View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. During the battle of Fair Oaks, Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., swore he would shoot the first man who ran, in which of the following regiments?

2. As the excitement for battle raced across the country, the governor of Ohio said he could not send the requested thirteen regiments but would send how many?

3. While talking about good-luck charms, McPherson notes there were few _____________ in the Civil War.

4. According to the quote from John W. DeForest in "Chapter 1: This War is a Crusade," the man who does not dread to die or be mutilated is a what?

5. In the discussion of Southern propaganda, a planter wrote his wife of the defense of innocent women from the "lecherous Northern hirelings." From which state was this soldier?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Chapter 6: A Band of Brothers," what three synonyms did Civil War soldiers write a great deal about?

2. In the discussion of religion, how did Christian soldiers reconcile the war with the commandment to "turn the other cheek"?

3. Define and explain "rage militaire" as discussed by McPherson in his discussion of the initial impulse that motivated soldiers to fight the Civil War.

4. When discussing his framework for the book, what three categories does McPherson say he has used and borrowed from John A. Lynn?

5. What methods did officers used after they were confronted with undisciplined troops early in the war?

6. What ideological concepts and convictions initially motivated the Union soldiers to fight in "Chapter 2: We Were in Earnest"?

7. When McPherson discusses Civil War veteran John W. DeForest, what explanation do readers receive of the definition between a lunatic and a hero?

8. How did Civil War enlisted men respond to military discipline, as discussed in "Chapter 4: If I Flinched, I was Ruined"?

9. After the discussion of courage, bravery, and valor, what fear does McPherson say Civil War soldiers wrote even more about than the three-part concept of honor?

10. What conclusion is reached about the role of religion as a motivating factor at the end of "Chapter 5: Religion is What Makes Brave Soldiers"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the Confederate attitudes toward their own liberty with their attitude toward liberty for black slaves. Include supporting information from the book and outside research as necessary.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the effect of the French concept of "rage militaire" during the Civil War with once instance of the same phenomenon in more modern times. In what ways has the effect of this phenomenon on society changed over time? In what ways is the effect the same? Include supporting quotes and information from the text and outside research as necessary.

Essay Topic 3

Based on McPherson's discussions, analyze and discuss three ways in which the fact that the Northern and Southern armies were comprised primarily of volunteers affected a key component of the war as a whole. Include supporting information from the book and be sure to cite sources as necessary.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,250 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample