“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
-Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863
On July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, more than 158,000 soldiers met in the rural town of Gettysburg, home to 2,400 residents. On July 4, after fighting the bloodiest battle of the war, the armies withdrew, leaving more than 51,000 dead and wounded soldiers in the care of the citizens of Gettysburg.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War. As its 150th anniversary approaches, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has pulled together hundreds of resources for educators to use in the classroom. Students at every grade level can learn about the social, political, cultural, and economic contributions of the individuals and groups that played a role in the war and in the battle; have access to historical documents and artifacts; and learn about the impact of continuity and change, as well as conflict and cooperation, on the development of our region, state and country.
Here are just a few of the fascinating materials available:
· The diary of a Venango County soldier who recounts his experience during the Battle of Gettysburg
· Identities of military personnel and civilians who were in Gettysburg during and after the battle
· Primary maps of the time period
· Official military records
· Commissioned artwork depicting Pickett's Charge
View and download resources
www.pdesas.org
Questions?
Inquires and support for resources on the Standards Aligned System: Sally Flaherty, Social Studies Advisor, saflaherty@pa.gov
Inquires and support for resources at the State Library: Alice Lubrecht, Director of the Bureau of State Library, alubrecht@pa.gov