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

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of "Chapter Two: We Were in Earnest," readers find that the "we were in earnest" chapter title comes from a soldier in which of the following regiments?

2. When discussing the mark of honor, which of the following did Civil War soldiers most wish to avoid?

3. When a young private predicted the bullet had not been made that would shoot him, McPherson notes he was correct because the private died in what prison?

4. "Chapter 5: Religion is What Makes Brave Soldiers" opens by saying that like _________, bullets fall on the just and unjust alike.

5. Which of the following was a favorite word of Confederate recruits, during the discussion of their perceived fate, if the South were to be forced back into the Union?

Short Essay Questions

1. During "Chapter 3: Anxious for the Fray," what attitude did the soldiers on both sides have about the upcoming war?

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

3. In the discussion of cowardice, McPherson says that officers were held to even higher standards of bravery. What effect did this expectation have on officers?

4. McPherson says that duty and honor were powerful motives for battle, and then goes on to say that they had to be because what modern elements were lacking in Civil War-era soldiers?

5. Why, in "Chapter 6: A Band of Brothers," were disparaging remarks between regiments so common?

6. How did the tone of soldiers' letters home change from their initial zeal after the first few battles were over?

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

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

9. Why, according to "Chapter 5: Religion is What Makes Brave Soldiers," does religion make soldiers brave?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the motivations behind the Civil War for Northern and Southern soldiers. What were the three primary motivations for each group? Be sure to include quotes and supporting information from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the Southern war effort during the Civil War with that of the Revolutionary War soldiers. Discuss three things that Confederate soldiers saw themselves as having in common with the Revolutionary fighters, and include supporting information from the book.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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