June 08, 2025

American Civil War

Think you know the Civil War? There’s a lot more to it than just blue vs. gray. From high-tech (for the time) weaponry to legendary leaders and lesser-known turning points, the American Civil War was full of fascinating facts and firsts. Test your knowledge with this quick 10-question quiz and see how deep your Civil War smarts really go!



1. What year did the American Civil War begin?
A) 1859
B) 1860
C) 1861
D) 1862

2. Who was the President of the Confederate States during the Civil War?
A) Robert E. Lee
B) Jefferson Davis
C) Ulysses S. Grant
D) Andrew Johnson

3. What was the first major battle of the Civil War?
A) Antietam
B) Gettysburg
C) Bull Run (Manassas)
D) Shiloh

4. Which battle remains the single bloodiest day in American military history?
A) Gettysburg
B) Antietam
C) Chickamauga
D) Fredericksburg

5. What important document did Abraham Lincoln issue in 1863?
A) The Gettysburg Address
B) The Civil Rights Act
C) The Emancipation Proclamation
D) The Declaration of Independence

6. What new military technology saw widespread use for the first time in the Civil War?
A) Ironclad warships
B) Nuclear weapons
C) Tanks
D) Submarines

7. What was the nickname of the Southern army's most famous general, Thomas J. Jackson?
A) Rebel Rooster
B) Mad Dog
C) Stonewall
D) Grey Ghost

8. Which famous speech by Lincoln begins with “Four score and seven years ago…”?
A) The Inaugural Address
B) The Emancipation Proclamation
C) The Gettysburg Address
D) The Farewell Address

9. Where did General Robert E. Lee surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War?
A) Richmond, Virginia
B) Charleston, South Carolina
C) Appomattox Court House
D) Fort Sumter

10. Which side had more railroads and industrial capacity during the war?
A) The Confederacy
B) The Union
C) They were equal
D) Neither side had railroads

Answer Key
C) 1861
B) Jefferson Davis
C) Bull Run (Manassas)
B) Antietam
C) The Emancipation Proclamation
A) Ironclad warships
C) Stonewall
C) The Gettysburg Address
C) Appomattox Court House
B) The Union