The Civil War – 5th Grade Social Studies Worksheet (Free Printable)

This free 5th grade social studies worksheet covers key battles, leaders, and turning points of the American Civil War.

Reading Passage

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Union was led by President Abraham Lincoln, while the Confederacy was led by President Jefferson Davis. General Ulysses S. Grant became the Union's top commander, and General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate army. One of the bloodiest battles was the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, where over 50,000 soldiers were killed or wounded. In January 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were free. The war ended on April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

Questions

  1. Where did the Civil War begin? (Fort Sumter in South Carolina / Gettysburg in Pennsylvania / Washington, D.C. / Richmond, Virginia)
  2. The Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people in Confederate states were ___.
  3. Robert E. Lee was a Union general.
  4. Who did Lee surrender to at Appomattox? (Ulysses S. Grant / Abraham Lincoln / William Sherman / George McClellan)
  5. The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

About This Worksheet

The Civil War is one of the most important events in American history. This worksheet introduces 5th graders to the major figures and turning points of the conflict, from Fort Sumter to Appomattox.

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