Military Strategy of the American Civil War (Credit Hours for History Teachers)

Presented by Christopher DeRosa, Ph.D.

This two-hour session traces how Union and Confederate plans for victory evolved over the course of the war. We will look at how American geography, contemporary military thinking, the available technology, and the contestants’ capacity for mobilization influenced their strategic choices. In particular, we will consider the profound struggle between slavery and emancipation as a fundamental determinant of war strategy. Along the way, we will touch on why the reputations of particular leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee have fluctuated over the years. Detailed outline, PowerPoint slides, and links will be shared for 6th-12th grade teachers’ use.

Relevant NJDOE Social Studies Standards: 6.1.12.GeoSV.4.a Use maps and primary sources to describe the impact geography had on the military, political, and economic decisions during the Civil War.