History of the American Civil War

Last updated · 6 min play time

This quiz was expertly reviewed by Regina Munch. Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

Through Regina’s expert advice, we have ensured that the questions and answers that you get on our online civil war quiz are beaming with accuracy.

The War to Preserve the Union. The War of the Rebellion. The Civil War. Whatever name you choose to call it, the American Civil War changed the course of history. When brother took up arms against brother, everybody bled. For four years, the United States was rife with bloody turmoil as ideals squared off against tradition. America was a nation struggling to define itself. 

Today we are going to go back in time with our quiz questions. Are you ready to hop into our intellectual time machine by taking our online quiz? Here we go! Let’s play our civil war trivia game!

Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

American Civil War Quiz Questions

25 Questions · 451.6K Plays · 4 Comments

Question 1

This legendary soldier accepted command of the entire Confederate Army. Who was he?

  • A
    Porter Alexander
  • B
    Jubal Early
  • C
    Robert E. Lee
  • D
    John Bell

Question 2

When the Southern States seceded from Union what did they call themselves?

  • A
    States of Southern Pride
  • B
    The Great States
  • C
    Confederate States of America
  • D
    Dixieland

Question 3

William Tecumseh Sherman had a 'Hard War' strategy. What rules did he follow?

  • A
    Killing Civilians
  • B
    Slaughtering Livestock
  • C
    Looting Towns
  • D
    All of the Above

Question 4

Which of the following battles was the bloodiest battle in the entirety of the Civil War?

  • A
    Battle of Chickamauga
  • B
    Battle of Chancellorsville
  • C
    Battle of Stones River
  • D
    The Battle of Gettysburg

Question 5

During Reconstruction there was a special, derogatory, term for Northerners who moved to the South. What was it?

  • A
    Carpetbaggers
  • B
    Graybacks
  • C
    Johnny Rebs
  • D
    Sunday Soldiers

Question 6

This man was the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

  • A
    Braxton Bragg
  • B
    James Longstreet
  • C
    George Pickett
  • D
    Jefferson Davis

Question 7

This fort was bombarded by Southern Troops when President Lincoln refused to surrender the territory, thus kick-starting the Civil War.

  • A
    Fort Wagner
  • B
    Fort Sumter
  • C
    Fort Donelson
  • D
    Fort Henry

Question 8

Who was President of the United States when the Civil War began?

  • A
    James Garfield
  • B
    Abraham Lincoln
  • C
    Ulysses S. Grant
  • D
    Chester Alan Arthur

Question 9

Where did the Confederacy place their Capital City during the Civil War?

  • A
    Atlanta, GA.
  • B
    Richmond, VA.
  • C
    Tallahassee, FL.
  • D
    Sioux Falls, SD.

Question 10

The period after the Civil War ended was known as __________.

  • A
    Rejuvenation
  • B
    Rebuilding
  • C
    Referendum
  • D
    Reconstruction

Question 11

During the War, this General led the Union to so many victories that he was nicknamed, "The Butcher".

  • A
    Abner Doubleday
  • B
    Ulysses S. Grant
  • C
    George Custer
  • D
    Robert Anderson

Question 12

While battles were fought all across the country, ___________ was home to the most fighting.

  • A
    Virginia
  • B
    Georgia
  • C
    South Carolina
  • D
    Pennsylvania

Question 13

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the _______________.

  • A
    Shiloh Battlefield
  • B
    Manassas National Battlefield
  • C
    Fort Sumter
  • D
    Appomattox Courthouse

Question 14

________ was an abolitionist who spearheaded the raid on Harper's Ferry, leading up to the Civil War.

  • A
    Harriet Tubman
  • B
    John Brown
  • C
    Gerrit Smith
  • D
    Frederick Douglass

Question 15

Robert E. Lee famously named his horse, ____________.

  • A
    Marengo
  • B
    Bucephalus
  • C
    Traveller
  • D
    Cincinnati

Question 16

The Civil War was a bloody scar across the nation until its culmination in ___________.

  • A
    1865
  • B
    1867
  • C
    1864
  • D
    1866

Question 17

Let's go back to Pennsylvania. How long did the Battle of Gettysburg last?

  • A
    3 Days
  • B
    5 Days
  • C
    1 Day
  • D
    7 Days

Question 18

Which state was the first to secede from the Union?

  • A
    South Carolina
  • B
    Virginia
  • C
    Florida
  • D
    Tennessee

Question 19

Galusha Pennypacker was the youngest General in the U.S. Army. How old was he when he was appointed?

  • A
    17
  • B
    15
  • C
    14
  • D
    20

Question 20

Finally, what is the estimated death toll for men who died while fighting in the Civil war?

  • A
    500,000
  • B
    620,000
  • C
    1,000,000
  • D
    750,000

Question 21

Throughout the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee would keep this bizarre pet with him at all times.

  • A
    Snake
  • B
    Chicken
  • C
    Turtle
  • D
    Spider

Question 22

If we took a time machine back to the beginning of the Civil War, what year would we go to?

  • A
    1860
  • B
    1859
  • C
    1861
  • D
    1862

Question 23

In 1864 there would be eight Southern soldiers who would try to burn down New York City. What did they call themselves?

  • A
    The Confederate Army of Manhattan
  • B
    New York's Finest
  • C
    The Confederacy of New York
  • D
    New York's Southern Saviors

Question 24

The Gettysburg Address is considered one of the greatest speeches of all time. How long did it take Lincoln to deliver it?

  • A
    2 hours
  • B
    20 minutes
  • C
    2 Minutes
  • D
    15 minutes

Question 25

What percentage of the U.S. population would die during the Civil War?

  • A
    2%
  • B
    1%
  • C
    5%
  • D
    7%

Comments (4)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.

Love it; so much fun, plus great learning experience.

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@heidianne in what way was it slanted?

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you quote the ending of the war as 1865, but i thought the css shenandoah didn't strike it's colours until 1866?

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One suspects that Regina Munch was raised in the south or learned her Civil War history from a southern. This quiz was very slanted.

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