Transcript Frank
Frank ….?
Jacob’s great-great-great grandfather, Frank Ruehl
was a captain for the union in Missouri during
the Civil war. He was with the Missouri militia.
As You know, Missouri was a split state. Frank
and his family came over from the Alsace Lorraine
area of Germany in 1859, came up through the
Mississippi River and landed in St Louis at about
14 years of age. You have to love old Frank's
mutton chops!
Main Idea
Both Union and Confederate soldiers endured
many hardships serving in the army during the
Civil War.
Why It Matters Now
The hardships endured led to long-lasting
bitterness on both sides.
What were some of the characteristics of a
typical Civil War soldier?
Image
THE TYPICAL CIVIL WAR SOLDIER
Age
Between 18 and 30
Occupation
Farmer
Training
Many long daily drill sessions
Hardships
Inadequate food and clothing, crude
shelters, dirty camps that stank, poor
personal hygiene, chronic sickness,
poor medical treatment
• How were the wartime experiences of Northern
and Southern soldiers alike?
• What factors contributed to the spread of disease
among soldiers?
• How did the use of the rifle and minié ball change
combat tactics in the Civil War?
• How were the wartime experiences of Northern
and Southern soldiers alike?
Both endured hunger, cold, dirty living conditions,
constant sickness, and poor medical treatment.
• What factors contributed to the spread of
disease among soldiers?
Contaminated water and food; poor diet; exposure
to cold and rain; unsanitary conditions
• How did the use of the rifle and minié ball change
combat tactics in the Civil War?
Cavalry charges and traditional assaults became
outdated
a majority of the soldiers were
between 18 and 30 years old
most were
farmers,
nearly half
African Americans who wanted to
fight were not allowed to at the start
of the war
eventually the
North allowed
African Americans
to join the army
in total, about 2 million men served
for the Union army and about 1
million for the Confederate army
men joined the army for various
reasons:
•adventure
•glory
•escape from factory/farm
•money
•loyalty to state/country
soldiers lived in tents and moved
often, food
rations
were
limited!
Video Clip on “Extreme Eating”
training followed strict schedule –
awake at dawn, drills and chores at
camp Click for Video Clip of Civil War Training
Union army was
usually uniformed
in BLUE
Confederate army
was usually
uniformed in GRAY
both sides had problems getting
proper supplies
camps were often dirty and
soldiers had poor personal
HYGIENE (practices and
conditions which promote health)
people were
not yet aware
that disease
was spread
through germs
weapons of war had advanced much
since the Revolutionary War
RIFLE – gun with a grooved barrel
that causes a bullet to spin through the
air
Video Clip of Civil War Technology
MINIE BALL – bullet with a hollow
base, shot further and more accurate
than a musket
IRONCLADS – warships covered in
iron plates to protect it
a major Confederate ironclad was
the VIRGINIA (MERRIMAC)
CSS VIRGINA (MERRIMAC)
a major Union ironclad was the
MONITOR
USS MONITOR
USS MONITOR
USS MONITOR
their famous battle ends in a tie after
four hours of hitting each other
THE MERRIMAC VS THE MONITOR
THE MERRIMAC VS THE MONITOR
THE MERRIMAC VS THE MONITOR
THE MERRIMAC VS THE MONITOR
OTHER CIVIL WAR IRONCLADS
after the first two years of fighting
neither side had gained a decisive
advantage
Forming and Supporting Opinions
What were the motives that led
individual soldiers to fight in the
Civil War?
Think About
• the multiple reasons that people had for enlisting
• what you consider valid reasons for fighting
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