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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. Toward the end of "Chapter 3: Anxious for the Fray," McPherson notes that men were shocked by war as most of them were in what age group?

2. In "Chapter 5: Religion is What Makes Brave Soldiers," a man from which state wrote he didn't feel he had any right to ask God for exemption from harm?

3. In the discussion of hyped-up battle behavior, McPherson notes that the phenomenon has been described as all BUT WHICH of the following?

4. As "Chapter 6: A Band of Brothers" opens, McPherson says that Civil War soldiers wrote much about all BUT WHICH of these synonyms?

5. After the attack on Fort Sumter, all BUT WHICH of the following states joined the other seven Southern states that had seceded prior to April, 1861?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. In the discussion of leadership, what qualities does McPherson say made a good officer?

3. How did the Civil War transform irresponsible men into responsible ones as the war got underway?

4. What questions did the Princeton students have when McPherson took them to Gettysburg in the spring of 1976?

5. In "Chapter 1: This War is a Crusade," what difference does McPherson note between the Civil War and the Vietnam War?

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

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

8. For what purpose does McPherson relate the story of James and John Welsh in the opening of "Chapter 2: We Were in Earnest"?

9. As the war got underway, what feeling did soldiers have about "safe" positions in the rear of battles?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Analyze and discuss the effect of what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder on Civil War soldiers. How did this phenomenon affect their attitudes and effectiveness? Be sure to include supporting information from the book and outside research as necessary.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the reactions of soldiers who received encouraging letters from home with those who received complaining letters from home. What affect did each type of letter have on soldiers in the book? Include supporting information from the text.

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