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. After discussing how the language of soldiers in letters home is cliche today, McPherson says that which writer noted that World War I made words like "glory" mock-heroic?

2. As "Chapter 11: Vengeance Will be Our Motto" ends, McPherson says that no army broke until the Army of Tennessee after which of the following battles in 1864?

3. As McPherson discusses the statistics for married men versus unmarried men, what percentage of married soldiers does he say were killed in action?

4. After the Seven Days battles, a private in the 58th Virginia wrote that through August and September his regiment had waded the Potomac how many times?

5. In the spring of 1862, soldiers from which state felt a redoubled commitment to the war effort when large portions of their home state fell to the "insolent invader"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Based on the discussion of post-traumatic stress disorder, how likely does McPherson consider the possibility that many regiments suffered from this now well-acknowledged psychological issue?

2. McPherson denies, in the discussion of liberty, that Southern soldiers were obsessed with slavery. What statistical evidence does he supply to support this?

3. In the discussion of vengeance, what disturbing instructions did some soldiers send in letters home to their wives?

4. Why are there no letters from black Union soldiers, according to "Chapter 9: Slavery Must be Cleaned Out"?

5. What was meant when some soldiers wrote home about being stuck in a "rich man's war," toward the end of "Chapter 7: On the Altar of My Country"?

6. At the close of "Chapter 12: The Same Holy Cause," what final lessons does McPherson hope readers take from the book?

7. In "Chapter 9: Slavery Must be Cleaned Out," what convinced non-abolitionist Union soldiers that slavery was an evil that must be stopped?

8. Under what conditions were black soldiers allowed to join the Confederate army during the final year of the Civil War?

9. Explain the massacres of black soldiers, as discussed in "Chapter 11: Vengeance Will be Our Motto."

10. What challenges did soldiers face in the last year of the Civil War that exacerbated their combat exhaustion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In a well-developed essay, compare and contrast military discipline between the Civil War and one more modern conflict. Include supporting information from the text 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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,235 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample