Gettysburg National Military Park's
Civil War Page For Kids!

Cool subjects!

As a ranger/historian at Gettysburg, you have to understand many different topics. Here are some of the most common:

The Big Picture

Regiments???

War Medicine

Civil War Food

Report the War

Marching Music

Soldiers' Letters

Civil War Slang

Civil War Flags

Granite Soldiers

Fix our Museum

Read A Book!

WebRangers

Welcome! You're probably here because you are curious about our nation's past and the Civil War. At Gettysburg National Military Park, it is the ranger-historian's job to study this controversial time in our nation's history and provide an explanation, or interpretation, of these events to park visitors. Sound interesting? Well, it is! Explore these pages and see if you have what it takes to be a junior historian!

What Started the Civil War?
The Civil War did not begin at Gettysburg. It began in 1861 when Southern states declared themselves independent by secession and formed the Confederate States of America ("CSA"). The United States was split in half and a terrible Civil War was the result.

The first major land battle was fought at Bull Run in Virginia in 1861. The men who were soldiers in these armies were volunteers who chose to go to war. They wanted to win a quick victory but instead found that there was a lot of marching and drill, living outdoors, disease, bad weather, and boredom. Where did all the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg come from? Why did they choose to go to war? How were the armies different? How were they so much alike? Just who were "Billy Yank" and "Johnny Reb"?

Johnny Reb

Billy Yank

1863 was the most critical year of the Civil War and for the hopes of the Confederacy. For two years, the Union and Confederate armies in the east battled with each other in Virginia and in Maryland. Confederate General Robert E. Lee advised Confederate president Jefferson Davis that the time was right to invade the North that summer. In June, almost 78,000 Confederates made their way northward into Pennsylvania with the support of southern leaders filled with high hopes that another victory would ensure independence for the South. Their hopes were dashed at the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place during the first three days of July 1863.

The Battle of Gettysburg!

Whew! You need a scorecard to keep track of everyone who was important at the Battle of Gettysburg! Check out who some of the big (and little) shots were:

Leaders of Gettysburg

After the fighting had ended, a portion of the battlefield was purchased as a burial ground for the fallen Union soldiers. The dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in November 1863 was a very special occasion and Gettysburg had not witnessed such an invasion of people since the battle. They all came to see the dedication and the special guest who had been asked to speak. Who were some of the dignitaries at the dedication ceremony and why was it so important?

The Soldiers' National Cemetery

Now that you've read, clicked, guessed, and wandered through all of these subjects, are you ready to take the ultimate quiz?
That's right! It is the Gettysburg National Military Park Kidzpage...

WebRangers

If you love our National Parks, Monuments and Historic Sites, your next challenge is to become a Web Ranger. If you are new to our National Parks, we hope this site helps you experience how wonderful they can be!