Women in the Civil War,
an Interdisciplinary Unit
Made Possible by a Grant from the Greater Capital Region Teachers Center

Created by
Steve Anthes and Heather Starr

    Women’s roles in American history have traditionally been given considerably less attention than those of men.  When the focus is on military conflict, the difference is even more dramatic.  While it is undeniable that men have played a significantly larger part in the actual fighting of wars throughout history, women did not disappear.  In fact, they had greater responsibilities in other arenas and were vital to the nation’s success.

   This unit provides a female perspective.  Due to the advent of still photography, the increasing literacy rate among all segments of society, and the breadth of documentation available, the Civil War is a unit of study that is ideal for breaking down traditional gender barriers.  Using historical fiction novels, primary source documents, and research, an interdisciplinary unit has been created that will facilitate students learning about both the Civil War in general and women’s roles in the war specifically.

    There are a number of different parts of this unit.  Links to each are provided below.

Women in the Civil War Novels and Literature Circles Activities

Primary Source Assignments

Research Project Overview and Details

Possible Research Topics

Research Project Rubrics

Research Project Resources

Pre-Assessment and Post-Assessment

Student Evaluation

Connection to New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum