was an attempt by Congress to end intimidation and violence by such organizations. However, the law failed to erase the Klan, which survives to this day." Go to the Top of This Page Task 6. President Johnson and the Republicans Andrew Johnson, 1808-1875 (Biography) Discovering Collection: Andrew Johnson was military governor of Tennessee and vice president of the United States, and he became president of the United States at the end of the Civil War after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The Andrew Johnson Administration Discovering Collection: This essay presents a complete overview and examination of the presidency of Andrew Johnson. Reconstruction (1850-1877) Explains the issues and history of the Civil War Reconstruction, especially with reference to the administration of Andrew Johnson. Johnson Impeached, 1867-1868 Discovering Collection: Concise overview of the events and people involved in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson This site offers a deep examination of Johnson's impeachment process, using acrual magazine artiocles and essays from the time period. Among the Harper’s Weekly materials on this Website are 27 political cartoons, as well as 47 news articles, briefs, and explanations of some of the 34 illustrations. The latter include two realistic depictions of the House and Senate chambers, drawn to scale from the architect’s plans by Harper’s Weekly artist Theodore R. Davis. Political Cartoons About The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Many of the cartoons on this page are by Thomas Nast. Cartoons, Images and Prints of President Johnson This page offers a series of images and editorial cartoons from the era, published by Harper's Weekly magazine. Go to the Top of This Page Primary Source Information Resources on the Civil War Civil War Treasures from the New-York Historical Society They include recruiting posters for New York City regiments of volunteers; stereographic views documenting the mustering of soldiers and of popular support for the Union in New York City; photography showing the war's impact, both in the north and south; and drawings and writings by ordinary soldiers on both sides. Civil War Maps Among the reconnaissance, sketch, and theater-of-war maps are the detailed battle maps made by Major Jedediah Hotchkiss for Generals Lee and Jackson, General Sherman’s Southern military campaigns, and maps taken from diaries, scrapbooks, and manuscripts—all available for the first time in one place. Here is another set of maps: The Hotchkiss Map Collection. This collection consists of 341 sketchbooks, manuscripts, and annotated printed maps. Selected Civil War Photographs Contains 1,118 photographs. Most of the images were made under the supervision of Mathew B. Brady, and include scenes of military personnel, preparations for battle, and battle after-effects. The collection also includes portraits of both Confederate and Union officers, and a selection of enlisted men. Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865 The diary details events in Washington during the Civil War years including Taft's connection with Abraham Lincoln and his family. Of special interest is Taft's description of Lincoln's assassination, based on the accounts of his friends and his son, who was one of the attending physicians at Ford's Theatre the night Lincoln was shot, on April 14, 1865.