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Quizzes > History

Civil War questions: test your knowledge with a quick quiz

Quick, free Civil War history quiz. Instant answers and score.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Kiran MahattamUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
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This Civil War quiz helps you check what you know about key battles, leaders, and turning points, with instant answers. You will see brief facts as you go and can revisit tough Civil War questions. For extra practice, try the civil war practice test or the american civil war quiz.

What years did the American Civil War take place?
1775 to 1781
1812 to 1814
1914 to 1918
1861 to 1865
The American Civil War was fought from 1861 until 1865, culminating in the surrender of the Confederate forces. During these four years, major battles reshaped the nation's political and social landscape. It remains one of the bloodiest conflicts in U.S. history.
Who was President of the United States during the Civil War?
Ulysses S. Grant
Jefferson Davis
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th President of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the Union through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free enslaved people in rebelling states. His leadership preserved the nation.
Who served as President of the Confederate States of America?
Stonewall Jackson
Alexander H. Stephens
Robert E. Lee
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis was elected as the only President of the Confederate States, serving from 1861 to 1865. He had previously served as U.S. Secretary of War and senator from Mississippi. His leadership defined Confederate policies during the war.
What was the site of the first major land battle of the Civil War?
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Shiloh
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas, was fought on July 21, 1861, in Virginia. It shattered the expectation of a short war on both sides and demonstrated the conflict's brutality. It was a Confederate victory under Generals Beauregard and Johnston.
What document declared all slaves in rebelling states to be free?
Emancipation Proclamation
Declaration of Independence
Gettysburg Address
13th Amendment
Issued on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate-held territories. It redefined the war as a fight against slavery and paved the way for the 13th Amendment. It also allowed African Americans to join the Union army.
Which state was the first to secede from the Union in 1860?
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
South Carolina was the first state to secede on December 20, 1860, following Abraham Lincoln's election. Its secession prompted other Southern states to leave the Union and form the Confederacy. This event directly led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
What were the names of the ironclad warships that clashed in 1862?
USS Monitor and CSS Virginia
CSS Tennessee and USS Cairo
USS Merrimack and CSS Monitor
USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere
On March 9, 1862, the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia fought to a standstill at the Battle of Hampton Roads. This marked the first clash of iron-armored warships, signaling a new era in naval warfare. Both sides claimed strategic advantage.
In which town did General Robert E. Lee surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant?
Vicksburg
Appomattox Court House
Gettysburg
Richmond
On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, General Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant. This event effectively ended major Confederate resistance. The site is now a preserved national historical park.
Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865?
John Wilkes Booth
Lee Harvey Oswald
Leon Czolgosz
Charles Guiteau
Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Booth was a Confederate sympathizer who opposed Lincoln's policies. Lincoln died the next morning, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated.
Which Union general accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox?
Ulysses S. Grant
Ambrose Burnside
William Tecumseh Sherman
George B. McClellan
General Ulysses S. Grant led Union forces to victory and accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. His generous terms allowed Confederate officers and men to return home with their personal sidearms and horses. Grant later became the 18th U.S. president.
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery throughout the United States?
13th Amendment
12th Amendment
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, ratified in December 1865, formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. It was approved after the Civil War ended and solidified the work begun by the Emancipation Proclamation.
Which battle is considered the bloodiest single-day engagement in American history?
Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, resulted in over 22,000 casualties in a single day. It halted General Lee's invasion of the North and gave President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Who led the famous March to the Sea during the Civil War?
Ulysses S. Grant
Philip Sheridan
William Tecumseh Sherman
George Meade
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman led his troops from Atlanta to Savannah in late 1864, employing a scorched-earth policy. Sherman's March to the Sea aimed to break the Confederacy's will to fight and disrupt its economy.
On which date did General Lee surrender at Appomattox Court House?
January 1, 1863
April 9, 1865
July 4, 1863
December 25, 1864
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending major Confederate operations. This date is considered the symbolic conclusion of the Civil War.
Which Confederate stronghold surrendered on July 4, 1863, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River?
Richmond
Charleston
Fort Sumter
Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg ended with Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863, after a lengthy campaign by General Grant. Vicksburg's fall split the Confederacy and secured Union control of the Mississippi River.
Which Union general led the successful siege of Chattanooga in late 1863?
Ulysses S. Grant
William Rosecrans
George McClellan
Ambrose Burnside
In November 1863, Ulysses S. Grant took personal command of operations around Chattanooga and broke the Confederate siege at Missionary Ridge. His victory opened the Deep South to Union invasion.
Which general earned the nickname 'Stonewall' at the First Battle of Bull Run?
Jubal Early
Robert E. Lee
Thomas Jonathan Jackson
J.E.B. Stuart
Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson held his brigade firmly against Union assaults at First Manassas, inspiring General Bee to call him 'Stonewall.' This nickname stuck and made Jackson one of the most famous Confederate commanders.
Which political party was Abraham Lincoln a member of during the Civil War?
Whig Party
Federalist Party
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Abraham Lincoln was the first president elected from the Republican Party in 1860. The party was founded in 1854 on an anti-slavery platform. Lincoln's election prompted Southern secession.
What was the main goal of the Union's Anaconda Plan?
Recruit foreign armies
Assassinate Confederate leaders
Blockade Southern ports and divide the Confederacy
Build a transcontinental railroad
General Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan aimed to blockade Confederate ports and control the Mississippi River, choking off supplies and splitting the South. It sought a strategy of attrition rather than direct assault.
In which state did the Battle of Gettysburg take place?
Maryland
Georgia
Virginia
Pennsylvania
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1 - 3, 1863, around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It marked the turning point of the war in the Eastern Theater, ending Lee's invasion of the North.
Who replaced General McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac after Antietam?
Joseph Hooker
Ulysses S. Grant
Ambrose Burnside
George Meade
After the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln replaced cautious George McClellan with Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Burnside led the army at Fredericksburg but faced heavy losses.
In which state did the Battle of Shiloh occur in April 1862?
Kentucky
Mississippi
Georgia
Tennessee
The Battle of Shiloh took place in southwestern Tennessee near the Tennessee River. It was one of the war's bloodiest battles at that point, with nearly 24,000 casualties.
What was the name of the first successful combat submarine used by the Confederacy?
CSS Virginia
CSS Merrimack
CSS Hunley
CSS Alabama
The Confederate submarine CSS Hunley sank the USS Housatonic in 1864, becoming the first sub to sink a warship in combat. The Hunley itself was lost shortly after, but its success influenced future naval warfare.
Which strategy, exemplified by General Sherman's march, targeted civilian as well as military resources?
Blitzkrieg
Attrition
Total war
Guerrilla warfare
Sherman's March to the Sea exemplified total war, which involves destroying civilian infrastructure and resources to break an enemy's will and capacity to fight. This harsh approach was controversial but effective in hastening the Confederacy's collapse.
Which 1862 law created land-grant colleges across the United States?
Homestead Act
Pacific Railway Act
Morrill Land-Grant Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 granted states federal land to fund colleges focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. It established institutions that became major public universities.
What was the purpose of the Bureau of Colored Troops created in 1863?
To regulate wartime trade
To repatriate freed slaves abroad
To recruit and organize African-American soldiers into the Union Army
To negotiate prisoner exchanges
The Bureau of Colored Troops was established by the War Department in 1863 to oversee the recruitment, organization, and service of African-American soldiers. It led to the formation of United States Colored Troops regiments.
Who served as Vice President of the Confederate States?
Judah P. Benjamin
Clement Vallandigham
John C. Breckinridge
Alexander H. Stephens
Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia served as Vice President under Jefferson Davis from 1861 to 1865. He was a key political figure who originally opposed secession but later joined the Confederate government.
Which naval engagement in 1862 was the first battle between ironclad warships?
Battle of Hampton Roads
Battle of New Orleans
Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Hampton Roads on March 8 - 9, 1862, featured the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, the first clash of iron-armored ships. This engagement revolutionized naval design worldwide.
What was the first capital city of the Confederate States of America?
Montgomery, Alabama
Atlanta, Georgia
Charleston, South Carolina
Richmond, Virginia
Montgomery, Alabama, served as the Confederate capital from February to May 1861. The government moved to Richmond, Virginia, after Virginia's secession due to its industrial capacity and proximity to Washington, D.C.
Which diplomatic incident in 1861 nearly led to war between the United States and Britain?
Trent Affair
XYZ Affair
Zimmermann Telegram
Algeciras Conference
The Trent Affair occurred in late 1861 when the U.S. Navy seized Confederate envoys from a British ship. Britain protested vigorously, and the U.S. ultimately released the prisoners to avoid conflict.
Which Reconstruction bill of 1864, requiring a majority of white male citizens in each Southern state to take a loyalty oath for readmission, was pocket-vetoed by President Lincoln?
Civil Rights Act
Tenure of Office Act
Reconstruction Act
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill, passed by Congress in 1864, required 50% of voters in a Confederate state to swear loyalty before readmission. President Lincoln pocket-vetoed it, favoring his own more lenient plan. This conflict highlighted tensions over Reconstruction.
Which 1861 Supreme Court decision challenged President Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War?
Ex parte Milligan
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Ex parte Merryman
Marbury v. Madison
In Ex parte Merryman (1861), Chief Justice Taney ruled that only Congress could suspend habeas corpus, challenging Lincoln's authority. However, the administration largely ignored the ruling. The case underscored wartime civil liberties issues.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Major Battles and Figures -

    Summarize key engagements and personalities from the Civil War by answering targeted questions about the Civil War with answers.

  2. Analyze Strategic Significance -

    Examine how pivotal battles like Gettysburg and Antietam shaped the conflict's progress and outcome.

  3. Identify Influential Leaders -

    Recognize the roles and decisions of prominent figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee.

  4. Apply Historical Context -

    Use trivia questions about the Civil War to connect events to broader social, political, and economic developments of the era.

  5. Evaluate Knowledge Mastery -

    Assess your understanding through instant feedback on civil war trivia questions answers and pinpoint areas for further study.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Root Causes of the Civil War -

    The Civil War was driven primarily by disputes over slavery, states' rights, and economic differences between North and South (Library of Congress). Recall the mnemonic "SLIP" (Slavery, Legislation, Industry, Politics) to remember these four core tensions leading to secession. Reviewing key compromises (Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850) will help you answer trivia questions about the civil war with answers accurately.

  2. Emancipation Proclamation's Impact -

    Issued January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate-held territories (National Archives). It shifted the war goal toward abolition and allowed Black soldiers to join the Union army, boosting morale and manpower. A quick way to recall its scope: "Free South, Fight On" highlights both liberation and military strategy.

  3. Turning-Point Battles -

    Gettysburg (July 1 - 3, 1863) and Vicksburg (ended July 4, 1863) are often paired as the war's turning points, splitting the Confederacy and strengthening Union control of the Mississippi River (American Battlefield Trust). Use the "G-V2" mnemonic - Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Victory - to remember their back-to-back impact. Quiz questions about Civil War trivia questions answers often focus on these critical engagements.

  4. Key Military and Political Figures -

    Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee dominated strategic and political arenas (Smithsonian Institution). A handy memory phrase is "LDGL" (Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee) to match presidents and generals in order of influence. Knowing their roles helps you tackle any trivia questions about the Civil War with confidence.

  5. Reconstruction Amendments -

    The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments (ratified 1865 - 1870) abolished slavery, guaranteed equal protection, and protected voting rights (U.S. National Archives). Remember "FREED" (Freedom, Rights, Equality, Election, Democracy) to recall the sequence and purpose of each amendment. Mastering these facts is essential for civil war trivia questions answers on postwar reform.

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