Andersonville

Andersonville was built in 1864 to hold 10,000 Union prisoners of war. By the time the camp was closed over 14 months later, over 45,000 prisoners were living there in squalid conditions, without enough food,water, shelter, or medical attention. Over 13,000 Union prisoners of war died at Andersonville. Captain Henry Wirz, the commandant at Andersonville, was held responsible and hanged as a war criminal. Andersonville is now a memorial that honors prisoners of war from all U.S. wars.

Although Captain Wirz was punished for what happened at Andersonville, there are those who believe that he was a victim as well as the prisoners of war who suffered and died. So now it's your turn. Think about what it means to be responsible for something. Who was really responsible for what happened at Andersonville?

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

With your partner, answer the following questions about the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863:
1. A score equals 20. To what year does Lincoln take us back? Why?

2. To what is Lincoln referring when he says the United States was born "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal"?

3. According to Lincoln, what was the Civil War testing?

4. What advice does Lincoln give? What does he want them to realize about the purpose of the Civil War?

5. According to Lincoln, what might happen if the North loses the Civil War?