American Civil War Part Three: Important People Character Studies and Mini-books Abraham Lincoln Harriet Tubman Robert E. Lee Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis
Meet Harriet Tubman One famous slave was named Harriet Tubman. She led many other slaves to freedom. Harriet was very brave because she risked her own life to help others live a better one. Harriet was born in 1820 as a slave on a large farm in Maryland. She worked in the fields from dawn to dark and lived in a one room cabin with her eleven brothers and sisters. During her life as a slave, she was often beaten by her master. She witnessed many other slaves being mistreated too. She dreamed of being free. In 1849, Harriet decided to run away. Harriet and her two brothers sneaked away in the middle of the night. They used the North Star to guide them. At some point, her brothers turned back, but Harriet continued on. She was scared, but determined to gain her freedom. She used the Underground Railroad to help her on her journey and made it safely to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From that point on, she made it her mission in life to help others escape slavery too! During the 1850 s she worked as a conductor, or a guide, on the Underground Railroad. Harriet risked her life time and time again, to lead more than 300 runaway slaves to freedom. Today, Harriet Tubman is remembered as a strong, caring, and brave woman who was a true heroine!
Meet Clara Barton When Clara was 11 years old, she helped care for her brother, David, after he fell off the roof of their barn. After that she knew what she wanted to do with her life it was to help people in need. After the Civil War broke out, Clara noticed that the military was unprepared to care for all the injured soldiers so she stepped in to help out. She asked people and businesses to donate money and supplies for the soldiers in need and would then deliver it to them. At first, the Union army wouldn t let her on the battlefield. They thought it wasn t safe for a woman to be there. But after she showed them all the supplies she had gathered including food, water, and medical supplies, they let her go on the front line. During the Civil War, Clara risked her life to help many soldiers in any way she could. She was often seen on the battlefield giving nursing care to injured soldiers or carrying supplies to others. After the war ended, Clara became a popular speaker traveling all over the world telling her stories about life on the battlefield. When she came back to the states, Clara convinced Congress to open a Red Cross in America that would provide medical assistance for wounded soldiers during the war. Under Clara Barton s leadership, the American Red Cross became a highly respected and valued organization. She had made a huge difference in thousands of lives around the world. Because of her dedication to helping people, she is remembered today as a great humanitarian.
Meet Abraham Lincoln Abe was born in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky. He had very little schooling, only about one year in total, but he loved to read. He read every book he could get his hands on, sometimes walking great distances to borrow a book from a neighbor. In the evenings, he would read by candlelight. As a young man, he had many jobs including working as a shopkeeper, surveyor, and postmaster. One day while Abe was working in the shop, a customer overpaid him by a few cents. As the story goes, Abe walked over 3 miles to give the man back his change. After that, he became known as Honest Abe. Eventually, Abe became a lawyer and a politician. In 1860, he was elected as the 16 th President of the United States. Soon after he became president, the Civil War broke out. During the Civil War, Lincoln gave many speeches including his famous Gettysburg Address which reminded all Americans that our country was built on the beliefs of equality for all. In 1863, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves. He was re-elected for a second term but was shot one year later. Abraham Lincoln will always be remembered as a great man who kept the United States together during the difficult years of the Civil War and for bringing an end to slavery!
Meet Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee was a very important general for the South during the Civil War. He was born in Virginia in 1807. Lee graduated at the top of his class from West Point Military Academy at a young age. He then served as a soldier in the Mexican War. Little did he know, that one day he would become one of the most famous generals in American history. In 1861, President Lincoln asked Lee to command the Union Army. Since Lee was from the South, he refused and joined the Confederate Army instead. As a general, he took risky gambles that paid off. He earned the nicknamed of the Grey Fox because the South wore grey and he was very sneaky and smart, just like a clever fox. Lee s troop s loved and praised him. During the war, Robert E. Lee proved himself to be one of the best commanders because of his strong leadership style and skillful military strategies. On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee became president of Washington College in his home state of Virginia. General Lee is remembered today as an important military leader during the Civil War.
Meet Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis was born on June 3, 1808. He grew up on a small farm in Mississippi. He was named after President Thomas Jefferson. Davis went to West Point Military Academy and served in the military for more than 10 years before going into politics. Davis became known throughout the South for his powerful speeches about states rights. In January 1861, his home state of Mississippi seceded from the Union. Exactly one month later, Davis accepted the job as the President of the Confederate States of America. He hoped that the North would let the South secede peacefully, but the North refused. When Lincoln refused to hand over Fort Sumter, Davis ordered the Confederate army to attack, marking the beginning of the Civil War. Davis assigned Robert E. Lee to lead the Confederate army. The South won several battles, but the North with more troops and supplies, had the advantage and eventually became victorious. Davis was captured shortly after General Lee surrendered. He went to prison for two years for betraying his country. This is known as treason. Later on in life, he wrote a book called The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.
Meet Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant was an important general for the North during the Civil War. Grant was born on April 27, 1822. He grew up on a farm in Ohio and was urged by his parents to take school seriously. As a child, he didn t dream of becoming the military hero that he proved to be by the end of the Civil War! Like Robert E. Lee, Grant also attended West Point Academy. In 1864, President Lincoln assigned Grant the responsibilities of being the general of the Union army. He led the army against Robert E. Lee for the South. Grant had many victories for the North and became known as a great commander. His nickname was Unconditional Surrender Grant. After Lee surrendered to him, Grant enforced his own troops to treat the men from the South with respect. He became very popular after helping to win the war, and decided to run for president. Grant was elected and became the 18 th President of the United States. Grant served two terms as president as the nation struggled through the reconstruction period. Today, you can see him on the $50 bill. Ulysses S. Grant is remembered as a great leader and a true war hero.