Activity Overview
While learning about Civil War, it is important students note the numerous advantages of both sides. Despite their differences, the North and South both had advantages heading into the Civil War. A T Chart is a great way for students to gather and organize the information they learn. It provides an easy reference for them to look back on, and a clear distinction between the two sides of the Civil War. Students may also choose to include whether the advantages of one side were disadvantages for the other!
Northern Advantages
- Large Population
- More Money
- Railroads and Factories
Southern Advantages
- Fighting for a Cause
- Excellent Generals
- Defensive War
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart comparing and contrasting the advantages of the North and South during the Civil War.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In one column, identify and describe the advantages the North had during the war.
- Do the same for the South in the other column.
- Create illustrations for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
While learning about Civil War, it is important students note the numerous advantages of both sides. Despite their differences, the North and South both had advantages heading into the Civil War. A T Chart is a great way for students to gather and organize the information they learn. It provides an easy reference for them to look back on, and a clear distinction between the two sides of the Civil War. Students may also choose to include whether the advantages of one side were disadvantages for the other!
Northern Advantages
- Large Population
- More Money
- Railroads and Factories
Southern Advantages
- Fighting for a Cause
- Excellent Generals
- Defensive War
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart comparing and contrasting the advantages of the North and South during the Civil War.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In one column, identify and describe the advantages the North had during the war.
- Do the same for the South in the other column.
- Create illustrations for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How To Identify the Advantages and Disadvantages
Explore Literature
Ask the students to conduct research and find out which side was stronger during the Civil War. Tell them to read different books and highlight all the information they think is relevant to the topic. Students can also make a list for the discussion later on.
Gather Evidence
Recommend the students to gather evidence to support their argument. For instance, why do they think that fighting to maintain the institution of slavery was advantageous for the South? They can collect this evidence in any form and support the point through their own analysis.
Perform Analysis
After most of the students have conducted their research and have evidence to support their point, ask them to perform a critical analysis on the situation and present their own opinion telling why they think that a certain point is advantageous and vice versa.
Organize Debates
Teachers can divide the class into two groups. One group will be representing the North and the other one will be representing the South. Students will act as prominent figures from both sides and support their arguments according to history. They can also add their own analysis to these debating sessions.
Discuss With Professionals
Teachers can refer students to anyone who is a professional in US history and students can have an insightful discussion with these professionals. They can express their opinions and ask for more details about these historical events.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wartime Advantages and Disadvantages during the Civil War
Did the North have a definite edge due to its higher population?
It's true that the North had a bigger population since there were more workers, warriors, and taxpayers. The bigger population gave a larger revenue base to finance the war and helped the North to sustain larger forces and replace casualties more successfully.
How did the defensive strategies of the South impact the war?
Due to its defensive strategies, which included guerrilla warfare and an understanding of the terrain, the South was able to resist Northern advances. Although it finally had difficulties maintaining this plan, the South's defensive strategy attempted to wear down the Northern forces and secure its territory.
How did the North's economy support its tactical advantage throughout the war?
The industrialization of the North gave it an economic advantage by enabling the mass manufacturing of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. The North's industrial capacity contributed to its ability to maintain a protracted war by providing its troops with reliable supplies.
More Storyboard That Activities
History of the US Civil War
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
