Question

CFA Reading Passage: The Civil War 2/6/26
The Civil War was a major conflict in the United States that lasted from 1861 to 1865. It
was fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the
Confederacy). The war began because the two sides disagreed about important issues
that affected the country.
One main cause of the Civil War was slavery. Southern states depended on enslaved
people to work on farms and plantations, while many Northern states believed slavery
should end. Another cause was states’ rights, or the idea that states should be able to
make their own laws. Southern states believed they had the right to leave the Union, which
led to secession.
The Civil War began in 1861 when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South
Carolina. Many important battles were fought during the war. The Battle of Gettysburg
was one of the most important battles and was a turning point in the war. President
Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, reminding Americans of the importance
of freedom and unity.
In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that enslaved
people in Confederate states were free. This changed the purpose of the war and allowed
African Americans to join the Union Army. Later in the war, Union General William
Tecumseh Sherman led a campaign through Georgia called Sherman’s March to the
Sea, which weakened the South by destroying supplies and transportation routes.
The war ended in 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union
General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The Union won the war,
and the United States remained one country.
The consequences of the Civil War were very important. Slavery ended in the United
States with the 13th Amendment. The country faced the challenge of rebuilding the South
during a time called Reconstruction. Although the war caused great loss and damage, it
helped shape the nation’s future and led to important changes in American history.
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What were the two sides that fought in the Civil War?
A. East and West
B. Union and Confederacy
C. Colonies and Britain
D. Army and Navy
2. Which issue was a major cause of the Civil War?
A. Immigration
B. Gold mining
C. Slavery
D. Railroads
3. What does the term states’ rights mean?
A. States must follow all federal laws
B. States can make their own decisions and laws
C. States cannot leave the country
D. States share power with other countries
4. What event marked the beginning of the Civil War?
A. Battle of Gettysburg
B. Emancipation Proclamation
C. Attack on Fort Sumter
D. Surrender at Appomattox
5. Why was the Battle of Gettysburg important?
A. It ended the war
B. It was a turning point in the war
C. It freed enslaved people
D. It caused the South to secede
6. What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?
A. To end the war
B. To rebuild the South
C. To free enslaved people in Confederate states
D. To give women the right to vote
7. Who was the President of the United States during the Civil War?
A. George Washington
B. Andrew Jackson
C. Abraham Lincoln
D. Thomas Jefferson
8. What was Sherman’s March to the Sea meant to do?
A. Protect Southern farms
B. End slavery
C. Weaken the South by destroying supplies
D. Start Reconstruction
9. Where did the Civil War officially end?
A. Fort Sumter
B. Gettysburg
C. Washington, D.C.
D. Appomattox Court House
10. What was one major consequence of the Civil War?
A. The United States split into two countries
B. Slavery ended in the United States
C. States gained more power than the federal government
D. The Constitution was replaced

Answer 1

Answer key — correct choices with brief explanations:

1. B — Union and Confederacy.
2. C — Slavery was a major cause.
3. B — States’ rights: states can make their own decisions/laws.
4. C — Attack on Fort Sumter marked the start.
5. B — Gettysburg was a turning point in the war.
6. C — Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in Confederate states.
7. C — Abraham Lincoln was President during the war.
8. C — Sherman’s March aimed to weaken the South by destroying supplies and infrastructure.
9. D — The war effectively ended at Appomattox Court House.
10. B — One major consequence was the end of slavery in the United States (13th Amendment).