People’s Contest, Chapter 13, “The Scars of War” 1863-1864   p. 316-338

1.    In what way did the process of death notification hide the vast numbers of casualties and deaths of the Civil War?

2.    How did Sam Haven describe flying bullets at the battle of Balls Bluff in a letter to his father?

3.    How did one soldier in the battlefield describe the horrible losses suffered by the Union at Fredericksburg?

4.    In your own words, in what capacity was Sam Haven serving that led a friend to describe his death as falling “in the midst of the most sacred of duties”?

5.    Briefly explain the extent to which some women were suffering from shell shocked while were sheltering at some homes at Antietam

6.    In your own words, briefly describe the extent to which Austin Whipple and his colleagues were demoralized about the war.

7.    Briefly describe the living conditions for Union soldiers at Libby Prison?

8.    How did Albert Ames from Oswego, New York describe how he and his fellow soldiers killed the enemy?

9.    In addition to notifying Emeline of the death of her husband, what probably made the letter especially saddening for her?

10. In what activity did most surgeons engage from dawn to twilight the week following the battle of Gettysburg?

11. What did Theodore Upson recall seeing following the battle of Missionary Ridge that was about the size of a small haystack?

12. In what way was Private S. H. Decker able to remind members of the House of Representatives of the high cost of war?

13. What did the family of Weir Mitchell recall hearing as the Civil War surgeon lay dying in 1913?

14. For what reason did Ellen Wright pen a posthumous letter to William “Bev” Chase asking for his forgiveness?

15. In your own words, identify one of the sufferings or “little oppressions” that resulted from the inability of soldiers to play the role of provider for their families back home.

16. Explain one method in which mothers attempted adjust their lives to offset the loss of the child-rearing role of the father.

17. The absence of fathers in some urban areas resulted in a growing amount of what?

18. In your own words, identify one example where John Cooper attempted to parent his child through letter writing.

19. Briefly explain the argument made by the director of the District of Columbia asylum that brought about the rise of insanity before the war and the decline of insanity during the war.

20. Identify one reason why the rate of Opium addiction markedly increased following the war?

People’s Contest, Chapter 14, “The Coming of the Lord" p. 339-374

21.  For what reason did ministers of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches remain muted over the issue of slavery right up to the start of the Civil War?

22.  How did reticent abolitionist respond over to the silence of some churches over the issue of slavery? (How did they “turn their guns” on the churches, metaphorically speaking?)

23.  Briefly describe how churches justified their silence over slavery because of the complexities of the issue.

24.  For what reason was a Presbyterian minister in Brooklyn accused of being disloyal by a trustee?

25.  Identify one of three examples in which Catholic bishop John Hughes demonstrated his support for the Union cause during the war?

26.  In addition to helping soldiers cope with injury or death, what other guidance the army want chaplains to provide?

27.  Identify one way in which soldiers expressed their religious beliefs?

28.  Identify one line in the Presbyterian hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” that reflected the martial feelings of believers during the Civil War?

29.  In tying faith to the Union cause, what line in the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” draws parallels between the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the sacrifice of men to end slavery? (Not in the book)

30. Who (what group of people) performed the overwhelming majority of work for both the Christian Commission and Sanitary Commission?

31. Provide one example where the Sanitary Commission’s emphasis for organization and bureaucracy led many in the Christian Commission to see that organization as wicked, mechanical, and heartless.

32. What was responsible for bringing about the death of pacifism in the 1850s?

33. Lincoln recognized that Quaker beliefs in pacifism were rooted in principal.  Identify one Quaker activity that Lincoln did not obstruct.

34. In what respect did the draft law of February 24, 1864, seek to recognize the position of Quakers during the war?

35. What punishment did Pringle suffer for refusing to clean his gun?

36. Why did many mid-nineteenth century Americans not name their children after birth?

37. Identify one example that reflected the presence of death in New York City?

38. In light of the high number of deaths the resulted from the Civil War, what religious subject became of great interest to Americans following the conflict?

39. Identify one practice of Lincoln that reflected a greater understanding of the religious and theological nature of the war following the loss of his son.

40. Lincoln identified slavery as the cause of the Civil War in his Second Inaugural Address.  On whom did he place blame for the institution of slavery?

People’s Contest, Conclusion,  p. 375

41. What was the worst punishment suffered by a confederate leader and WHY?

42. Both Northern and Southern generals were trained at West Point.  For what reason were Southern generals not able to take full advantage of what they learned during their West Point military training?

43. In general terms, in what way did the North’s diverse population give them a vital advantage in the war?

44. Identify one change in government policy that allowed the North to mobilize its wealth to save the nation.

45. Identify and explain one measure passed by the War Congress that satisfied factions in the private economy and increased Northern faith that their government was an instrument of the people.

46. What in 1865 reflected the notion that abolition as a unifying goal in the North?

47. In what way did the war answer doubts that the system in the North could produce moral citizens?

48. Identify one example in which the Civil War calmed pre-war worries that inequality was growing and opportunities for the poor were contracting (in the North).

49. What was the South’s best strategy during the Civil War?

50. For what reason did General Logan threaten to fire grape canister into his own men following the assassination of Lincoln and the assassination attempt of General Kirkpatrick in Raleigh, North Carolina?