Killer Angels Extra Credit-Edit especially for Elena Musz

Here is the main edit-I have moved sessions 2 and 3 to Tuesday and Thursday of next week. This is particularly important to Elena Musz. If anyone has her contact information, could you please let her know. I would also encourage you to get through as much of day 2 as possible prior to Mr. Wheeler's visit. Thanks.

Welcome to the extra credit blog discussion thread. If you have any questions or are confused by anything in the book, please ask. Be sure to include the chapter within your question, as we have different editions of the book. I am including the schedule below.

Session 1 (7:15-8:10 Tuesday morning on 11/30)-Questions 1-3 must be completed. You should also have read up to the 2^nd day. This will take you halfway through the book.

Session 2 (12:50-2:20 Wednesday morning on 12/1) You will be school sponsored for late lunch and 6^th period to hold a discussion with Scott Wheeler who is a military historian who has taught at West Point.

Session 3 (7:15-8:10 Tuesday morning on 12/7) Questions 4-6 must be completed. You should have read up to the 3^rd day.

Session 4 (7:15-8:10 Thursday morning on 12/9) Questions 7-9 must be completed. You will need to finish the book

Questions

1. Do you believe that Shaara has a deterministic view towards history or does he believe in a Great Man philosophy (Boorstin/Plutarch)?

2. What is the role of the cavalry and how does it affect the conflict?

3. What advantages and disadvantages does each army face as they enter the conflict at Gettysburg?

4. How do the experiences and attitudes of the leaders affect their decision making? (Chamberlain, Buford, Longstreet, others?)

5. Chamberlain is the only main character who is not a General. Why, on the Union side, did Shaara choose to use him as the main Union voice.

6. What is Longstreet’s military theory and what are the advantages and disadvantages of his philosophy?

7. One of the main conflicts in the book in the book was between Longstreet and Lee, which man do you agree with? Should Longstreet have done more to make his stand?

8. Why did the Confederates lose the battle?

9. Did you like the book? Why or why not?

Slavery and the Civil War

1. For what reasons and, in what ways, did supporters of slavery in the nineteenth century use legal, religious, and economic arguments in its defense (06)?

2. For what reason , and with what impact, did abolitionism develop in the North? (08)

3. With reference to at least two examples of slave rebellions, analyze the reaction to the rebellions in one country in the region? (09)

4. Explain how slaves passively and actively resisted Southern slaveholders.

5. Describe the Southern Plantation slavery system and the reasons for its continued existence.

CIVIL WAR

6. Explain why the U.S. Civil War broke out in 1861. (04)

7. Why was compromise no longer possible between the North and South in the United States by 1860? (08)

8. “The Civil War in the United States was caused by political disagreements.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (09)

(The first three are all cause questions-Don't freak out!)

9. Assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of the North and South at the beginning of the Civil War. (06)

10. With reference to at least two battles, assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Northern and Southern armies.

11. Assess the goals and results of at least two battles during the U.S. Civil War?

(Battles covered in class include Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg)

12. To what extent was the victory of the North in the United States Civil War due to its superior industrial resources and manpower? (10)

13. “Abraham Lincoln’s leadership was the main reason the Union won the Civil War.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (05)

Trial Questions

For those of you doing the simulation. This is the spot to ask any questions of Mr. O'Donnell. I am trying to keep them out of the test preparation.